NAMOR THE SUB-MARINER READING ORDER: Oracle, Inc (1990-1993)

At this point the world believed Namor the Sub-Mariner was dead (due the the events of ATLANTIS ATTACKS), but he was just revving up to have his first ongoing since his last was cancelled in 1974. John Byrne would take the reins this time, bringing an environmental theme to the Sub-Mariner's life and setting him up with his own corporation, Oracle, Inc., with Namorita among the supporting cast. 

Byrne would write and draw the series for the first 25 issues, then hand over the role of artist to Jae Lee in his earliest days in the industry. Byrne felt compelled to leave the title after issue 32 and Jae Lee stayed on until issue 38, leaving Bob Harras and some fill-in artists to wrap up the story that worked on bringing Namor into the '90s.

MCG Notes:

• Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Daredevil stories from this time period, along with any often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
• issue listings in grey: Part of Daredevil's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
• Chronology: Every Matt Murdock appearance from this period is included in chronological order - mapping out his timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
• Spoilers: The are some spoilers in the story overviews, though I've tried to keep them to a minimum - just be warned!

Reading orders covering Namor's earlier stories will be added in due course:

• 1985-1990: The Avenging Son

Namor the Sub-Mariner #1 (1990)
First appearance of Caleb Alexander, Carrie Alexander, Desmond Marrs, Phoebe Marrs and Oracle, Inc; marine biologist Caleb Alexander saves Namor the Sub-Mariner's life when he discovers his hybrid human/Atlantean genetic make-up has been the cause of Namor's emotional instability for all these years; Namor uses the wealth built up by sunken treasure set up Oracle, Inc and work towards doing more for the planet; the power-hungry entrepreneurial Marrs twins make a play for Oracle.

Incredible Hulk #370-371 (1990)
The demon Shanzer tries to claim the grey-skinned Hulk as a host body to enter the Earthly plane; Namor and Doctor Strange free the Hulk and realise they'd been lied to about being unable to reform the Defenders.

Avengers West Coast #65[2/2] (1990)
Namor disguises himself as the Mad Thinker to help the original Human Torch (Jim Hammond) while keeping his return a secret.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #2-5 (1990)
First appearance of Headhunter; the Griffin is sent to attack Namor when he relocates to New York with his cousin, Namorita; Namor tames the Griffin and uses him to crash a Roxxon Corporation board meeting, believing them to be behind the Griffin's attack; the actions of the eco-terrorist group FORCE cause an oil spill and cost Namor one of his powers.

Marvel Super Heroes Special #10[2/3] (1992)
Multi-millionaire JQ Stamp hires the Rhino in a vain attempt to help him convince Namor and Namorita to sell Oracle, Inc to him.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #51 (1994)
Namor helps an old friend in New Orleans bring the King Cake Killer to justice.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #6-12 (1990-1991)
First appearance of Master Man (Axl Nacht); Namor battles the giant creature Sluj, is hunted by the Headhunter and teams up with his former follow Invaders (Captain America, Spitfire, Union Jack & the original Human Torch) and Thor when the Nazi Master Man and Warrior Woman return, along with an all-new Master Man; Spitfire's youth is restored thanks to a blood transfusion from the Human Torch; Namor begins to form a close relationship with Carrie Alexander.

Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #1[1/4] (1991)
Namor recounts his origin.

Marvel Super-Heroes Special #8[3/3] (1991)
First appearance of Red Raven (Dania); Oracle, Inc's attempt to raise the sunken Aerie home of the Bird People is interrupted by Diablo's attempt to claim its treasures for himself; Namor meets the original Red Raven's daughter.

Avengers #329 (1991)
Namor is among the Avengers present when Captain America announces the new team during STARTING LINE-UP.

Web of Spider-Man #73 (1991)
Namor takes Carrie Alexander to an art exhibition on a date.

Avengers West Coast #71 (1991)
First appearance of Kain and Pele of the Pacific Overlords; Namor is presented with a plaque for his actions in defending America against the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour during World War II; Namor comes under attack from Sunfire but manages to break the Pacific Overlords' control over him.

