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>Namor never appealed to me...and certainly not as a hero.
I think that’s the point though. Golden Age Namor was a hero.... a generic, semi-written hero like almost every other hero of the day. When they brought him back in the 60's they did so as a villain; albeit a noble villain with a bit more motivation beyond “GRRR! Smash!” And that became his schtick: is he hero, or bad guy?
>I don't get why people always pull this **** about him being a joke.
SOMEHOW that became his schtick; for better or worse, and it’s been tough to shake. I think part of Aquaman’s PR problem is that he’s often paired with DC’s biggest heroes. Even though he’s no pushover he’s not Wonder Woman, or Superman, or Batman. So he SEEMS underpowered and helpless because of the company he keeps.
I don’t think all them Aparo covers in the 60's helped either. Dude got tied up more often than Nell Fenwick!
I’ve long suspected the 80's “Justice League Detroit” thing was their attempt to make Aquaman more of the legend he’s supposed to be by putting him in the lead, and teaming him up with lesser heroes who wouldn’t overshadow him.
>Brave and Bold was a great cartoon and the depiction of Aquaman with an overcompensating personality was brilliant and funny
I liked the B&B one. DC doesn’t really have a bombastic, overwrought character like that, so he filled a spot in the ecology of the universe. Plus he was funny without being wimpy. (He was also Marvel’s Hercules.... like the article said; but Marvel and DC have been *ahem* borrowing from each other so long nitpicking something like this is just OCD at this point.)
I could see a fan of the comics.... or the Justice League cartoons.... getting whiplash from the 180 his personality took.
>I bet if he had claws he'd be more popular
He did, and he was. Well.... one claw, at least. But I think you hit at one of the underlying traits of the superhero: they speak to the 14 year old power fantasy in the fans. Batman is the desire for revenge. (Possibly on all them guys in school that wedgied you for reading comic books.) Superman is strong and brave enough that he never falters. (Not even against a bunch of guys waiting to wedgie you after math class.) Wolverine and the Punisher kick ALL the *** and don’t give a damn. (No matter how many wedgies....) Aquaman is tougher to peg ‘cos very few people’s sublimated revenge fantasies involve swimming real good or commanding giant squid. (Although that last bit would be awesome.) That’s one reason why funny heroes haven’t done so well since the early 60's. It’s also why the “grim and gritty” thing endured so long. Even Spiderman; known for his wisecracks and joviality has always been an idealized nerd, fighting abandonment issues, social isolation, and one of the most sinister and macabre rogues’ galleries ever.
I think that’s one reason DC’s always had a helluva time figuring out what to do with Wonder Woman; female superhero fans have always been a small minority of the readership, so those power fantasies have historically been MALE power fantasies. It wasn’t until the late 80's/early 90's you really saw a predominance of female heroes, and that was because you could put them on display. (Thanks to the discovery of the Lee “we can show cleavage AND asscrack at the same time!” algorithm. Built from the foundations laid down by the earlier Byrne “She-Hulk’s got boobs!” formula.)
Don C.
I think that’s the point though. Golden Age Namor was a hero.... a generic, semi-written hero like almost every other hero of the day. When they brought him back in the 60's they did so as a villain; albeit a noble villain with a bit more motivation beyond “GRRR! Smash!” And that became his schtick: is he hero, or bad guy?
>I don't get why people always pull this **** about him being a joke.
SOMEHOW that became his schtick; for better or worse, and it’s been tough to shake. I think part of Aquaman’s PR problem is that he’s often paired with DC’s biggest heroes. Even though he’s no pushover he’s not Wonder Woman, or Superman, or Batman. So he SEEMS underpowered and helpless because of the company he keeps.
I don’t think all them Aparo covers in the 60's helped either. Dude got tied up more often than Nell Fenwick!
I’ve long suspected the 80's “Justice League Detroit” thing was their attempt to make Aquaman more of the legend he’s supposed to be by putting him in the lead, and teaming him up with lesser heroes who wouldn’t overshadow him.
>Brave and Bold was a great cartoon and the depiction of Aquaman with an overcompensating personality was brilliant and funny
I liked the B&B one. DC doesn’t really have a bombastic, overwrought character like that, so he filled a spot in the ecology of the universe. Plus he was funny without being wimpy. (He was also Marvel’s Hercules.... like the article said; but Marvel and DC have been *ahem* borrowing from each other so long nitpicking something like this is just OCD at this point.)
I could see a fan of the comics.... or the Justice League cartoons.... getting whiplash from the 180 his personality took.
>I bet if he had claws he'd be more popular
He did, and he was. Well.... one claw, at least. But I think you hit at one of the underlying traits of the superhero: they speak to the 14 year old power fantasy in the fans. Batman is the desire for revenge. (Possibly on all them guys in school that wedgied you for reading comic books.) Superman is strong and brave enough that he never falters. (Not even against a bunch of guys waiting to wedgie you after math class.) Wolverine and the Punisher kick ALL the *** and don’t give a damn. (No matter how many wedgies....) Aquaman is tougher to peg ‘cos very few people’s sublimated revenge fantasies involve swimming real good or commanding giant squid. (Although that last bit would be awesome.) That’s one reason why funny heroes haven’t done so well since the early 60's. It’s also why the “grim and gritty” thing endured so long. Even Spiderman; known for his wisecracks and joviality has always been an idealized nerd, fighting abandonment issues, social isolation, and one of the most sinister and macabre rogues’ galleries ever.
I think that’s one reason DC’s always had a helluva time figuring out what to do with Wonder Woman; female superhero fans have always been a small minority of the readership, so those power fantasies have historically been MALE power fantasies. It wasn’t until the late 80's/early 90's you really saw a predominance of female heroes, and that was because you could put them on display. (Thanks to the discovery of the Lee “we can show cleavage AND asscrack at the same time!” algorithm. Built from the foundations laid down by the earlier Byrne “She-Hulk’s got boobs!” formula.)
Don C.
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