Previous Page  
#1
#2
Selector

Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) #2

Jan 1992 on-sale: Apr 7, 1992

Ron Marz
writer
 |  James Fry
penciler

Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) #2 cover

Story Name:

The Return of the Defenders Part 2: Body Doubles


Synopsis

Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) #2 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Story continued from INCREDIBLE HULK ANNUAL #18.

Marvel Legends Series MCU Disney Plus What if Zombie Iron Man
For the special marvelite in you
On their quest to recover Namor’s stolen body, Namor (in Rick Jones’ body), the incredible Hulk, and Doctor Strange arrive at the Pan-Dimensional Publishing Building to confront the source of the demonic encounters. All seems quiet until Hulk discovers the mangled hat of a security guard. They enter the building stealthily and split up to search the building. Almost immediately Dr. Strange encounters a demonized nurse and Hulk and Namor battle a monstrous bodybuilder. Namor, forgetting that he doesn’t have his normal powers in Rick Jones’ body, attacks the gigantic foe and is slapped through a wall and trapped under rubble in a swimming pool. As he’s about to drown, King Neptune appears to him and, to aid Namor in his fight against Neptune’s ancient enemy, grants him the ability to draw strength from water. The newly powered Namor knocks out the demon and together he and Hulk rescue Dr. Strange. Shanzar the Sorcerer, inhabiting Namor’s body, appears to taunt his enemies and explain his plan to aid a disembodied Elder Being, the Wild One, by preparing a body for him to inhabit when he returns to this world. Shanzar then strikes Namor unconscious and takes his body through the dark doorway. Hulk pursues and finds himself plummeting to the street below. As Hulk and Dr. Strange plan their next move, the Silver Surfer joins them.  

Story continued in SILVER SURFER ANNUAL #5

Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Atlantis Rising
For the special marvelite in you


Characters
Good (or All)
DOCTORSTRANGE  
Doctor Strange
(Dr Strange)
RICKJONES  
Rick Jones
(Richard Milhouse Jones)
SILVERSURFER  
Silver Surfer
(Norrin Radd)
SUBMARINER  
Plus: Neptune.

Enemies
Shanzar.


Story #2

The Gift

Writer: Ron Marz.
Penciler: Ron Lim.
Inker: Terry Austin.
Colorist: Kelly Corvese.
Letterer: Michael Higgins.

Synopsis

By Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

1943, on the Irish coast: Namor visits a castle where his love Siobhan resides. He has come to present her with a heefa fish, a genetically engineered creature that can only be owned by the Atlantean royal family, this one in a glass bowl created by a famous glassworker 400 years ago. But she declines the gift, claiming it is too valuable. She is then compelled to admit that, with Namor’s visits so erratic, she found herself another suitor…Baron Blood. The vampire lord steps out of the shadows and Namor attacks him but Blood is too strong for him. As Baron Blood tries to bite his neck and kill him, Namor twists his foe’s head around, breaking his neck. In shock, Siobhan drops the glass bowl containing the heefa fish and it shatters. But the undead lord is bale to repair himself; Siobhan pours out her frustration with Namor as her lover and she sees Blood as a chance at everlasting life and true companionship. Namor spits out his bitterness and departs. Baron Blood feasts on Siobhan’s blood as the heefa fish dies….


Characters
Good (or All)
SUBMARINER  

Enemies
BARONBLOOD  
Baron Blood
(John Falsworth)


Story #3

Good Girl

Writer: Ron Marz.
Penciler/Inker: Tom Raney.
Colorist: Gina Going.
Letterer: Ed Lazarelli.

Synopsis

By Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Namorita takes the newly rejuvenated Spitfire out shopping but Jackie finds modern fashion is not to her liking, which frustrates the more enthusiastic Nita. They are approached by photographer Clive Slipperly who claims he can make Jacqueline Falsworth the world’s top model. Jackie is reluctant but Nita talks her into it….

Jackie shows up at Slipperly’s studio where she balks at the revealing lingerie and swimsuits he wants her to wear. He persuades her to just try it and Jackie grows more comfortable over the course of the session…and then he asks her to pose in the nude. She refuses and he tries to tear her swimsuit off so she delivers him a beating and walks out, threatening to sue if any of her photos are published. Slipperly has an ace up his sleeve: Spitfire’s assault on him was photographed and he can sue her over it. But when he develops the photos he discovers that she moved so quickly that her image did not show up on film, ending his big scheme.


Characters
Good (or All)
NAMORITA  
Namorita
(Namorita Prentiss)
SPITFIRE  
Spitfire
(Jacqueline Falsworth)



Story #4

Namor’s Top Ten Villains

Writer: George Caragonne.
Penciler: Larry Alexander.
Inker: Don Hudson.
Colorist: Ariane Lenshoek.
Letterer: Don Hudson.

Synopsis

By Peter Silvestro
Rating: 3 stars

Carrie Alexander creates a catalog of Namor’s greatest enemies, counting down: Llyra, Doctor Dorcas, Plant Man, Headhunter, Master Man and Warrior Woman, Master Khan, Tiger Shark, Warlord Krang, Attuma, the Marrs Twins. 


Characters
Good (or All)
Carrie Alexander.




> Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) comic book info and issue index


Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) #2 cover

INCREDIBLE HULK EPIC COLLECTION: IN THE HANDS OF HYDRA
For the special marvelite in you

Main/1st Story Full Credits

James Fry
Chris Ivy
?
James Fry (Cover Penciler)
Chris Ivy (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)




Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual (1991 series) #2 Review by (January 13, 2026)

Review: First story: An exciting little tale pitting most of the original Defenders against a demonic publisher. It’s largely a comic romp with Hulk and Namor/Rick bantering while fighting a huge comical monster and the less-humorous Dr. Strange dealing with another funny demon. And the art in his tale is reminiscent of Wally Wood, which adds to the fun. Things do get a bit serious when Namor encounters Neptune, a literal deus ex machina leveling him up for the next chapters.

Story two: A poignant romantic tale for Namor that just happens to have him fighting a vampire. The use of the heefa fish makes this a metaphor for the death of something of incalculable value, like Namor’s love. Nice little bit of history and action for a satisfying tale.

Story three: Spitfire, another hero out of time, deals with a predatory male in a very violent way since this is a comic book.

Story four: Unlike the other top ten villains lists in other annuals this year, this one is simply a list, offering no pretext or framing story to pique our interest. Just a list and full of Namor’s most recent baddies at that.

Comments: Story one: THE RETURN OF THE DEFENDERS Part 2. Rick Jones appears only via his body. 

Story two: Placed right after the events of INVADERS #41

Story three: Spitfire became young again after a transfusion of blood from the Human Torch in NAMOR THE SUB-MARINER #12. Only appearance of Clive Slipperly

Story four: Carrie Alexander is a companion of Namor’s, introduced in NAMOR, THE SUB-MARINER (1990) #1






Thor

The Marvel Heroes Library is a fan Marvel Comics site
Version 14.12.6 (Oct 27, 2025 - VS22)

Copyright © 1997-2026 Julio Molina-Muscara (creator, webmaster)
Site content is a collective effort by the MHL team and Marvel aficionados

Characters are copyright © Marvel or their respective owners. All portions of this Marvel fansite that are subject to copyright are licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 unported license All rights reserved