Issue(s): Strange Tales #125 (Human Torch story only)
Cover Date: Oct 64
Title: "The Sub-Mariner must be stopped!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Dick Ayers - Penciler
Paul Reinman - Inker

Review/plot:
Continuing the shift to a Thing/Torch team-up book, this issue has the two fighting the Sub-Mariner.

This fight occurs after they spend the opening pages fighting each other (with the Thing shaking around an asbestos rug)...

...and it ends when they learn that they've completely bungled a diplomatic outreach from Mr. Fantastic.

While the Thing and the Torch act especially irrational and immature in attacking Namor, Reed probably should have been proactive in letting them know about the meeting, especially since he also didn't clear Namor's arrival with US authorities.

Namor demonstrates his little used power (probably seen more in this book than anywhere else) of mimicking the abilities of all the creatures in the sea by generating an electric eel blast this issue. The electric jolt oddly knocks out Namor as well as the Torch.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The MCP places this between FF #30-31 and before FF annual #2.

References:

• The Sub-Mariner last attacked the surface world in Fantastic Four annual #1 (although that wasn't his last appearance).

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Essential Human Torch