Lot # 1685: 1941 Timely Comics Sub-Mariner #2 with Stan Lee Early Text Story - CGC 2.0

Head back to the Golden Age of Comic Books, with this 1941 Timely Comics Sub-Mariner #2 issue. The super-hero genre was still pretty young, when this early Sub-Mariner issue was published. Though the USA was not involved yet, WWII dominated the news. Super-heroes had been coming into their own, and with popular characters joining the war effort, the genre really blossomed.

A prime example of the times, this right on time Timely comic depicts the ocean-dwelling Namor the Sub-Mariner protecting the waters that he loved, by kindly returning a torpedo to its original owners, in the way of ramming it down the hatch of an Axis ship stuffed with Nazi officers. Certainly a multi-tasker, Namor is standing on one leg, delivering a back-kick to another Nazi, while delivering the explosive device with great intent.

Several important creators were involved with the production of this arresting issue, with art and story by Bill Everett, cover by Alex Schomburg, and a back-up story by the great Stan Lee. Pretty much an office "gofer" at the time, Lee had his first writing assignment in the May 1941 Captain America Comics #3 issue, and his work in this Summer 1941 Sub-Mariner #2 issue, counts as one of his earliest writing efforts. CGC has graded just sixty-five examples of this ancient issue to date, indicating the scarcity of surviving copies. CGC has graded this one 2.0, Tan to Off-White Pages. Label notes are "Paul Gustavson and Bill Everett story and art, Alex Schomburg cover. Angel backup story. Stan Lee text story. Interior cover ad for USA Comics #1 and All Winners Comics #1".