CGC Registry Featured Set: Sub-Mariner (1968)
Posted on 9/1/2022
The long-awaited “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will arrive in theaters on November 11, 2022, introducing audiences to an early and enduring Marvel superhero: Namor the Sub-Mariner, played by actor Tenoch Huerta. The character was introduced in a giveaway comic in 1939, putting his debut ahead of Marvel’s Captain America and Spider-Man — even Aquaman, a DC superhero who also debuted in the Golden Age with a similar background.
 |
 |
| Click images to enlarge. | |
Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner, with his unusual superhuman abilities and mysterious origin, was officially first introduced in Marvel Comics #1. Throughout the eight decades since, Namor has joined superhero teams, aligned with those same teams’ enemies, and either aided or sought revenge on surface-dwellers depending on his short temper. His unpredictable nature resonated with readers.
Namor resurfaced in the Silver Age within the pages of Fantastic Four #4 in 1962. After several guest appearances, Sub-Mariner debuted in an all-new solo title published by Marvel starting in 1968. That series ran for 72 issues, and the CGC Registry has a category dedicated to it: Sub-Mariner (1968).
CGC Registry member Shivabali has spent over a decade collecting them all, along with both Annuals, in ambitious grades of either CGC 9.6 or CGC 9.8. Several of the books in Shivabali’s collection are pedigreed copies. Issue #4 is a gorgeous 9.8 from the John G. Fantucchio pedigree, and issue #53 is from the same collection in 9.6. Issue #24 is 9.6 from the Oakland pedigree. Issue #3, with a CGC Signature Series label, is signed by the stupendous Stan Lee and boasts a 9.8 as well! The most impressive has to be issue #1 though, with an enviable grade of 9.8 — one of only 78 in that grade in the CGC Census!
The impressive quality of these books has earned Shivabali’s “Prince Namor aka Subbie” collection the Best in Set Type Award for five consecutive years (2018-2022) as well as the 2022 Best Set - Silver Age Award.
“My beginnings in the hobby started with my love for 1950-70's horror and sci-fi movies as a kid,” Shivabali wrote on the CGC profile page. “Comics have influenced my life and sensibilities in terms of the importance of art in all [its] forms: painting/drawing/composition/writing/music on and on etc. Let's keep it Vibrant! Happy Collecting People!”
The Comics Registry is a place where comic book collectors come together to share their collections and knowledge with one another. It's a valuable resource for new collectors and experienced fans alike, with a wide range of collections on display. To participate, all you need is a free CGC Collectors Society account. The CGC Collectors Society is an online community developed to increase the choices, convenience and education available to collectors.
The CGC Registry has grown to over 95,000 registered sets in the last year! There are now more than 575,000 books registered and it is thrilling to see the steady, continued growth of the CGC Registry. To learn more about how to navigate the CGC Registry, click here.
Related Links:
Get hooked!
If you're tired of fishing for the latest CGC news, sign up for our newsletter to receive our catch of the day right in your email.