Preamble time, as per usual on Saturday! And then I PROMISE I'll get to the comic talk for the start of the weekend! (And before I forget, since I was drawing a blank on what to select for this week, I decided to put the call out for topic suggestions, and the members of the Gentleman's Guide to Comics Facebook group pulled through in a VERY rough spot! So today's blog, and it's subject, is dedicated to that FINE Gentleman, Todd C.! By the way, I also recommend the group, because one thing Todd does EVERY day is picks a character for the day. It generates a LOT of interesting talking points!)
- This week at work was a serious buzzkill. Aside from working probably WAY too hard... for just minimum wage... since the building has zilch in terms of comfortable private offices, I also was witness to a workplace disagreement that got... out of hand. Keep crossing those fingers for a better horizon, readers, because...
- ... It feels like this week offered me some peeks at the "sun" of promising employments, but no real solid connections. Heck, I KNOW one pre-test for a position I bombed out on, because this was the VERY first time I've attempted anything associated with Office 2010. And this test was MERCILESS about failed attempts at a question.
- Winter arrived in Michigan in a H-A-R-D way. Just in my neck of the woods, alone, we're already an inch away from having the snowiest November in city history. And the month isn't even OVER yet! So dealing with three non-stop days of road slop, snow, and ice doesn't give me the ability to maintain a fully "sunshiny" demeanor.
Hence, why I put the call out for people to help me generate some talking points for this weekends' blog entries. It was just enough for me to wake up and put one foot in front of the other EACH weekday of this week. Oh well... At least next week is Thanksgiving, where food, family, and... "spirits"... await to help me unwind! And another suggestion I received helped form the genesis of my intentions for next weekend. So stay tuned...
Back to the subject of Todd's suggestion, one of the topics he threw my way was discussing the merits of certain villains that aren't afraid to get their toes wet. In fact, you could say they're AWASH in their sense of doing harm unto others! At the risk of dropping one more pun into the bucket, this blog entry is SOAKED with sinister swimmers! That's right... Today we speak on UNDERWATER VILLAINS!
Before I begin with the actual image-associated posts, I was ITCHING to make one more brief trip into EXTREME territory with this post, because there was a 4-issue arc of Image Comic's "Brigade" regular series that dealt with the universe's return... to "modern times"... of the NOT-Sub Mariner, Roman. Issues 4-7 of the title detailed the brawl with Roman, then the reveal that the father to Seahawk and Coldsnap was STILL alive, and living with an Atlantean civilization, who are being attacked by a foe named Warlok. (Yay, poor spelling!) The only thing really "unique" about Warlok, in comparison to the other entries I'll be mentioning, is how EXTREME his appearance was. He resembled the standard Liefeld-ian random assembly of over-processed muscles, and carried a face that one his mother could have loved, having resembled a starfish with piranha jaws and teeth. As with all Extreme Comics villains, his return was "teased"... but the more likely option that would happen in comparison to that "promise" is my waking up, tomorrow morning, looking EXACTLY like Chris Hemsworth. But again, poor Warlok... The Internet doesn't want to acknowledge your image spread to the masses, but you live on in my memory!
Our quest begins in the depths of the Marvel Universe briny deeps, with...
Attuma: First debuting in "Fantastic Four #33", Attuma comes from a barbarian side-civilization of Atlantis. (Y'know, Namor's Princely turf...) Like MANY of Namor's foes... but Attuma originated the trend... Attuma covets the throne Namor possesses, and often attempts to lead rebellions against the Atlantean throne to gain control. Upon gaining that control, Attuma's other main goal is to not be as "soft" on humanity as Namor tended to be, and make a gambit... with technological assistance to overcome the underwater citizen's limitations on the surface world... to conquer Earth! You will notice a trend with underwater bred villains in that their powers really DON'T vary all that much; enhanced speed, strength, and reflexes. (It makes them NO LESS SPECIAL. I wish people would remember that, more often, when cracking wise about Aquaman!) But what makes Attuma unique is that he's certainly more of a "brute", compared to Namor. I'm guessing if you performed the standard "tale of the tape", you would find that Attuma has more of a body mass than Namor, giving him the weight advantage. Plus, Attuma relies a LOT more on armor and bladed weaponry for his combat excursions. Attuma may also have the most crossover appeal of many of the Marvel underwater villains, having appeared in multiple video games, cartoons... and I HOPE eventually winter stocking replicas of his signature head gear! SERIOUSLY! I have always had a soft spot for Attuma's "bunny ear" helmet!
