Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #5

Happy Thursday, folks!

Today's topic is the fifth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Namor the Sub-Mariner on a table, being tended to by Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Thing (Ben Grimm), with Dr. Doom attacking them from behind. The tale was titled "...And Be A Villain!" The issue had a publication date of April 1976.

Richards was busy at work before one of his many computer consoles in the Baxter Building in New York when his concentration was interrupted by Namor bursting through a nearby window. The Sub-Mariner was barely conscious, but still alert enough to beg for Reed's help. The hero instinctively leapt into action and placed his guest in a tank of water, thinking back to why he'd created the suit Namor was wearing in the first place.

A short while later, Reed's Fantastic Four teammates, the Thing, the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Invisible Girl (Susan Richards) entered the room. They'd heard the crash and decided to investigate. Reed quickly filled them in before Grimm noticed that the Sub-Mariner was starting to recover. He swam to the tub's surface and explained that he'd been attacked by Dr. Doom with a weapon that made his suit nonfunctional.

The Latverian monarch stated that his erstwhile ally would suffocate in minutes unless he received Doom's antidote. Before another conflict could begin, Von Doom brought Namor into his ship and steered toward Atlantis. Doom fired a weapon from his vessel, destroying Atlantis' protective dome. He then offered Namor a choice: his allegiance or his people's continued suffering. The Sub-Mariner felt like he had no choice but to align with Doom once more.

Victor Von Doom then supplied his guest with an elixir that would allow him to breathe air again for 24 hours before commanding that he find Richards to see if he could repair his suit. No sooner had Namor finished his tale when Doom appeared in the center of the room. Grimm lunged at his longtime rival, only to learn that it was just an image.

The real Doom was in his home country of Latveria. Upon ending the transmission, he walked the streets of his native land, confident that he had the Sub-Mariner in his grasp, and that the world would soon be not far behind. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four were mostly preoccupied trying to address Namor's situation.

Everyone except Johnny was pitching in. The Human Torch noticed a shadowy figure in a building across from their headquarters and flew to check it out. He encountered a human who called himself the Shroud. Storm wanted to know the stranger's connection with Doom, but didn't receive much of an answer before the hooded figure disappeared.

The Human Torch flew back to join his friends and saw that Richards had figured out that the problem Doom postulated was probably unfixable. The solution had to lie in the antidote that Victor had given Namor. After some time, the Sub-Mariner decided he'd had enough. He smashed the water vat, and strode to the window. He flew away only to falter, before a beam dispatched by Doom whisked him away. 

The Fantastic Four were determined not to let their bitter enemy claim another friend. Everything was ready for another classic battle. The only question was where the Shroud's loyalty lay.

One thing about a book like this whose creative team changed regularly, is the lack of consistency. As you may remember, it was Namor, not Doom, who initially proposed their alliance at the start of this series. It's a little puzzling why Doom was obsessed with having Namor join his cause, especially after declaring that he needed no one toward the end of last issue following their spat. Doom and Namor have definitely had a kind of weird love-hate relationship over the years.

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll close out the work week with an analysis of the sixth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll see where the Sub-Mariner was transported to, and what roles the Fantastic Four and the Shroud have to play in this conflict against Dr. Doom. There also promises to be the involvement of an as-yet-unidentified player. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up

Happy Wednesday, folks!

Time for me to discuss the fourth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted Dr. Doom and Namor, the Sub-Mariner, battling one another in front of a military ship. The story was called "A Time of Titans!" The issue had a publication date of February 1976.

Doom and Namor stood before each other after their recent adventure at Hydrobase (which concluded last issue). The two rulers of their own respective nations had joined forces to defeat their common enemies, but that partnership was hanging on by a thread, one that started to unravel as they started a fierce battle.

The confrontation was witnessed from afar by soldiers on a naval vessel. Everyone on board was wary of the battle, except for a scientist below decks (whom some of you may know from the original Deathlok's exploits). He saw it as a golden opportunity, noting that he could possibly use the powers of Doom and Namor to energize his initial creation. 

