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One big trick I think Marvel is constantly guilty of missing
is that they’ve created this huge and popular universe, filled with vibrant
characters and a rich history, yet they only really use it to tell
superhero stories. Sub Mariner: The Depths, originally published in five parts under the Marvel
Knights banner in 2009, is a rare exception. This claustrophobic psychological
thriller, written by Peter Milligan with art by Esad Ribic, is loosely based on
Joseph Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness (which
also served as the basis for the film Apocalypse
Now), and is one of Marvel’s best comics in recent years. The tale is a fantastic little examination of
what it must be like to live in the Marvel universe, however unlike Kurt Busiek’s Marvels
which tackled the same issue, The Depths is more about what we don’t see than what we do.
Set in an art deco Marvel universe
before the advent of the super-heroes, Dr Randolph Stein - scientist and
‘professional cynic’ – is hired by the United States government to lead an
expedition to establish whether Atlantis, and its protector Namor The
Sub-Mariner, is truth or myth. Stein and
his crew launch into the depths in pursuit of Captain Marlowe, a deep sea
explorer who has returned to the Marianas Trench following his previous expedition
where Marlowe’s crew and wife were mysteriously killed. As Stein gets closer to Marlowe, and closer
to answering the questions about the myth of Atlantis, he borders on the edge
of a psychological breakdown in the confines of the submarine and the blackness
of the ocean. As the expedition gets
deeper the body count starts to pile up, along with accusations and denials of
mysterious sights.
Does Atlantis exist? Is Namor real? I
don’t wish to spoil the ending, but the key and the success of the story is
ultimately the answers to these questions are irrelevant. It is the fear of the unknown, the myths, the
stories, the rumours that pass from sailor to sailor, which drive the terror of
the story. The possibility that Namor
may be real goes against the grain of Stein’s mantra of science and logic,
forcing him to tackle his greatest fear – that he may just be wrong for once.
Milligan makes full use of this doubt and confusion, the reader questioning as
much as the characters as to whether sightings of mysterious sea dwelling
creatures are evidence of Namor being real, or just the visions and
hallucinations of men pushed to the limit in the most extreme of
circumstances. Cleverly Milligan keeps
the action and perspective on the inside of submarines and underwater bases for
most of the story. The deep depths
outside are as unknown to the reader as they are to the crew on board, only
adding to the sense of claustrophobia and pressure. There are some nice little
references in places giving a nod to the ideas and inspirations behind the
story; for example the first page opens with a quote from Herman Melville,
who’s Captain Ahab pursued the white whale with the same crazed intensity Stein
falls into as his pursuit advances, also Marlowe’s submarine is called Plato,
name checking the Greek philosopher who questioned the nature of truth.
The lush painted artwork of Ribic is a
revelation, using the light and shadow of the dark cramped submarine to express
the psychological torment of the characters.
Yet he brings the visibility and brightness up by washing the pages in pastel
greens, blues and yellows. Ribic’s
depiction of Namor is truly terrifying, bringing the character back to his
original roots as a monster of the deep and protector of Atlantis, rather than
the very human looking superhero/villain of more modern portrayals. The storytelling and page layout is second to
none; despite the tricky situation of cramped physical locations and numerous
characters he makes scenes perfectly clear and easy to follow (aided superbly
by letterer Cory Petit). Ribic embraces
the emptiness of the deep and the few times we do see outside the submarine his
less is more approach ties in with the narrative approach completely
It may be ironic that for such a great
Marvel comic, there is hardly a recognisable Marvel character in its pages, yet
Sub-Mariner: The Depths is a perfect
reminder of the power behind the myths and legends Marvel has created over the
years. Milligan and Ribic have created an
engaging and engrossing comic the stands up with the very best Marvel have to
offer.