Tiger Shark: Interesting that a topic suggested by a Todd ends up getting another infamous "Todd" for a mention, with the deadly underwater hybrid previously known as Olympic champion swimmer, Todd Arliss, who first appeared as a Marvel threat in "Namor the Sub Mariner #5". Todd was a glory-hogging Olympic swimmer, who in a gambit to achieve further fame, sought to rescue a drowning man at sea. That... doesn't EXACTLY go to plan, as Todd is pushed so forcefully against the nearby ship the rescue was being performed at, his spine is damaged. Still, there is the miracle of modern science to see him through! ... Maybe more like the sick designs of MAD SCIENCE, as a deviant scientist named Doctor Dorcas decides to strike at Namor through Todd, by fusing the famed Atlantean's DNA with that of a tiger shark, and infusing that genetic cocktail into Mr. Arliss, transforming him into Tiger Shark. Tiger Shark's abilities are... you guessed it... enhanced speed, strength, and agility. He also possesses the "natural aggression" of his genetic kegger mix, along with implanted gills for his underwater survival, and... apparently at some point... Adamantium-coated shark teeth! What makes Tiger Shark interesting for me is that he was kind of a Wolverine-level "savagery" villain before Logan even stepped foot out of the Canadian wilderness of his comic existence. And true to my claim, he DID even cross paths with the "Best there is at what he does, Bub"!
Llyra: I know... I know... This last entry for the Marvel Universe only gives you the impression that I HEAVILY stacked the list in favor of Namor/Atlantis foes. You may notice that BOTH of the two main companies' underwater threats are basically NEVER far removed from their centerpiece aquatic heroes. So let's just accept that as fact, and say hello to my ONE femme fatale of the fathom depths, that Lemurian lusty lady, Llyra, who first appeared in "Namor the Sub Mariner #32". Llyra hails from Lemuria, which bears ties to Atlantis, in terms of being a fabled city that was fated to sink beneath the depths. (Lemuria ALSO achieved side fame for its inclusion into the Conan mythos by Robert E. Howard!) Llyra was also a bit of a mutant, with a shape-shifting ability. From what I read, a REALLY weird twist for Llyra was that she was able to shift into a "surface dweller's" pink skin pigment, and when she did, her personality would be subverted by another more "innocent" persona. Llyra may not carry the name recognition that the previous two Marvel nominations garner, but she DOES hold a few trump cards that make her a special sinister personality:
- Llyra was responsible for the capture, and murder, of Namor's true love, Dorma!
- Llyra was the ONLY member of this Marvel underwater cadre that earned membership into the famed "Frightful Four".
- Llyra was ALSO a key factor to a MAJOR summer-long Annual crossover called "Atlantis Attacks", which dealt with her forming alliances with Attuma, and Ghaur, a priest for a race of mutations known as the Deviants, in the cause of mystically summoning the serpent god, Set, onto Earth.
Whereas Llyra DOES share some of the enhanced strength and speed of your standard underwater villain, she also carries her shape-shifter card, along with a measure of psychic manipulation, AND thanks to her worshiping at the alter of giant cosmic snakes, some ADDED measure of mystic powers. Not a bad resume, I must say!
We cross the Multiverse to take a dip in the other main ocean of villainy, the DC Universe, with my first nomination...