It wasn't long before the navy ship became involved in the struggle. The Sub-Mariner was eventually able to toss his new ally into the hull of the vessel. Doom emerged from the new wreckage, blasting away, unaware that the scientist was lurking right behind him with his manual energy siphons in his eager hands. 

He quickly placed them atop Doom's head, and the Latverian monarch struggled with the unexpected loss of power that coursed through the tubing to a pool of protogen-gel that harbored a humanoid that finally took its first breath. After presuming that Namor was defeated, Doom then turned his attention to his surprise attacker.

Doom swiftly tossed the scientist into his own machinery, proclaiming that he needed no one as he flew away. Victor was unaware that the experiment was a success, nor did he know that Namor was still very much alive. The Sub-Mariner remained underwater for some time, striking at the natural walls nearby as he swore he would have vengeance on his former colleague.

The partnership between Doom and Namor was about as volatile as the band Van Halen was with its lead singers during their heyday. While they were both viewed as great rulers of their respective countries, they had very different ideals, even though some of their goals were similar. This was a fine one-off story to bridge the gap between storylines (with yet another different creative lineup).

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the fifth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. Namor and Doom will return, as well as some of their common longtime rivals. That issue will also feature the debut of a new superhero. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #3

Happy Tuesday, peeps!

It's time for me to talk about the third issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, and Dr. Doom combining forces to battle Attuma and Tiger Shark. The tale was titled "If Vengeance Fails!" The issue had a cover date of December 1975.

The story began right where the previous issue left off. Namor, grief-stricken over the murder of his longtime friend Betty Dean Prentiss at the hands of Dr. Dorcas, lunged at the trio who had recently kidnapped him. The battle raged on between the quartet for some time until Doom, who had previously been quiet until just then, decided to speak up.

The Latverian monarch announced that the conflict was over before moving to his new ally's side. He used the stun shock from his metal gauntlets to put down the antagonists so he could assist the Sub-Mariner. Before his opponents could fully recover, Namor and Doom were teleported away.

The duo arrived on Victor's ship, which was located just outside Hydrobase. Namor was only able to walk a few feet before collapsing. When he awoke, a beautiful young lackey informed the Sub-Mariner that he was at Castle Latveria, inside a special chemical brine bath that the lord of the manor had prepared especially for him. 

When Namor was back to his old self again, he was led to another chamber where Dr. Doom was busy plotting their revenge for Betty's death. After a brief argument, the Sub-Mariner relented, agreeing to Doom's plans. Their craft soon returned to Hydrobase to attack the defending Octomeks from the air.

An electric harpoon was tossed from the ship to sap Tiger Shark's strength before the first attack was made. Namor was eventually able to slip into the prison and free his loyal subjects. He borrowed a weapon from Doom's armory to temporarily encase his foes in an energy shell that was difficult to break, until he chose to destroy the gun, preferring to face his rivals in hand-to-hand combat.

Doom entered the fray after using up too much power for his devices during the initial assault. He seemed defeated, until Victor put the ends of two bombs together to destroy his tormentors. Meanwhile, Namor continued his battle with his own enemies. The battle ended when Dorcas was crushed under the weight of a defeated Octomek.

The freed Hydrobase members soon rounded up Tiger Shark and Attuma to take them to an inescapable cell. Namor reached Doom right before the Latverian ruler ordered the jester-like Saru-San to repeat the same act Doom had just used to defeat his foes. The Sub-Mariner rationalized that there was no reason for the harmless pest to have been destroyed. Doom countered, stating that he did as he preferred and answered to none. They'd won that day, but their alliance was still anything but easy. 

Despite having different creative teams in each issue of this saga, this was still a solid beginning to this title. The unlikely partnership between Doom and Namor was very shaky, but they proved they could face very deadly threats together. It also showed more about where their allegiances and motivations were.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll talk about the fourth issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. Tempers flare between the two titans, and their clash catches the interest of some unintended victims in the process. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #2

Happy Monday, folks!

