User blog comment:20thCentFopp/A Hymn To Democracy: Fantastic Four vs. Sub-Mariner/@comment-4652104-20131206105644

First off, Athens was not an Oligarchy, although most other Greek polis were. All free male Athenians that were of age, could vote directly on matters of state. This makes Athens infinitely more democratic than 18th c. USA. Both states had slavery and no female suffrage, but at least the Athenians did not claim that slave owners can vote in the name of their slaves (as does the 3/5 clause). Also, Athenians voted directly on all matters, while Americans don't even vote directly to elect their president, whose powers are far greater than those of Pericles, who had to rely on his ability to convince the people every time a decision was made, not just once every few years.

Apart from that? A great review. Although I'd like to add two comments:

1. Namor has preserved much of his character till today.

2. Nomor is a prince of blood, but his authority is also based in his ability to preserve it and he does recognise superior power (which is almost never, as few can rival him) or skill (which is why he agrees to "serve under" Cyclops on Utopia - he recognises Summers as a superior leader, worthy of Namors allegiance; he also wants his woman, but that's Namor for you).