Issue - 1

Title - Encounter at Land's End

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - John Buscema

Summary:

After keeping a long vigil, Namor, the Sub-Mariner finds Doctor Doom injured and floating in the ocean. Using his Atlantean technology, he revives him. Namor then offers to form an alliance with Doom, but Doom is reluctant. He recalls that on previous occasions they have been enemies more often than allies. He also recalls that his alliance with the villain Diablo was equally unprofitable. Doom then concludes that one of them would eventually betray the other leaving little point in an alliance. The two battle briefly until Doom decides that the moment is ill chosen for a duel between the two and flees in order to repair his armor. Namor watches him go and proclaims that eventually he will realize that they two are destined to fight side by side and topple the world.

Notes:

• Reprints Sub-Mariner #20, Marvel Super-Heroes #20

• Reprinted in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (pictured below)

• Its interesting that Namor cites Fantastic Four #6 as a moment where they "stood together" considering that Doom was quick to betray him on that occasion. In fact the moment depicted in Namor's remembrance never occurred in the original issue, perhaps implying that there is more to this adventure than we know...?

Comments:

Essentially a reprint issue. This introduction to the Super-Villain Team-Up series reprints classic stories from Sub-Mariner #20 and Marvel Super-Heroes #20. If you're in the market for those two issues, here is one way to find them. However I think the Essential Super-Villain Team-Up would be a more economical way of obtaining these. Since the short linking interludes don't add up to much Bottom Line: * * out of 5

Issue - 2

Title - To Bestride the World

Writer - Roy Thomas

Art - Mike Sekowsky & Sam Grainger

Summary:
In order to draw Namor out into battle, Doom stages an attack on Atlantis. He then informs Namor that he has reconsidered his proposition for an alliance. The Sub-Mariner however is wary, Doom therefore takes him to Latveria to show him how they can take over the world together. Giving him a tour of his facilities, Doom reveals that the secret to their success will lie in his unbeatable army of androids. Doom displays their destructive potential by having a pair of androids slay one another. When the androids take the slain android and place it before an altar, Namor notes how the androids have seemingly formed their own religion. Doom disregards this as a minor flaw in their programming. Unknown to them both, a ceremony conducted by the androids summons a being into their midst’s. The being soon destroys the solar generator and reveals himself as Andros, Lord of the Androids, however before he was the Doomsman, a being which Doom created as complete duplicate of himself yet completely under his control. Though Doom had banished him to another dimension, he reveals that by silently tagging along with Lockjaw on an inter-dimensional journey, he mastered the creature’s ability. He then revealed himself to the androids as a deity. Doom and Andros battle, however Doom quickly realizes that they are evenly matched. At this revelation, Andros disappears. Namor speculates that it was Andros’ intention that Doom only see how evenly matched they were, so that he might live on wondering when next he might strike.

Notes:

• Latveria is a Nuclear power (as if there was any doubt?) and houses the world's "first workable array of solar batteries!"

• The symbol of Latveria is a sun-rimmed thunderbolt.

• It has been 3 years since the events of Astonishing Tales #1-3

• Reprinted in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up