SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP #13 (1977)
by Bill Mantlo & Keith Giffen
The last issue of Super-Villain Team-Up to co-star Namor, and we finally close some subplots that have been running since the beginning of the series.
Great cover by Keith Giffen, who also draws the entire issue.
Doom has promised to help Namor awake the Atlanteans from their suspended animation, and naturally he takes the opportunity to sh#t on Reed Richards.
To do this they attack the stronghold of a classic Namor villain, the warlord Krang, giving Giffen a chance to show off how much he can resemble Kirby.
I really like the way he draws Namor swimming, he really gives the idea of how fast he’s going.
As Namor fights Krang’s army (remember that this is a guy who can go toe to toe with the Hulk, so Namor is his own army), Doom nonchalantly takes care of the Atlantean problem.
Everything is going great until Krang summons a splash page and THIS THING shows up.
It’s apparently some kind of… actually, even Namor has no clue about what it is.
Note to self: summoning Cthulhu is bad for morale.
However once Namor discovers that Doom has freed the Atlanteans, he gets his second wind and defeats the creature by swimming so fast to create an underwater tornado. (!!!!)
Watching Namor taking care of the unstoppable monster, Krang figures that taking on Doctor Doom would be an easier fight.
He thought wrong.
Krang is at the mercy of Doom…
…but Namor has like three decent classical villains, so he gets to live.
Despite all their previous team-ups, Namor still won’t even thank Doom for his help.
It probably has something to do with Doom poisoning and enslaving Namor a few issues ago.
Namor gets his kingdom back, while Doom broods over the fact that he’s not really into Namor all that much.
…and it’ll take a long time before their next alliance.
Doom significance: 0/10
This is more Namor’s story, resolving a subplot that had been going on for ages.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
Random Chthuluh and an underwater swordfight.
Does it stand the test of time? 10/10
Very light on characterization, but fantastic art, great storytelling and enjoyable action scenes. Nothing revolutionary, but you can basically reprint it and it wouldn’t look out of place.
It was a Doombot all along
No indication once way or another.
Take over the world & Destroy the FF!
Once again, not even remotely in Doom’s mind.
Crazy tech
Doom’s sword is a little disappointing, but his bubble ship is adorable!