Kicking off the week with a summary of the second issue of Marvel's Super-Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted the Sub-Mariner chained to a wall, while Doctor Doom fired blasts at his kidnappers, Attuma and Tiger Shark. The first part of the script was called "In the Midst of Life...!" The issue had a publication date of October 1975.

The story started with Dr. Dorcas, Attuma, and Tiger Shark rejoicing over the defeat of their Atlantean enemy, Prince Namor (who lost in battle to the trio last issue). He was being led away to their base, an act that was observed from afar on a viewscreen by Doom. Back at his castle in Latveria, the tiny country's monarch reflected on his recent interactions with the Atlantean prince, as well as the incidents that led to Namor's current situation.

Back on Hydrobase, Dr. Jennings managed to escape. He punched Saru-San, who quickly recovered and reported it to his superiors. Tiger Shark, Dorcas, and Attuma were carrying Namor away when Tiger Shark noticed something unusual in the water next to him. It appeared to be an artificial fish, which he quickly crushed. The fish was Dr. Doom's drone that he'd been using to spy on the situation in Hydrobase. Afterward, Doom stepped away from his command center and headed toward a launch bay where he entered a large rocket ship.

Part two of our saga, entitled "The Way to Dusty Death!" began with the Latverian monarch setting foot on Hydrobase soil. He had only ventured a few feet when, after tripping an electric eye beam, the villain was blasted with jolts of electricity. Doom laughed at the defense mechanism, the likes of which hadn't been an obstacle for him for quite some time.

Doom was then met with a pair of large Octomeks. He employed the instant hypnotism impulser contained in one of his metal gauntlets, causing the drivers of the large attack crafts to face each other in combat. Doctor Doom then laughed behind his personal forcefield as his foes were smashed to bits. 

The act was witnessed by a Hydrobase resident named Betty Prentiss. She was stunned to see Doom standing right behind her moments later. Victor explained that what she saw before her was merely an image of himself, which disappeared soon after pressing another concealed button hidden within his armor. 

Doom knew plenty about Prentiss, including her history with Namor. She shared with Doom what she knew about the attack on the island and joined the Latverian ruler on his quest to free the Sub-Mariner. Doctor Doom used his blasters to carve a hole into the nearby walls, followed by Betty. 

They were soon inside and found Namor chained to a wall before his captors, Dorcas, Tiger Shark, and Attuma. The Sub-Mariner intensified his attempts to break free after Dorcas slapped the old woman. Dorcas eventually brought forth another gun and aimed it at Namor. Betty leapt in the way of the blast, which she caught the full brunt of. The room was eerily silent after Namor finally broke free. He held his dear friend in his arms, knowing that she was no longer alive. His angered gaze then turned toward the ones responsible for her death.

This was the first issue of Super-Villain Team-Up that I bought years ago from the bargain bin at my local comic book store. It was also one of the first times that I was exposed to Sal Buscema's distinctive artwork. I would go on to enjoy his remarkable artwork in the Incredible Hulk, ROM: Spaceknight, the Defenders, the Spectacular Spider-Man, Skull the Slayer, Tarzan, Star Wars, and other Marvel mags throughout the years. Unfortunately, this was the one and only issue of this series that he drew. It was also the untimely end for one of Namor's oldest allies. 

That's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll continue my coverage of this storyline with a recap of the third issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. We'll see the final confrontation between Namor and his Atlantean rivals, as well as the role Dr. Doom played in this final chapter. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Super-Villain Team-Up #1

Good afternoon,

I'm winding down a nice weekend with a discussion of the first issue of Marvel's ongoing series Super-Villain Team-Up.  The cover showed Prince Namor being restrained by his old rival Tiger Shark, as another foe, Attuma, prepared to strike him. A large vision of Doctor Doom appeared in the background. The first chapter of this story was titled "An Alliance Asunder?" The issue had a cover date of August 1975.

The tale began shortly after the events that occurred in the second giant-sized issue of this title. Namor was starting to doubt the alliance he'd initially wanted with the ruler of Latveria, while the pair were still in Doom's castle. The Sub-Mariner flew off angrily after a brief recap of the previous issues' events. 

