After
their return from Tunnelworld, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner hosts
Doctor Strange in Atlantis. Both men are concerned about the Hulk having his brain
taken over by the Unnameable; he is receiving Atlantis’ finest medical care. As
Strange and Namor watch, the comatose Hulk transforms back into Bruce Banner,
which they take as a sign Hulk is cured. Then Namor is called away to business
by Lord Vashti so Strange excuses himself, thanks Namor for his hospitality,
and goes home, where he is greeted by Clea, with Valkyrie and Hellcat visiting
to ask if he wants to join the new Defenders.….
On
Kiber Island, a protectorate of Wakanda, some Atlantean pirates are meeting
with Wakandan smugglers to secretly purchase the African nation’s advanced
technology. But the Black Panther is on their trail and he breaks up the
meeting violently. The Atlantean pirates escape in their submarine and T’Challa
pursues in the smugglers’ air-car until the Atlanteans join a Royal Navy
dreadnought. Namor is startled to learn this; he has been lax in his rule so
his warlords have taken liberties in their autonomy, becoming pirates. Namor
orders the capture of the intruder, while giving orders that Bruce Banner be
sedated to keep his green alter ego from interfering….
In
an air-filled area of the palace, Namor confronts the trespasser and is
surprised to see the King of Wakanda himself, Black Panther. Namor demands the
release of his citizens captured by T’Challa; T’Challa insists that since they
violated Wakandan law on Wakandan territory, they must answer to Wakandan law. A
fight breaks out and Namor orders the chamber flooded; BP uses his underwater
breathing apparatus and escapes through the vents. He comes upon a room where a
prisoner is being guarded and investigates; it is Bruce Banner. BP subdues the
guards and awakens Banner who transforms into the Hulk, who, remembering that
the Atlanteans wanted him sedated, starts smashing. Namor arrives on the scene
and tries to calm the Hulk but Hulk smashes through the wall, letting the ocean
in. The Wakandan fleet rescues BP while Namor drags the unconscious Hulk to
safety. Both nations start to prepare for war….
In
light of this crisis, President Jimmy Carter addresses the US with Kyle
Richmond thinking he might be able to calm Subby but he is not permitted to don
the Nighthawk costume. All over the world the reaction is mixed, some fearful,
others skeptical, and the Soviets plotting to seize advantage of the crisis to
attack Red China….
When
Namor tells Hulk that he (Subby) has saved his (Hulk’s) life, Big Green throws
a fit and leaps straight up into the sky. Observers in Wakanda mistake Hulk for
a missile fired at them and so launch one of their own to destroy it, without
T’Challa’s knowledge. When Hulk vanishes from their screen they go to their
king. T’Challa then contacts Namor and explains the situation. Namor is
suspicious but flies out to intercept the missile, diverting it so that it
nukes Kiber Island. Both monarchs are affected by the close call, T’Challa
subdued and Namor angry….
Characters: Vashti, Black Panther,
Clea, Hellcat, Valkyrie, President Jimmy Carter, Nighthawk, Milton Rosenblum,