Atlantis Attacks!

 

Having begun my reading experience of Fantastic Four in 1970, there are times in thumbing through back issues that I regret missing out on the title's early days in 1963, when those toiling at the typewriters and drawing boards at Marvel Comics must have realized they had a runaway hit on their hands--so much so that the book's first annual, with its presentation reflecting a mixture of spectacle, excitement, and adventure, came across in a way as a celebration of this flagship title that established Marvel's name and new direction with its budding and receptive readership.

I wasn't really enamored with the multi-colored "Christmas tree" aspect of the masthead's lettering, a design which continued in the following year's Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man annuals:

By the time of the first Avengers annual from 1967, the practice appeared to have been discontinued. Otherwise, that annual's cover might have turned out a little too colorfully:

Regardless, if the thought in '63 was to make the FF annual's cover more eye-catching while conveying a "special issue" aspect that would make it stand out on the comics rack, mission accomplished. In addition, writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby were apparently counting on what they might have hoped was the growing appeal of the Sub-Mariner, now making his fifth appearance in this title (tying him with Dr. Doom) and the principal antagonist in a 37-page story. We don't yet know the details or scope of what Namor plans--but with the return at last of his vanished subjects, displaced by an atomic explosion from the surface world (or so he believes), it seems clear that it's the human race he plans to hold accountable.

The Atlanteans have obviously regrouped and resettled sufficiently to amass a society equipped and prepared to defend itself from aggressors both beneath the sea and above it (even to the point of establishing a position of a warlord). And how interesting to see Namor renewing ties with a consort, a relationship which clearly existed before his own disappearance. (Though apparently one in name only, if he was prepared to ordain Sue Storm as his queen. Perhaps it's held in more serious regard by Dorma--Namor seems to only be respectful of her lineage here.)

As for the FF, they are drawn into Namor's plans when they investigate strange sightings at sea--and soon enough, they have a direct encounter with Namor, who makes use of them as high-profile message bearers to inform the nations of the world of his claim on nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface.

Yet it's also during the U.N. address that all assembled (including we readers) learn of Namor's origin* from a third party, who seems an authority on not only the race he's labeled homo mermanus but of Namor in particular and Atlantis itself. The reason why and how "Dr. Falton" has become such an expert on the subject is revealed in short order--following a poor choice of words on Reed Richards' part which escalates this crisis into a full-scale war.

*In one of this story's reprints, Dr. Falton would have more to say on Namor, thanks to artist/writer John Byrne's supplemental material in a Fantastic Four "Special Edition" from 1984 which expands on the Sub-Mariner's origin with information on his time with the Invaders and the Torch's discovery of him in the Bowery.

In order to accept the events that happen next as Namor alerts his waiting fleet and troops, we're forced to accept the existence of an Atlantean war machine which surpasses any military force in use at this point in time by surface nations, short of atomic weaponry--and since this is an operation which occurs worldwide, involving the invasion and occupation of whole cities and sufficient control of their populations, there would have to be thousands upon thousands of Atlantean troops to deploy in a wide span of countries. The logistics of the situation are aided somewhat by not only Kirby limiting the visuals to the seizure and occupation of New York City, but also by the American military's reluctance to use its weaponry in the midst of the city's civilian population, a posture that Namor (along with his warlord, presumably) has supposedly gambled would hold true in cities across the world.

It's also interesting that upon Namor's return to them, the Atlanteans had immediately rallied behind him in conducting a bold, aggressive move toward the surface world, not only supporting Namor's initial ultimatum but also an actual declaration of hostilities throughout the world should it prove necessary--behavior we might expect of Attuma and his hordes, but unusual for a race of people which has so often been reduced to the status of refugees after experiencing first-hand the might of surface weaponry. (And as we'll come to know, with Namor now on the throne for the foreseeable future, they'd better get used to answering the call to arms.)

Of course, following the Atlanteans' attack on the Baxter Building, the FF haven't exactly been resigned to twiddle their thumbs--and after they've captured and interrogated a warrior, Reed develops a device designed to take advantage of the vulnerability of the life support gear that every Atlantean save Namor is forced to wear.

Incensed at a development which has effectively nullified his forces, Namor attacks the FF and takes Sue prisoner. With the FF sure to follow, his strategy in doing so is unclear, even in throwing them off balance; the move, after all, doesn't in any way work around the effect of Reed's device, nor does it satisfy any motive except revenge. Yet as supreme commander of his forces, at least Namor has the presence of mind to insist that the conflict with the surface world hasn't been yet decided.

And in the meantime, there are the remaining members of the FF to contend with; but below, in Namor's command craft, there is another conflict emerging between Sue and Namor's trusted cohorts involving a little green monster, heated words which will ultimately change the course of the war with respect to the Atlanteans' unwavering loyalty toward their prince.

The story's epilog contains good news for FF readers, and a sobering ending for the Sub-Mariner. Reed and the others make it back in their repaired craft to find Sue recovering in a hospital and Namor having departed--and for Reed and Sue in particular, a welcome indication of assurance from Sue that appears to put to rest the love triangle (if we're calling it that) that has seen Sue so indecisive about her feelings for Namor. As for the sea-prince himself, he once again finds himself a man without a people upon his return to a deserted kingdom.

For a race that was able to occupy every major city in the world, their departure from New Atlantis seems like a drastic step to take insofar as abandoning the home they so painstakingly built after their wanderings, all to make a statement of rejection to Namor. Story-wise, Namor's return to empty halls makes for a more dramatic ending--but the people of Atlantis might have had more closure and made just as powerful a statement if they'd simply banished Namor into permanent exile. Ah, well--there's always New New Atlantis to build somewhere, someday.

BONUS! John Byrne's wraparound cover rendering of the Atlantean invasion.