Victor Von Doom retreated to his headquarters as rain started to fall outside. He looked upon the multiple view screens at his previous bouts with not only the Fantastic Four, but other heroes such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor, Quicksilver, and Daredevil. Doom knew he could destroy a planet by himself, but wondered if he could command it.

Victor then declared that he alone would be sufficient, before striking some of the machinery that sat before him. He needed an ally. Doom decided that Atlantis needed a powerful partner if it were to rise to power again, and dispatched a fish-shaped drone to monitor Namor's activities.

Not far away, Namor returned to the waters near his own home, unaware that he was being followed by Doom's robotic spy. The Sub-Mariner walked onto Hydrobase and unwittingly tripped a security beam. Part two of our saga, entitled "Frenzy on a Floating Fortress" started with Namor's body being shocked relentlessly by a large machine.

Namor struggled with pain, but still continued to advance toward the device before demolishing it with one strong blow. He was weakend yet ready to fight when someone approached him from behind. The stranger was an old friend: Dr. Jennings (from Subby's late, lamented magazine). The Sub-Mariner was warning his comrade of danger when they were attacked by a quintet of blue-skinned humans.

The ruler of Atlantis led the defense, and before very long, all of their attackers were lying unconscious at his feet. Jennings then filled his ally in on what he'd missed. He started with recent scientific experiments that were suddenly interrupted by blasts of ionic rays that took out many in the compound. 

Jennings escaped the assault, but ran into large robots known as Octomeks while he fled. Namor was certain that his old nemesis Attuma was behind such dastardly deeds when he was struck from behind by Tiger Shark. He appeared alongside Attuma and Dr. Dorcas.

The trio of villains had joined forces to fulfill their goal of world domination. A battle began on land that carried over into the sea. Namor had finally bested Tiger Shark and was about to get revenge on Attuma when a gun carrying an electrical charge was fired at him by Dorcas. Dorcas instructed his colleagues to take the unconscious Atlantean back with them. 

After his revival in the 1960s, the Sub-Mariner co-starred with the Hulk in the Tales to Astonish comic. That book was retitled the Incredible Hulk with issue #102, and Namor was given his own title, which lasted 72 issues. Some of these stories pick up where plots from Sub-Mariner's solo series left off. It was good to see Namor in action against his old enemies, although Doom didn't factor into much of the latter half of this issue. 

That's it from me for today. Tomorrow, I'll cover the second issue of this series. We'll find out where Namor was taken after his defeat, what role Dr. Doom played in this escapade, and the return of one of the Sub-Mariner's oldest friends. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #2

Good morning, folks!

Hope everyone's been having a great weekend. Time for me to talk about the second giant-sized issue of Super Villain Team-Up. The cover showed Doctor Doom and Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, fighting side-by-side against a score of robots. The first part of this saga was called "The Slaying of a Titan!" The issue had a publication date of June 1975.

After the splash page, the story began with the tanker Typhoeus, pride of the Patagonian Navy, sailing toward its next destination when the crew was alerted to Namor's presence. The regent of Atlantis commanded that the ship turn around immediately, since it was about to enter Atlantean territory.

The Sub-Mariner felt like he had no choice but to attack the vessel after his order was ignored. He was astride a floating chariot, and Namor piloted his craft on a collision course with the tanker. Two large drills emerged from its interior and began cutting massive holes in its hull.

Before long, the supposedly unsinkable boat was about to meet its final destination at the bottom of the icy waters below. Namor announced that he'd radioed nearby rescue ships to save the crew, warning once more that no boats would be allowed in that area ever again. Shortly thereafter, the prince returned to his undersea home.

Namor walked through a chamber that contained the unconscious bodies of many of his loyal citizens, suspended in their own individual glass capsules. The Sub-Mariner was lamenting his inability to cure his subjects of their current predicament (due to events that unfolded in Subby's own mag before its cancellation) when the sounds of explosions could be heard outside Atlantis' transparent dome. 

