Kneel before Namor I, king of Atlantis!
The Fantastic Four Annual #1, released in 1963, was one of the first comics of its kind. Part of the Fantastic Four (1961) run, it featured a story that doubled the size of that of a regular comic and had a very special plot. It was, after all, a special issue released only once a year.In this story Namor finally finds his lost race, the Atlanteans, and leads them to conquer the surface world once and for all.
Tropes
- Artistic License – Biology: As usual, Jack Kirby and Namor means we'll have loads of weird and unrealistic fishes around.
- Blue Blood: And not just because all the other Atlanteans are blue. Lady Dorma is of an aristocratic Atlantean house that means even Namor has to watch his step around her.
- Busman's Holiday: The FF (and Alicia) go on vacation. Naturally, they run into Namor, who had been looking for them.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Lady Dorma doesn't like the idea of Namor having a crush on Sue. By which we mean "tries to kill Sue without bothering to see whether Sue's remotely interested in Namor first.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Namor's army manages to take New York without even a single casualty on either side.
- Damsel in Distress: Sue... (sigh) Again.. Namor abducts her, and Sue makes no attempt to even try to fight back. This was before she got her forcefield powers.
- Easily Thwarted Alien Invasion: Atlantis invades New York in a short time, and Reed manages to evaporate the air of their helmets. In a moment, a victorious invading army turns into a legion of desperate guys rushing back to the water.
- Easing into the Adventure: Johnny is playing pranks on Ben before the actions starts.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Namor is ready to interrupt his conquering crusade at a moment's notice, if Sue is in danger.
- Got Volunteered: Reed needs an Atlantean to interrogate. Ben leaves to the streets and returns with three "volunteers".
- Latex Perfection: Namor disguises himself as a prestigious professor and infiltrates the UN, until he finally reveals himself. The hows and whys of all this are... probably best not dwelt upon.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Namor, costumed as an archaeologist, explains his race, and Reeds urges the UN to declare war on Namor. He then revealed himself, took it as the war being declared, and started the military actions... before taking a moment to, oh, see what do the UN guys say about this. What if they were willing to accept Namor's terms despite of Reed's advise?
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Lady Dorma will not have a Love Triangle with a human! She destroys a window of the submarine, so that it fills with water. No air-breather shall be worthy of the love of Namor!
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: Namor would spend some more time in the Heel–Face Revolving Door, usually being on the side of Face (if a spectacular jerk) but his invasion of the surface world here is never forgotten.
- Police Are Useless: The Pentagon has no plan on how to deal with an invasion of New York by Atlanteans. All the people of New York are hostages of the invading army. It's up to the Fantastic Four to save the day.
- Rightful King Returns: Namor has finally returned to rule Atlantis, after having amnesia for years and then ignoring its current location. Lady Dorma is ready to resume her romance with her, but Lord Krang is upset because this leaves him out of power.
- Ripped from the Headlines: When Reed explains at the UN the threat of Namor, the Soviet representative rejects it all, hitting the desk with his shoe. This is based on an alleged similar action done by Nikita Khrushchev, see here
. - Stating the Simple Solution: Namor orders several monsters to show themselves, so that the Fantastic Four are sent to investigate. Then he can capture them and give them an ultimatum for the human race, that they would deliver.Thing: It woulda been cheaper to send a telegram, you water-logged ham!
- Switching P.O.V.: The Annual also re-writes and expands the meeting of The Amazing Spider-Man #1, but from the point of view of the Fantastic Four.
- This Page Will Self-Destruct: The Atlantean missile that sends the Fantastic Four to their headquarters breaks and evaporates after landing.
- The Unmasqued World: Although people knew about Namor, his speech at the UN openly reveals the existence of Atlanteans to an unsuspecting world.
