Fantastic Four (1961 series) #33

This story opens in the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building HQ with Reed Richards examining a strange large sea creature which has washed ashore. It's an unknown species but he deduces that it has come from the very depths of the ocean, and something unusual must have driven it to the surface. Reed sends Johnny Storm out to scout the coast for anything unusual. It's getting dark so the flying Human Torch generates flares which show him a figure emerging from the water onto a pier. It's completely covered by a loose 'sack' atop a small flying platform. After it lands on the pier it sheds the sack to reveal a blue-skinned female with a fishbowl helmet. He picks her up and takes her back to base.

Sue Storm recognises her as Lady Dorma (from Annual #1) who loves Namor, the Sub-Mariner. She tells them she's come to them for help or he will die and it will be her fault. She explains that Namor has found his people again and once more rules Atlantis. But now Attuma has led a barbarian horde from the murky depths to conquer Atlantis, believing himself to be fulfilling an ancient prophecy. But the Atlantean defences held him at bay. Dorma was afraid that Namor was recklessly exposing himself to enemy fire and she begged him to take care because it would break her heart if he was killed. But as usual he spurned her love so in revenge she ordered guards to abandon a vital outpost and the barbarians poured in. Sub-Mariner was everywhere beating them back but she knew even he must be overwhelmed. So in panic she came here.

She claims that it is in their own interest to help him because if Attuma rules Atlantis then he will invade the surface world. Sue has a soft spot for Namor and asks Reed to help him, but he says he already intended to. He's been preparing for their next underwater adventure by inventing an oxo-spray that creates a self-perpetuating oxygen layer to enable them to breathe underwater for a while. Ben Grimm tests it by sticking his head in a fish tank. It will also allow Johnny to use his flame underwater. The 5 head for Atlantis in their bathysphere, with Dorma giving directions.

As they approach Attuma's troops use a large catapult to hurl a boulder which knocks the craft to the ocean floor. Thing exits and catches another boulder and throws it back destroying the catapult. A soldier is about to fire a grenade from a crossbow but Torch blows it up with a blast of fire and then causes nearby water to turn to steam allowing the team to sneak past. Reed tells them the oxo-spray will only last another half-hour. Mr Fantastic turns his body into an imitation manta ray with the other 4 hidden in a 'pouch' underneath and this gets them past more guards. Then Thing takes more direct action by ejecting the crew from a spider-legged 'tank' which gets them into the city.

Prince Namor is still leading his troops against the invaders but Attuma causes Globules Of Darkness to be released which dissolve into an all-pervading black which blinds the Atlanteans. However Sub-Mariner's ankle-wings take him above it and he determines to seek out Attuma himself and challenge him to single-combat. The FF and Dorma have left their 'tank' and can see the confrontation. Sue turns invisible to get a closer look and finds barbarians preparing to fire a subsonic weapon at Namor to weaken him so Attuma can win. Invisible Girl uses her other power to create a forcefield around the men and weapon so when it fires the sound rebounds and destroys the gun. She returns to the others and reports that there are more traps set for the Prince. As the 1-on-1 combat continues Thing destroys an ionic ray cannon, MrF stretches his body to absorb a fired tangle of titanium wire and send it back to the firers, and HT stops the triggering of what he doesn't know is a nutro-nuclear dissolvo-bomb that would have destroyed the whole of Atlantis.

But now teen Johnny feels his oxo-spray wearing off. The older other 3 don't experience that yet. SM breaks Attuma's triple-bladed sword but the barbarian reveals his last weapon. He pulls off the bone horns from his skull-like helmet revealing 2 disintegrator rays. Still-watching Sue turns Namor invisible so the foe can't see where to aim. Subby doesn't realise what's happening but takes advantage of his enemy's confusion to break the disintegrators. Meanwhile the other 3 FFers start struggling to breathe. Luckily this is a shallow part of the ocean so MrF can stretch up to the surface and the other 3 can climb up his body. As IG gets out of range Namor returns to visibility in time to deck Attuma with a mighty blow and the barbarian surrenders.

Later Namor tells Dorma he knows about her betrayal but forgives her. But she's not going to tell the proud prince that he owes his victory partially to his FF enemies. In the surface MrF forms himself into a liferaft for the others as they see a US patrol boat coming for them. And when Sue calls him darling Reed wonders if she's over her infatuation with Namor.