The cause of the disruption was revealed in part two of the story, which was called "When Monarchs Meet!" The Sub-Mariner raced to the source, which was an invading fleet. The Sub-Mariner fought off as many of the strangers as he could, until one of them spoke in a voice that was all too familiar to him. As he peered into the person's visor, he saw the grim visage of Doctor Doom staring back at him.

Namor quickly realized that the image was just an illusion, and learned that the Latverian ruler was on the surface. He admitted that the assault was conducted to draw his attention, an incredibly effective ploy. The Sub-Mariner swam away moments before the invading ship was detonated remotely by Doom.

The leader of Atlantis breached the water's surface and located Doom's ship. He flew inside and met the man who declared himself to be his new partner. Namor was surprised to hear this, after Doom refused to assist him (as shown last issue). Victor Von Doom replied that he'd since had a change of heart, adding that he was glad that Namor had demolished the Typhoeus. 

Doom pointed out their similarities, noting that they should more likely be listed as conquerors than villains. Victor then instructed his androids to set a course for his homeland of Latveria. Once there, more would be revealed.

Part three of this plot was entitled "The Armies of Andro!" It began with a battle between two of Doom's androids. One quickly bested the other before Doom showed his guest more of the factory that was used to produce his obedient servants. As the two allies admired the facility, many more androids were gathered in an underground hall, standing before one whom they watched in rapt fascination.

Doom was describing the massive solar battery array he had produced to the Sub-Mariner when the facility was entered by an intruder who called himself Andro and claimed to be leader of the androids. The stranger ordered his lackeys to attack the conquerors, and another battle swiftly began.

During the confrontation, it was revealed that Andro was formerly the very first Doomsman (an artificial entity whose previous exploits were covered in the first three issues of Astonishing Tales). Doom had used the mechanical man as a comrade in his encounter with the Faceless One, and left his robot exiled in a different dimension.

The former Doomsman spotted the Inhuman known as Lockjaw and clung to his body while invisible as the teleporter moved from that particular dimension back to Earth with the Thing. The conflict continued until Victor finally faced off against his creation. Andro teleported away rather than engage in a physical fight with his creator.

Doom and the Sub-Mariner then assessed the damage left by the confrontation. Their plans were delayed but not destroyed. Doom then pushed a secret button on a nearby wall to expose more androids who were far less susceptible to Andro's influences before moving on to continue their work.

The rest of the issue was a reprint of the Living Brain story from the eighth issue of the Amazing Spider-Man. I suppose that this story and several others in the ongoing SVTU series were designed to wrap up some of the loose ends left from the Astonishing Tales and Sub-Mariner titles, respectively. It was good to see Doom and Namor face a common foe, but it still didn't explain just what Doom was going to to do help Namor's subjects just yet. 

I'll return this afternoon with a synopsis of the first regular-sized issue of Super Villain Team-Up. It takes place right after the events of this script, including a few characters from Sub-Mariner's recent past. Until then, have a great Sunday and don't forget to be kind to one another. 

Retro Comic Recap: Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up #1

Happy Saturday, folks!

Hope all's well with everyone. Today's focus is on the first giant-sized issue of Super Villain Team-Up. The cover depicted Namor, the Sub-Mariner, locked in combat with Doctor Doom. The first part of this tale was called "Encounter at Land's End!" The issue had a publication date of March 1975.

The story started with the Latverian monarch falling Earthward after his battle with Darkoth the Death-Demon aboard a spaceship that had just exploded. Part I of this saga, entitled "Sub-Mariner Rising!" found Doom floating unresponsive in a body of water just as a seagoing vessel approached him. The craft was driven by Namor, who found Doom and brought him onboard. 

The Atlantean prince placed Doom upon a device called an electronic stimulatron. After turning the machine on, a series of electric jolts brought his former rival back to consciousness. Victor Von Doom rose, remembering the rift that had grown between him and his savior.