Avengers #332 (1991)
Namor attends a celebration at the rebuilt Avengers Mansion.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #13-21(pp.1-6) (1991)
Namor stands trial for his past attacks on the surface world; Namor joins the search for Iron Fist (Danny Rand) when new evidence reveals that he's still alive; Namor and his allies, the Daughters of the Dragon, take their search to the Savage Land where they clash with 'Iron Fist' until they discover they're really dealing with the Super-Skrull; Desmond Marrs kills himself before the Punisher can get to him; Namor learns Namorita is actually a clone of Namor's cousin, Namora.

New Warriors #14 (1991)
The recent revelations along with a beating at the hands of Sea Urchin bring out a more aggressive side of Namorita, causing concern for Namor.

Infinity Gauntlet #2-3(pp.1-10) (1991)
Silver Surfer #52 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #3(pp.11-40)-4(pp.1-3) (1991)
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #33 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #4(pp.4-40) (1992)
Infinity Gauntlet #6 (1991)
Namor is among the heroes who face Thanos when he uses the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe out half the population of the universe during THE INFINITY GAUNTLET.

Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #1[2/4] (1991)
Namor and Stingray drawn into the war between the Deviants and Subterraneans during THE SUBTERRANEAN WAR.

Quasar #28 (1991)
Namor cameo; the artificially constructed being Her considers Namor as a possible mate.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #21(pp.7-22)-25 (1991-1992)
Namor and the Daughters of the Dragon head to K'un-Lun where they discover Iron Fist is indeed alive and being kept in stasis as part of a plot by the Plant Man and the plant-like H'ylthri; Wolverine was conducting his own investigation into Iron Fist's return, but is manipulated by the H'ylthri into attacking Namor; Iron Fist breaks out, Wolverine is freed and Plant Man turns against the treacherous H'ylthri; as revenge for Namor freeing Iron Fist, Master Khan appears and wipes Namor's memories and teleports him away.

Incredible Hulk Annual #18[2/5] (1992)
Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #2[2/4] (1992)
Silver Surfer Annual #5[1/3] (1992)
Dr Strange: Sorcerer Annual #2[1/5] (1992)

The demon Shanzar allies himself with magician Lucian Aster and transfer Namor's consciousness into a demonic form; Shanzar then possesses Namor's vacant body; Aster and Shanzar's activities are opposed by Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer and the Hulk; Namor's consciousness briefly jumps to Rick Jones' body before being returned to his own, though the Defenders don't know where he is during THE RETURN OF THE DEFENDERS.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #26-40 (1992-1993)
First appearance of Artys-Gran, Four Sisters of Death, Leon McKenzie, Suma-Ket and the Unforgiven Dead; six months after Master Khan's attack, Namorita senses her missing cousin who has been working as a logger in Canada, answering to the name 'Rex'; Namor fights Namorita off when he doesn't recognise her; Namorita discovers Master Khan has taken over Oracle, Inc; Namor's mother, Fen, appears to have returned from the dead; Namor interrupts Doctor Doom's latest master plan, but joins forces with him and Iron Fist for a final showdown with Master Khan; the Unforgiven Dead (aka the Faceless Ones, possibly undead Atlanteans) attack Atlantis under the control of Suma-Ket, transforming Tiger Shark into a more terrifying form; Namor dons Atlantean armour, drives out the Unforgiven Dead and kills Suma-Ket with the Trident of Neptune; 'Fen' is revealed to be Suma-Ket's wife, Artys-Gran.

Namor the Sub-Mariner #41-43 (1993)

Namor clashes with War Machine (James Rhodes) and teams up with Stingray against Orka and a cybernetic duplicate of Lemuel Dorcas.

Namor's reading order will continue:

• 1993-2000: Atlantis Rises

Namor the Sub-Mariner by John Byrne & Jae Lee Omnibus

Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme Annual #2

Incredible Hulk Annual #18

Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-40

Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #1-2

Silver Surfer Annual #5

Namor Visionaries: John Byrne vol 1-2
Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-18.

Hulk Visionaries: Peter David vol.5
Incredible Hulk by Peter David Omnibus vol.2
Both include... 
Incredible Hulk #370-371

New Warriors Classic Vol.3
New Warriors Omnibus vol.1
Both include... 
New Warriors #14