Issue(s): Sub-Mariner #4
Cover Date: Aug 68
Title: "Who strikes for Atlantis?"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
John Buscema - Penciler
Frank Giacoia - Inker

Review/plot:
Namor is a lot like Hamlet: insane and unable to act on the things he knows he must do. Here it is issue #4 and he has still not made it to the Fantastic Four to ask for help in locating Paul Destine. Even prior to that, he'd decided he would attack the surface world in order to try and regain the trust of his people, but he's never done anything about that either. Now he's having hallucinations of Lady Dorma. Then he spends some time playing with fish and resting on the backs of sea turtles.

Meanwhile, Attuma sees that the Atlanteas are in exodus and he takes the opportunity to attack them.

I must have Shakespeare on my mind due to the awful addition of a court jester character to Attuma's court.

The jester speaks in prophetic riddles that of course Attuma ignores. The story even references blindness. You'd think i'd appreciate an attempt by Thomas to make these comics more literary but it just feels contrived.

Attuma crushes a subject who challenges him for the throne. Then the barbarians easily conquer the Atlanteans, who, similar to the Agardians, seem utterly incapable of defending themselves without their champion.

The barbarians spot Namor cavorting with the turtles and they bring him in to Attuma. But Namor was faking being held captive and he escapes and challenges the barbarian king to a duel. Attuma is wearing armor enhanced by a machine...

...and the insurgent that challenged Attuma helps Lady Dorma destroy the machine so the Sub-Mariner can win the fight. The Atlanteans are free but Namor has been led by Attuma to believe that Dorma is dead.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 2

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place before Captain Marvel #4, where Namor references Lady Dorma's 'death'.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Tales To Astonish #4 (1979)

Mark Gruenwald has a letter here.