Fantastic Four (1961) #412: "Settling The Score With The Sub-Mariner!"

The last issue I read featured a scrap between Namor and the Thing and the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four. Not to leave anyone out, today we're going to check out a throw down between Namor and the other male member of the Four, Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic.

There was a period of time after Atlantis Rising in which Namor stuck around the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards wasn't around so maybe Namor was biding his time for Susan Richards' affections. We'll find that out later when we read earlier issues from this series.

In any event, as we join this story, Reed has recently returned to the team, all bearded up. We are told that the FF were in a scrap involving Black Bolt of the Inhumans during which Susan stretched her powers to their limits, causing her to collapse from exhaustion.

She needs her rest, but Namor sees an opening...

The rest of that sentence is rather unkind. Reed overhears it, as well as Namor's suggestion to Sue that she kick Reed's stuff to the curb. Oh dear.

Naturally, that goes with Reed over like a fart in an elevator.

And so they fight it out once more. Neither man gets too nasty a shot in though. Namor tosses a car, Reed lets it bounce off his malleable form back towards Namor, Namor dodges it, etc. If anything, Namor does more damage verbally than physically.

The prince ain't wrong, y'all.

Richards directs the battle towards a construction site. He's needed back at the Baxter Building though. This Skrull chick named Lyja who's been shacking up with the FF of late helps Susan hop into one of the team's little hover crafts, or whatever the hell they are, to find him. And they do.

Namor will have none of it! If he must, he'll take Susan by force!

Well...He'd take her AWAY by force. There are limits to his impulsiveness. He's not Ben Roethlisberger.

Time for Reed to be the big hero.

Awww...I haven't followed this team regularly but I could swear I've read a number of variations of that speech over the years.

As the Richards leave, Lyja asks Namor if he's through playing possum. That's right, the avenging son was faking his defeat!

You're no Jennister Aniston yourself, Skrully.

Namor leaves it up for interpretation as to whether he took a dive to bring the Richards couple closer together or whether the purpose of his subterfuge was to impress Susan with the purity of his love. Wow. His words, not mine.

With that, he leaves, "destined to return when the Fantastic Four least expect it".

So some eye-rolling dialogue and the story (by Tom DeFalco) was basically high school drama but the Richards/Namor dynamic rarely fails to entertain. The art was by Paul Ryan, John Lowe, Bob Wiacek and john Kalisz.