Black Manta: Aquaman offers up a WEALTH of submersible sneaks and oceanic outlaws, but the MOST well known of that lot has to be a man named David, who carved a niche for himself with the high-tech identity of Black Manta. In an origin story that was created 40 YEARS after the character first appeared in "Aquaman #35", the boy named David was an autistic orphan, adopted into and "treated" at Arkham Asylum. His obsession with water began with cold water being able to calm his rages, and after years of mistreatment, after a round of experimental treatments, David unleashed his killer side, and remembered his fixation on Aquaman as a boy, making Arthur Curry his PRIME target for rage. Black Manta served as a multi-functional villain; as initially a pirate, then as a mercenary, then as a "Black power" advocate for the oceans (For Black Manta is the ONLY African-American nominee for today's list.), and even at one point a LITERAL manta/human hybrid! But we all best know David for his black armor and signature helmet, which is one of the COOLEST helmets in comic history! (And if you're anything like me, you're ALREADY hearing in your head the voice of Black Manta from the "Challenge of the Super Friends" animated series.) And one of Black Manta's most nefarious deeds was the cold-blooded murder of Aquaman and Mera's son, Arthur Curry Jr. Yep... Gotta be one COLD guy to murder a child! What makes Black Manta so cool, aside from his appearance... and the fact that in a way, he is KIND of like an underwater Iron Man, due to the many tricks and gadgets he implements... is that unlike the other nominees, David still retains MOST of his humanity, while still being a water-based criminal exclusively!
The Deep Six: I've talked before about my general LOVE for Jack Kirby's "New Gods" creation. Orion scored his own entry in a blog, and eventually I DO want to write about the Apokalyptean "crew", but we test that entry a LITTLE bit with talking about an ENTIRE TEAM of underwater threats under the employ of Darkseid. Their first appearance mention is... kinda murky... I DO remember the group was first mentioned in "New Gods #2", and one particular member, Slig, first appeared in "New Gods #5", but the group as a WHOLE didn't show up until "New Gods #6". Ironic that for a group I enjoy SO much... I ALWAYS seem to forget the names and abilities of each member. But thank you Wikipedia for filling in some gaps, so time for the roll-call!
- Gole- Loves his sais as much as his full-face helmet.
- Jaffar- NOT related to Disney's "Aladdin", he loves the color green for his armor, and has the ability to mutate beings.
- Kurin- NOT related to "Dragonball Z", loves shiny golden armor, tridents, and long walks on the beach.
- Shaligo the Flying Fin Back- LOVES rocking a blonde "Prince Valiant", along with being the only member of the team that can remain airborne for extended periods of time.
- Slig- Loves being able to mutate living beings with one hand, and being able to dissolve their very matter with the other, but REALLY dislikes being pummeled by Orion's helmet to his face.
- Trok- Loves impractical weaponry, with his use of an axe head attached to the lash end of a whip.
All six of these cuddly critters carry with them the enhanced strength and speed of an underwater citizen, and they ALSO carry the love I have for my FAVORITE part of the Jack Kirby "Fourth World" saga!
The Shark: If I'm going to end today's blog with one last entry, may as well make it the WACKIEST one of the lot! Science went a long way in establishing some of today's featured villains. It made a human into an Atlantean/shark hybrid. It made an average man a technological terror of the seas. But in "Green Lantern #24", science made a shark into KIND of a man! As he would later be known as Karshon, the Shark started off life LITERALLY as a tiger shark. But nearby atomic experimentation evolved his body into first a standard man, and then into a fully realized man-shark hybrid! (Todd Arliss could've achieved the SAME result if he just hung around atomic weapons testing sites! ... Or maybe developed some form of fatal cancer...) As if his origin wasn't crazy enough... or the fact that he's an aquatic villain that DIDN'T originate from Aquaman's universe, his powers... Oh lordy, his power set... Let's put it this way; if people thought the Silver and Bronze Ages of Superman's existence were ridiculous for his power levels, check out what the Shark was able to achieve at various points in his existence:
- Strength, speed, agility... yadda-yadda for underwater villains
- Fear projection. That's right, if the Shark THOUGHT about you being scared about him, forcefully enough, you WOULD be scared of him!
- Flight. ... Because, as we all know, atomic sharks are just SIMPLY ABLE to soar upon the winds.
- Size alteration. If the Shark wanted to be teeny, then by willing it, he'd be no bigger than a piece of Swedish Fish. But if he wanted to challenge Godzilla, he'd shoot up faster than Hank Pym popping his growth pills like they were Skittles!
As you can plain see, not ALL fish are all that "fresh" from the sea, in conclusion...
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