Both rulers of their own kingdoms were reminded of the times in the past when they fought with and against each other. The second part of the story, known as "In the Darkness Dwells Doom!" was a reprint of the classic tale from issue #20 of Subby's own title. It featured Namor's trek across New York City until he came across the Latverian consulate. 

The Sub-Mariner overcame the automated defenses until Doom greeted his guest. Victor offered Namor a partnership, one that was swiftly refused. Doom then declared Namor to be a threat and dispatched his lackeys after him. After a series of battles, the Sub-Mariner emerged from the consulate, relieved to be free of the trappings of the man-made city.

During the interlude, Namor's ship continued to glide underwater. Doom considered Namor's proposal of joining forces. It was certainly tempting. However, he was reluctant to undergo any sort of partnership, thinking back to how his last such encounter fared.

Part III, entitled "This Man...This Demon!" reprinted the classic tale from Marvel Super Heroes #20, in which Doom sought assistance to finally gain a deciding victory over his old enemies, the Fantastic Four. This time, the one seeking an alliance was the magician known as Diablo.

Doom was unconvinced by the stranger's powers until he found his first love, Valeria, imprisoned by the alchemist. Seeing her again brought back memories of spending time with the girl in their youth, including the day when he and his father left their village, after the elder Doom was accused of causing the death of the Baron's wife, a fate that not even the talented man could prevent.

The two wandered for some time, until they were found later with the elder Doom in very poor condition. On his deathbed, Doom's father warned his son to protect. Victor thought that his father's last words meant to protect him, while onlookers knew that the dying man was talking about protecting the world from the one named Von Doom. 

Victor was now an orphan, and quite understandably was very angry with the world. Some time later, he happened upon the magic potions left behind by his late mother. He started tinkering with them to learn more about his heritage, much to the concern of Valeria. After witnessing Victor's obsession with power, she feared that she'd lost the friend she'd known for years. 

Diablo gave Doom some time to think about his suggestion. He sat alone, contemplating possible outcomes. He began to wonder if Valeria would accept him for the person he was now, including his misshapen face, which had been disfigured in an accident that occurred when Victor was in college in the U.S., trying to locate his mother's spirit. 

He lashed out violently before starting to rebuild his confidence in himself and his own potential. When Diablo returned, Doom announced that he would accept the partnership for the time being. The duo went to retake Doom's castle, and Diablo suggested using Doom's time machine.

Once he was sure that Valeria was in no danger, Doom activated the device, sending his former ally many centuries in the future, to an Earth that had been effectively destroyed by decades of conflict. Afterward, Victor sought to rekindle his relationship with Valeria, only to be rebuked. Valeria loved the man Victor had once been, but that man was no longer the person who stood before her now. She left Doom alone once more.

Part IV of the tale began with Doom attacking his host when answering the question of their suggested alliance. The two titans battled as the ship soared toward an old, abandoned Atlantean base. Doom emerged from the craft and strode triumphantly to shore. Namor stayed behind in his ship, steering away from danger before swearing that he and Victor would fight side by side before long, this time to take over the planet Earth.

Doctor Doom has always been my favorite Marvel villain. He's one of the most intelligent characters in the Marvel Universe, and he never does the same thing twice. Namor is an interesting character. Much like Magneto, he's fought on the sides of good and evil on many occasions. The Sub-Mariner was one of Marvel's oldest characters. He was a member of the Invaders in the 1940s, a founding Defender, and would go on to join the Avengers and even align with the X-Men for a time, although he never really seemed to fit in with Xavier's charges very much. 

This series first piqued my interest when I purchased a copy of the second issue of the regular SVTU book from the bargain box at my local comic book shop several years ago. It's a pity that it didn't last very long, but it was one of those titles that had a rotating cast of writers and artists, so I guess I'm not too surprised that it didn't manage to stay afloat for very long. There was still a lot of potential in the storylines and characters that were featured throughout its run.

That's it for now. Tomorrow, I'll discuss the second giant-size issue of Super-Villain Team-Up. True to his word, Namor did ally with Doom once more, in a full-length, brand-new story against common foes. Until then, have a great weekend and don't forget to be kind to one another.