GIANT-SIZE SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP #1 (1975)
by Roy Thomas & Mike Sekowsky
Cover by Gil Kane
If the first “Giant-Size” mostly included reprints, this one has a main story with 32 pages.
Unfortunately, despite a good cover by Gil Kane…
…we are stuck with Mike Sekowsky drawing.
We begin with Namor interrupting the voyage of the supertanker Typhoeus, which is trespassing on the territory of Atlantis. So Namor sinks it; thankfully the tanker is currently empty.
He does make it a point of making sure that the crew makes it out alive.
The entire population of Atlantis is currently in suspended animation, probably because that’s the only way to stop hearing Namor talk. I swear, the dude never shuts up in this comic.
He does have other problems. Specifically, a poorly drawn invasion.
Atlantis doesn’t have an army at the moment, but since Namor is a guy who can go toe-to-toe with the Hulk for a couple of rounds, that’s not really an issue.
I do like Namor telling the enemy army “would you please stop shooting at me while I’m trying to sink your ships?”.
When he tries to talk to one of the enemy soldiers, he discovers that Doctor Doom is behind all this, projecting his image on one of the helmets the soldiers wear.
Turns out that Doom just staged the invasion because he wanted to talk to Namor and offer his partnership.
Which is honestly hilarious considering that the last time they met their positions were 100% reversed, as Namor points out!
Of course Doom being Doom means that even the an offer for help comes with an implicit threat.
One of the reasons why these team-ups with Namor work, and why they will be essentially be co-stars of the regular series that is about to start, is definitely the way the characters both respect and try to continuously one-up each other.
Also the fact that Doom doesn’t care that Namor is always seeing right through Doom’s bulls#it.
Can you believe that this is actually the first time Namor has even been to Latveria?
Also of note: while Latveria is “too small to be included on most maps of Europe”, it is officially a nuclear power.
Doom has a new batch of androids, who despite a truly ugly design seem vastly superior to those of Hero for Hire #8. And forcing an android to “kill” another is more in line with Doom’s character that randomly hypnotizing his henchmen to do the same in Fantastic Four #143.
These androids are so advanced that they are praying for their deactivated brethren in front of an altar (!!!), something that apparently Doom doesn’t give a crap about.
Doom being so utterly blind in front of the OBVIOUS signs of rebellion seems a bit forced, since he’s typically very quick to stop any sign of dissent on the human Latverians.
Still, props to the comic for making the android factory somewhat creepy…
…and their religion downright demonic.
Until their prayers are answered by Dr. Manhattan.
If you thought that Doom creating nuclear weapons was impressive, he has SOLVED THE ENERGY CRISIS by harnessing solar energy!
Doom is going all in with this alliance, even providing a symbol that is supposed to be represent both him and Namor… AND IT SUCKS.
Considering the trident is so dominant you would think that this was Namor’s version, but no!
But the alliance is tested when the leader of the android rebellion shows himself: it’s Doomsman from Astonishing Tales #3, with a much better costume and a worse name… “Andro”.
Wait, in that story Doomsman was exiled in another dimension. How did he get back?
Why, by hijacking a teleporting dog in a story that hasn’t been published yet, of course!
Sounds legit.
Doom and Namor fight the androids for a while, before retreating beneath the castle where Namor can recharge with some water and where Doom informs us that he deliberately made androids that need to breathe. And I guess this is the ONLY scenario where it was a good idea.
So this makes it the second time that Doom’s supposedly superior artificial forces have been defeated by water. Now I’m beginning to understand why he wants Namor’s help so badly, can you imagine Doom trying to conquer Atlantis with those!?
Namor is eager to tear Andro a new one, but Doom insists that it’s his job.
Okay, so… time for the awesome fight between Doctor Doom and the android he created with cosmic powers and intelligence to match his own! This should be fun!
Or not.
I swear I’m not cutting ANYTHING from their fight, this is their entire exchange!
Sooo… that sucked.
But I like the panel with Doom and Namor walking past the decimated army, even if the artwork isn’t stellar.
And so we end with Doom deciding to go back to using metal robots instead of androids.
You might think that Andro will be a major antagonist during the following series… and you’d be wrong, because we’ll never see him again. (WTF!?)
Doom significance: 2/10
This is the basis for Doom’s alliance with Namor during Super-Villain Team-Up, and it’s the end of the original Doomsman “subplot”.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
On the Marvel scale, sure, but still… ANOTHER army defeated by water!?
Does it stand the test of time? 3/10
This was mostly a setup for the regular series. While there are some solid parts… Doom’s banter with Namor is an highlight… but unfortunately the story itself is rather clunky.
The art isn’t anything spectacular, the fights are particularly unimpressive, and despite the increased length this feels like a relatively short story with a lot of padding.
The fact that the story absolutely wastes Andro/Doomsman is inexcusable.
It was a Doombot all along
No indications, although I have a feeling that Andro would’ve known if it was a Doombot.
Take over the world & Destroy the FF!
Firmly in the “take over the world” category.
Crazy tech
Yeah the androids sucked, but can we talk about how Doom just discovered the secret to endless energy!?
Supervillains created by Doom: 5
Adding Doomsman. I didn’t add him in Astonishing Tales #3 since his status as a supervillain was a little shaky, but he’s definitely a villain here.