Tales to Astonish #98

Title: “...To Destroy the Realm Eternal!"

Writer: Roy Thomas

Penciller: Werner Roth

Inker: Dan Adkins

Namor, though still weak, dives into the water at the Savage Land. The leader of the Swamp People asks the gods to protect Namor as he goes. Namor feels better as soon as he hits the water. Namor thinks that even he probably can't catch Plunderer's submarine. He decides to head back to Atlantis first to get his royal army.

Plunderer's submarine is just approaching the ruins of the first Atlantis. He explains to Logar that he is trying to figure out what metal the city is made of so that he will know when he attacks the current Atlantis. Logar says that maybe the new Atlantis is made of a different metal. He says that they left this place ten years ago. Plunderer says that it is possible, but not likely. He says that they were nomads for quite a while and that they only recently built the second city. He tells Logar to head to the ruined underwater city of the Americans and that he figures the new Atlantis must be close to it for Namor to get so angry about it.

In Atlantis, they are preparing to defend the city from Namor so he doesn't get into the city. One Atlantean remarks that it is beyond belief that Namor would side with an air breather. Another says that it must be so since Dorma and Vashti saw it on the scanner-screen. The signal is sounded for people to take shelter below the city. Vashti tells Dorma to come with him. Dorma says that she needs to think and asks what if they were wrong. Vashti says that he wishes it were so.

Despite the urgency, Namor stops at his mother's grave one more time. Namor stands up angry and says that it was accursed humans that killed his mother and many others. He says that they will pay and that the entire surface world will pay. He says that as soon as the Plunderer is smashed he will take his long awaited vengeance on the air breathers. Suddenly a killer whale comes at Namor. He is too far from his realm and the creature doesn't know Namor. Namor swims through a doorway too narrow for the whale. The whale hits the wall and is stunned. Namor hits the whale and confuses it. Namor grabs the whale's dorsal fin. The whale swims to the surface and leaps out of the water. Namor hits the whale and bends the creature to his will. He directs the whale toward Atlantis so he can conserve his strength for the Plunderer.

The Atlanteans prepare to fight off Namor, but hope that they don't have to. They see the submarine coming at them, but don't see Namor. The commander says that he might be within it. He says to signal to the submarine not to come any closer or they will fire upon it.

Logar tells Plunderer that he was right and that they've found Atlantis. Plunderer says that he knew it. He says to prepare to deliver an ultimatum. Just then the Atlantean warning comes through. One of Plunderer's men says that they aren't to come within two leagues of them or they will fire upon them. Plunderer says that he was going to claim that Namor was his captive, but instead he orders the vibra-ray at maximum range. The vibra-gun is fired into the middle of the city and a building crumbles into ruins. The Atlanteans return fire, but a force field on the lower half of the submarine deflects the shots.

Just then a nearby American submarine hears all kinds of activity. One man recalls that they were warned about Namor in this area. Suddenly the deflected shots blow up besides the Americans. The Americans decide to strike back. The commander orders that depth charges be dropped in a minute flat.

In the shelters below, the people know that no matter what Namor wouldn't be attacking them with the surface dweller. Dorma starts to wonder again if they were right and that Namor hasn't been seen or heard. Vashti says that they will learn of Namor's guilt or innocence later.

Finally Namor arrives and sees that Plunderer is attacking Atlantis. Namor swims at the submarine. The Atlanteans see Namor and prepare to fire upon him. Just then one of the depth charges descends from above and hits Plunderer's submarine. Namor wonders if the surface men are somehow coming to Atlantis's aid.

Inside Plunderer's sub, Plunderer worries about his ship. He runs to escape. His men see that he is deserting him. Plunderer escapes in his own pocket sub remarking how fate stopped him from attacking both Atlantis and the surface world. Namor swims right at him. Plunderer is just about to blast Namor when another explosion from below ruins his aim. Plunderer runs away. Namor says that he will go after him, but that he must first learn where the mines are coming from. Namor sees a child scared and looking for his parents. The child sees Namor and tells him that he has been exiled. Namor tells the child to tell him what he means while he takes him to refuge.

Namor hears of his banishment and says that he would have deserved it had he really sided with Plunderer. The boy asks if the elders, Vashti, and Dorma were wrong. Namor asks if the poison of mistrust affected him as well. Namor rips open the door to the underground shelter and lets the boy in. He says that he has to go and prove his innocence.

Namor spots a bunch more depth charges. He figures they must be trying to get Plunderer, but that they are endangering far more than that. The charges destroy Plunderer's already damaged ship and the shockwaves from the explosion overwhelm Namor. Any other would have died, but Namor is just unconscious. Just then the surface floor opens up revealing the Atlantean armada. They figure out that the attack is coming from the surface dwellers that Namor tried to warn them of for so long. They decide then and there that it will be war.

