Tales to Astonish #97
The Sovereign and the Savages
The Sub-Mariner is a prisoner of the Plunderer after an unsuccessful attempt at trying to stop the high-tech pirate at his Skull Island base located in the Savage Land. The Plunderer explains how he came to know of this island, and that his brother Ka-Zar used to live in the Savage Land, and that he came her following his defeat at the hands of Ka-Zar and Daredevil. He explains that the only threat to his operations are the nearby Swamp Men, however, the savages are too afraid to come near Skull Island due to the constantly burning fires around the location. After showing off the full destructive power of his vibra-gun, the Plunderer asks Namor to join forces with him, a request the prince of Atlantis refuses.
As the Plunderer vows Namor's death, two of the Swamp Men have traveled to the island on their own curiosity and get the drop on two of the Plunderer's guards. With the guards downed, one of them picks up his vibra-gun and accidentally activates it, blasting a hole in the Plunderer's base. The explosion prompts the Plunderer to send his troops out to chase after the savages. The Plunderer is oblivious to the fact that the blast had also freed Namor, leading to a fight between the two. Despite Namor's best efforts to stop the Plunderer, the fight is prolonged thanks to the Plunderer's vibra-gun. During the fight the chief of the Swamp Men, unable to make a distinction between the two combatants drops a rock down on both of them, pinning Namor under the rock.
The Plunderer blasts the savage with his vibra-gun and then orders his men to return to the submarine and make a hasty retreat before their base explodes. Leaking water falling on Namor revives the Sub-Mariner, and he rescues the chief of the Swamp People before Skull Island explodes. Taking the chief to the shore, he is welcomed to the Swamp People's home to celebrate. However, the Sub-Mariner is in no mood to celebrate, as he broods over the fact that the Plunderer escaped without him knowing where he was going next. The Plunderer, however, thinking Namor destroyed, decides to attack Atlantis directly setting a course for the fabled city. Meanwhile, the people of Atlantis, cut off from scanning the Plunderer's base earlier in the battle believe that Namor has sided with the notorious pirate and quickly a law is passed outlawing the prince from his own land.
Recurring Characters
Sub-Mariner, Lady Dorma, Vashti, The Plunderer
Continuity Notes
The Plunderer mentions the time the X-Men visited the Savage Land, that happened in X-Men #10.
He also mentions how Ka-Zar is his brother, the Plunderer did not learn this until Daredevil #13.
The Legions of the Living Lightning!
Back on Earth, the Hulk bounds across the countryside where he accidentally crashes into a low flying airplane. Checking the wreckage, he finds the plane's sole occupant injured and administers first aid to him. The pilot then tells the Hulk of his friends the Lords of the Living Lightning and asks the Hulk to go to their meeting place. He does so, and upon landing at the site of the Lords secret base, he activates a giant lightning machine.
Meanwhile, while Rick Jones and the Teen Brigade continues to search for the Hulk, General Ross calls in Glenn Talbot and reassigns him to deal with the Lords of the Living Lightning as the Hulk has not been seen in some time, a decision that doesn't sit well with Talbot.
Meanwhile, the Hulk manages to disable the lightning device and is soon greeted by the members of the Living Lightning. The leader of the Lords offers the Hulk friendship and convinces the Hulk that they are working to end all war on Earth. Later that night, Talbot finds their secret base and finds himself captured by the Lords when they find him. Taken before the Hulk, the leader of the Lords tell the Hulk that Talbot is their enemy and tells the Hulk to go and destroy the Air Force base, a command the enraged Hulk complies with.
Recurring Characters
Hulk, Rick Jones, General Ross, Major Talbot, Lords of the Living Lightning
Continuity Notes
The members of Teen Brigade are shown using Ham Radios to communicate. The technology used by this group should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616. Readers should interpret the Teen Brigade using the most current form of rapid communication possible. For example, while Avengers #1 showed the Teen Brigade using Ham radios, when the story was retold in Avengers: The Origin, they are depicted using the internet.
