RAMAN
Real Name: Raman
Identity/Class: Sub-species of Humanity (Atlantean/Homo Mermani)
Occupation: Gatekeeper of the Crystal City
Group Membership: Council of Elders (Madoxx, Vashti and others)
Affiliations: Llyron, Namor, Seth
Enemies: Llyra, Virago
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Crystal City, Atlantis
First Appearance: (Cameo) Sub-Mariner I#64 (August, 1973); (named) Sub-Mariner I#66 (October, 1973)
Powers/Abilities: Raman was a capable gatekeeper with a strategic mind. He possessed all traits common to Homo Mermanus including the ability to breathe underwater, swim at great speeds for extended periods of time and see clearly through murky waters. His body was durable enough to withstand the ocean's undersea pressure.
Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 270 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black
History:
(Namor I#54 - BTS) - Raman was the gatekeeper of the Crystal City, the capital of Atlantis. He also served on the Council of Elders.
(Sub-Mariner I#64 (fb) - BTS) - After Dr. Hyrdro's defeat at the hands of Namor, the Council of Elders chose to isolate his creations, the Hydro-Men. They deemed these human-Atlantean hybrids were not ready for freedom and ordered them remanded in a prison camp to prevent them from mingling among the Atlanteans.
(Sub-Mariner I#64 - BTS) - Prince Namor was enraged when he saw the Hydro-Men's prison, because it reminded him of Hitler and his concentration camps. Namor decided to free the Hydro-Men so they could explore the sea for themselves. Afterwards, he summoned the Council of Elders into session.
(Sub-Mariner I#64) - Raman, along with Madoxx, Vashti and several other council members, met with Namor. They were still convinced it would be unnatural to have the Hydro-Men among the general population of Atlantis. Namor deemed that the prattling of senile fools and decreed that rehabilitation measures would begin at once. Moments later, their meeting was interrupted by the sudden arrival of four orange-skinned representatives of Zephyrland. Namor greeted the foreigners, while the councilors were taken aback at their king welcoming yet another group of different colored intruders. The people of Zephyrland asked Namor for help against the warrior queen Virago who had taken over their country.
(Sub-Mariner I#66) - After Namor had fought Virago to a standstill, he attended another council meeting during which Raman questioned the Sub-Mariner's impetuous decision to aid Zephyrland. If Namor hadn't meddled in their affairs, Virago's evil might still be a universe away. Namor didn't take kindly to Raman's words and ordered him and the other Elders to leave him at once. Convinced they had stung his royal pride, Raman and Madoxx took off.
(Namor I#54 - BTS) - Raman returned to his duties as gatekeeper of the Crystal City.
(Namor I#54) - While on duty, Raman was visited by Warlord Seth. They discussed the troubles facing Atlantis, with Raman expecting a revolution might be on the horizon. Their conversation was overheard by the Lemurian Llyra who offered a simple solution: give Atlantis a new king, namely Llyron, the alleged son of her and Namor.
(Namor I#57) - Raman and Seth where present at the grand atrium in the senate house of Atlantis when Llyron announced that Atlantis had been accepted into the United Nations. As the Atlantean citizens cheered him on, Raman turned to Seth saying he still didn't trust Llyron. Just then Llyron exposed his mother Llyra as the one who'd stolen the horn of Proteus and had her arrested. Sometime later, Raman attended Llyron's coronation ceremony. Namor's sudden arrival disrupted the proceedings. The Sub-Mariner had come to reveal Llyron had no legitimate rights to the trone. That led the two of them to battle it out on the abyssal plains.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber (writer), Don Heck (pencils), Don Perlin (inks).
I have to admit I never fully understood why the Raman in Sub-Mariner I#66 (October, 1973) had to be the same one we see in Namor I#54 (September, 1994). The first Raman was clearly an older man, which explains why he was part of the Council of Elders. The second Raman, who appeared 21 years later, is a large muscular gatekeeper. Although Atlanteans differ greatly from baseline humans, I doubt they can Benjamin Button themselves. Perhaps the answer lies in Namor writer Glenn Herdling misinterpreting Raman's entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#1. There, he was named "Gatekeeper of Atlantis", which was probably intended as an honorary title at best (or a factual error at worst). Chances are Herdling took the gatekeeper part literally and made Raman a Heimdall-type muscular guard (though to be fair, it was the steroid heavy go go 90s).
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Raman has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Namor I#54, p22, pan3 (main image)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#1, Atlanteans entry (head shot)
Namor I#54, p22, pan4 (closeup)
Namor I#57, p6, pan2 (discussing with Seth)
Appearances:
Sub-Mariner I#64 (August, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Don Heck (pencils), Don Perlin (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Sub-Mariner I#66 (October, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Don Heck (pencils), Don Perlin (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Namor I#54 (September, 1994) - Glenn Herdling (writer), Geof Isherwood (pencils, inks), Mike Rockwitz, Joe Andreani, Ralph Macchio (editors)
Namor I#57 (December, 1994) - Glenn Herdling (writer), Geof Isherwood (pencils, inks), Mike Rockwitz, Joe Andreani, Ralph Macchio (editors)
First Posted: 06/26/2016
Last updated: 06/26/2016
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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