Prince of the Realm rating: 7 out of 10

I like the art a little better this issue. It's odd how these old stories go off on these weird tangents. The two page interlude from the plot so that Namor can fight a killer whale feels so completely tacked on. Again with the mother's grave. I really hope something is made of this and that it isn't just forgot as so many loose threads tend to be. Namor has his war with the surface

Title: "The Puppet Power!"

Writer: Stan Lee

Penciller: Marie Severin

Inker: Herb Trimpe

Lord of the Lightning says that with the Hulk the missile base will soon be his. Hulk says that at last he has friends... someone to fight for. He says that he has a mission and that he won't fail. Lord of the Lightning shouts at his guards to get the door open before Hulk smashes through it.

Hulk leaps remembering that the Lord of the Lightning said he would stop all war and fighting. Hulk says that he is fighting for peace. He says that he is fighting for his friend and that he won't fail.

Lord of the Lightning says that they will take off after the Hulk. He says that Talbot may be useful as a hostage. Talbot says that he is mad, and that he can't take over a missile base with a handful of men. Lord of the Lightning says that he has more than a handful of men. He says that he has the Hulk as a one man assault force. The Living Lightning Legion follow the Hulk in a ship.

Hulk destroys a half-track by landing on it. Hulk leaps again and lands right on the base. Hulk tells everyone to stay back and that he is fighting for peace. The troops say to notify the General.

Ross is told that the Hulk is on the base. Ross says that they are ready for him this time. He picks up the phone and says to execute Plan G for gas. Betty rushes in and says that there is no news on Glenn. She says that she just heard his order and asks if that means the Hulk is back. Ross tells Betty that this is no place for her. Betty asks her father to promise not to shoot Bruce Banner. Ross says that he isn't Banner he is the Hulk. Betty says that Bruce can't help turning into the Hulk. Ross says that she says that just because she is in love with him. He says that this isn't a debating society. Ross orders a sergeant to take his daughter to safety.

Outside her room, soldiers comment that Betty could have any man on the base, but that she wants a monster.

Betty, inside her room, wonders to herself if it will always be like this. She wonders if the Hulk will always be between them.

The soldiers fire on Hulk, but Hulk doesn't even feel it as he walks toward the missile to smash them as the Lord of the Lightning told him to. Hulk picks up a large machine and smashes it into the missiles. The fuel explodes, but Hulk knows that it won't hurt him.

Ross orders that the gas be readied.

Through the smoke Hulk is trying to get away before the tanks get to him.

Lord of the Lightning tells Talbot to look at the damage done by his loyal ally. Talbot asks what he is trying to accomplish. He tells Talbot that he wants chaos and panic among the unthinking American. He says that when he takes over the base that it will be a signal to all subversive groups to rise up. He says that America is the greatest bastion of freedom and that it is only by crushing that freedom that men like him can seize the reins of power.

Hulk leaps into the air, but the heavy artillery fires on him.

The Living Lightning Legion lands at the base and catches everyone by surprise with their lightning weapons.

Betty charges out of her room and says that she knows he is there and that they must take her to him. The soldiers tell her to get back inside and that they are being attacked.

Hulk smashes into the tanks that shot him down. Ross says that the Hulk took the bait and orders the gas bombs. The gas bombs hit the Hulk. Hulk is about to leap away, but he takes a breath to do so and passes out. The soldiers swarm around Hulk. Suddenly they hear the red alert and know that they are under attack. Ross asks why the alarm was sounded and says that they have already stopped the Hulk. A soldier tells him that it isn't the Hulk. He says that they are under attack from an unknown source. Suddenly Ross gets a phone call. Ross asks what he means by invasion. He asks who he is talking to. Lord of the Living Lightning introduces himself to Ross. He says that Ross may call him his new commanding officer. He compliments Ross on his cigars. An officer says that they struck when they were fighting the Hulk. He says that they are in complete control of the base and have cut off radio contact with the outside. Ross slams the phone down and heads to his office to face the Lord of the Living Lightning. He tells the soldier with him that if he isn't back in ten minutes to assume command. He tells him not to surrender so long as one man remains alive to fight.

Ross arrives and asks where his daughter is. The Lord of the Living Lightning says that Ross will know when he is ready for him to know. Talbot tells Ross that they took her and he couldn't do anything about it. Ross asks about the Hulk. The Lord tells Ross to follow him and he will show him. He leads Ross down some stairs and says that it is the least he can do for Ross since Ross is going to surrender the base to him on a national television. Ross says that he will never do that. The Lord tells him not to be too sure. He shows Ross his daughter Betty imprisoned in the same cell as the Hulk and tells him that the Hulk is about to revive. The Lord asks Ross for his answer.

No Excuses rating: 5.5 out of 10

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