In Abandoned an' Forsaked, we examine comic book stories and ideas that were not only abandoned, but also had the stories/plots specifically "overturned" by a later writer (as if they were a legal precedent).

Today, we look at when Namor and Namora became cousins.

Now, this is a BIT of a stretch for a RETCON, as you could argue that the original stories didn't explicitly say that they were NOT cousins, but I think you'll admit after looking at these stories that there is pretty clearly a retcon here.

Okay, so Bill Everett obviously created Namor, but then he entered military service during World War II. The character carried on without him and even when he returned from the war, he did not go right back to doing comic book work. By the time that he did return to doing comic book art, enough time had passed that Everett was no longer treated as the controlling voice on the Namor series. Therefore, when Namora was introduced in Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (by Ken Bald and an unknown writer. Possibly even Bald himself. The cover was by Bob Powell), Everett had no say over the addition to his character's mythos...

So Namor helps Namora avenge her family and the two become partners...

Note that it is pretty clear that they are not related and heck, they didn't even KNOW each other before this story.

As part of Marvel's attempt to bring in readers with a series of "good girl art" books, Namora got her own series...

In her second issue, in a story by Ken Bald once more, it is pretty clear that there is no relation in this cute story about Namora and Betty Dean trying to get Namor to wear a tuxedo to a publisher's banquet in his honor (only for the publishing executives to all wear swimsuits in honor of Namor)...

I mean, come on...

That phrase should really be worked into the current Invaders series whenever possible.

Anyhow, Namora's book was quickly canceled and eventually Namor's feature ended, as well. In the mid-1950s, though, Timely (then Atlas) decided to give superheroes another spin and this time, Everett was given full control of the Sub-Mariner Comics series. He wrote and drew every story. He would work in tales of Namor's past and in Sub-Mariner Comics #39, he showed Namor's first meeting with Namora, which both established that they were cousins and also effectively retconned her previous first appearance...

They've been cousins ever since.

If anyone else has a suggestion for a future Abandoned an' Forsaked, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!