Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: November 3, 1966
Cover: February 1967
12 cents
Written by: Stan the Man Lee
Illustrated by: Wild Bill Everett
Lettered by: Swingin’ Sammy Rosen
12 pages
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|---|---|---|
| Ghost Rider #1 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #89 |
| Tales to Astonish #87, Story B | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #88, Story B |
There must be no new battle till our fighting strength has been restored! Else, the death knell of fair Atlantis may be at hand!
We read the second half of this issue some time ago. It’s a thing that happens. Namor and Hulk share a title. When there are ongoing stories, I try to group a few issues together, looking for decent pause points within the series. But what happens when a good pause point for Namor isn’t a good pause point for Hulk?
Well, I make the reluctant decision to read an issue ahead for one of the characters. Even though that means picking up this comic, flipping to the middle, putting it down, then later picking it up again and reading from the beginning. Almost certainly what nobody reading this comic in 1966 did.
Ah well. I try to balance a lot of things when choosing the reading order and some things have to give.
Attuma has gotten around a bit since his introduction trying to conquer Atlantis in Fantastic Four #33. He’s fought Giant-Man and Wasp, as well as Iron Man, crashed the wedding of Sue and Reed, and has taken on the Avengers in an attempt to flood America.
In fact, no other villain has yet shown up in such a wide variety of titles. Not even Dr. Doom compares.
I find this a somewhat interesting statistic, that he’s appeared in 5 distinct characters’ series. No other villain has even yet appeared in 4.
This is the first time we’ve seen him up against Namor again since his introduction.
After his barbarian hordes are once again prevented from conquering Atlantis by the might of Namor, Attuma stumbles upon a weapon. Some careless aliens passing through our solar system had been enjoying a meal and accidentally dropped a robot into the ocean.
As one does.
This issue is pretty light on plot. As Attuma actually using the robot to attack Atlantis will wait until next issue. This issue is mostly about Attuma thinking about using the robot to attack.
Rating: ★★½, 48/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Namor
- Attuma
- Lord Vashti
- Servo-Robot
- Lady Dorma
Story notes:
- Attuma has invaded Atlantis again.
- Vashti is confident Attuma’s barbarian horde will flee once Namor beats Attuma.
- Attuma retreats but vows to return.
- Alien ship bound for 36th Nebula, with Navigo-Robot guiding them through Sol and past Earth
- Servo-Robot breaks free from ship and falls to Earth. It lands on the ocean floor in Attuma’s territory.
- Attuma’s swords useless against robot.
- Attuma orders for the Nutro Ray. Namor observes through Observa-Scope.
- Vashti and Dorma warn Namor not to confront Attuma.
- Robot unharmed by Nutro-Ray. Attuma thinks it’s a weapon of Namor’s.
- Attuma realizes the weapon is not from Namor, and can be his, if they can access the control box.
- Attuma orders the robot to conquer Atlantis and destroy Namor.
| Previous | #644 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost Rider #1 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #89 |
| Tales to Astonish #87, Story B | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #88, Story B |
