The Avengers
The Avengers Meet the Sub-Mariner!
Deep within the private home of millionaire Tony Stark, a meeting was underway. The mansion was the meeting place for the super team known as the Avengers and one of their members had a problem.
"I'm telling you, if you leave her alone she won't be a problem!" Betty Ross argued.
"Maybe, but look, your mother escaped from an Army base. The public is getting restless and either we step in or someone else does." Iron Man shook his head. His red and gold armor was much sleeker than his previous armor. It allowed him a greater range of movement as he pointed out various plans spread across the table.
"Iron Man has a point, but surely we can bring yon Hulk back without the need for battle?" Lady Thor leaned forward. "I fear Mjolnir's might be needed elsewhere."
"Look, let me handle this! Right now my mother is scared and I don't blame her. If we leave her alone for a while she won't change and we can bring her in."
"Actually, from this accounts your mother changes involuntarily at sunset as well as from stress. So far her gray Hulk side hasn't caused any problems but I think we need to start casting our net." The Wasp enlarged and stepped off the table.
"Mr. Stark has been developing a new kind of broadcaster. I can use that to start talking with some of the other cape and cowl set. Ms. Ross, I need you to contact Rick Jones. Tell him to use that Teen Brigade of his to start looking and report back to us. Wasp, you, Lady Thor, Ant-Man and I need to stay here in case someone tries to contact us directly."
-IM
Iron Man slipped into the large underground lab and removed his faceplate. Tony Stark wiped his brow as he eyed his latest invention. "The others might be surprised to learn that Anthony Stark and his bodyguard are one in the same, but I'll cross that bridge when I have to;" he powered the strange machine up and slipped his face plate back into place, "Right now Iron Man has some calls to make."
The machine, he'd come up with a fancy name later, worked much like a telephone, save he could interrupt signals on any broadcasting medium. Targeting the Baxter Building, Iron Man projected himself into the television signal of Reed Richards, leader of the Fantastic Four.
"Dr. Richards, this is Iron Man. I need your help."
Reed Richards didn't even bother to turn his head as he worked on various formulas. The other members of the foursome were just leaving the room. "Hey stretch, how do you hang up a TV?" Ben Grimm, otherwise known as the Thing, poked the screen with a stubby orange digit.
"We're very busy at the moment Iron Man. What do you need?" Richards glanced up from his papers.
"We're looking for the She-Hulk. You tangled with her not too long ago and we could use some pointers."
"Again? We captured that dame once already!" Grimm fumed. "Can't you guys keep someone on ice for longer than a week?"
Richards continued. "I'm working on a gamma ray absorber but it will be days before it will be ready."
"That sounds promising, but we can't wait that long. If you get it finished feel free to bring it to Tony Stark's mansion." Iron Man signed off, returning the television to its normal programming.
Richards stretched his arm across the room and flipped the dial off. "Amazing! That Tony Stark must be a genius to invent such things!"
-IM
Discouraged, Iron Man thought back to an earlier encounter. "The Angel! He seemed like a good sport." He turned the dial and began searching for the proper radio channel. "Calling the Angel!"
-X
In Westchester County, the strange team known as the X-Men were heavily involved in a training exercise when Iron Man's voice broke over Iceman's radio. "Calling the Angel!"
"Strange," Professor Charles Xavier wheeled himself into the Danger Room. The X-Men stood at attention as the mutant mastermind placed his fingers to his temples and concentrated. "Who calls for the Angel?"
Iron Man blinked as he heard the voice in his head. "Iron Man of the Avengers; I'm calling because the She-Hulk has escaped custody and we need some help."
"Ah yes, the Angel spoke highly of you, but I'm afraid he can't help you at the moment. The X-Men are needed for another task." Xavier shut off the mental communication and turned his attention back to the mutant teenagers.
"Who was it Professor?" Marvel Girl stepped forward.
"Iron Man, it seems he needed the Angel's help."
"Really? Wow, so when can I go?" the Angel flexed his wings.
"You're not. Right now I need you to track down the Brotherhood of Mutants and prepare to fight them. The Avengers have been too close to the government as of late and I'd prefer to wait and see how mutant/human relations develop before we go fighting for them." The team collectively sighed but went back to their training.
-IM
Iron Man took off his helmet and rubbed his temples. "Huh, talking into somebody's mind? I had no idea the X-Men could do that. Well, only one more person to check."
-SM
Peter Parker, better known as the (according to him) amazing Spider-Man, perched upside down as he listened to the police band on his radio. He was about to swing into action when a garbled voice almost made him drop it.
"Spider-Man?"
"What the?" He checked the radio over as the voice continued.
"Spider-Man, this is Iron Man of the Avengers. He could use your help."
"And I could use a radio that doesn't back talk!" He webbed to a stone gargoyle. "Look, however you're doing this is nice, but I'm about to bust up a crime ring here and I think your impromptu show just tipped off my location." A hail of bullets tore chunks from the statue as Spider-Man nimbly avoided them. "Just call me back later!"
-IM
Iron Man sighed as he flipped the switch off. "Well, that was a waste of time. It looks like it's up to us."
Ant-Man suddenly barged into the lab. "Iron Man! We've spotted the She-Hulk!"
"What? Where?"
"Thank Rick Jones. He put the call out while you were busy. Some members of his Teen Brigade just radioed us with the coordinates. The She-Hulk was last seen near the Gulf of Mexico. She just jumped into the ocean and started swimming!"
"Well, I guess I underestimated that kid. Ant-Man, radio the Mexican authorities. We're going She-Hulk hunting!"
-SH
Jennifer Ross had not been idle since her escape of the Army base. Changing into the gray skinned hulk at night was a problem she found she could make work for her. Leaving messages around before sunset, she made sure her alter ego was aware of where she was and her plan. The gray skinned hulk was kind enough to do the same.
Waking up on a deserted beach, Jennifer found a message scribbled on a car door. 'Swim-islands to the east'. Jennifer looked around. The place was quiet, and she suspected her other self had a hand in that. Looking out at the ocean, she felt a pull towards the water. "Am I supposed to go there? Will I be safe?" She saw trucks and a few tanks on the horizon. "I guess it would be safer than staying here!" She dove into the salt water and began to swim. She took a gulp of air before she willed herself to change. "No sense in wearing myself out, as the She-Hulk I can clear hundreds of miles before those fools even catch sight of me!" She pumped her legs and moved through the water like a bullet. "I'll figure something out when I see dry land."
-N
Namor the Sub-Mariner looked about the width of his kingdom and cursed. His domain was once Atlantis and its numerous city states until he lost his memory. Now all he was prince of was a desolate outcropping of rocks in the Caribbean Sea. "The surface people stole my memory, my lands, and my people!" he raged at the uncaring surf. "I swear I'll get my revenge if it takes a hundred years!"
He spotted a large shape in the water rapidly moving towards him. "What trickery is this? A surface dweller attack?" He clenched his fists in rage. "If so, I'll teach them the futility of their plot!"
The She-Hulk broke the water's surface and gasped. She waded ashore, ignoring Namor entirely. She glanced around the outcropping. "Not bad for a rest stop-" her train of thought was derailed when Namor slammed his fists into her face.
"So, you think to challenge a prince of the blood, surface dweller?" Namor raged as he flew up and away from the She-Hulk's outstretched hands.
The She-Hulk rubbed her sore jaw. "Ok, that was a nice little tap, but you've got a new problem buster!" She tore a large rock free from the shore and tossed it one-handed at the flying prince. "Namely me!"
Namor dodged the rock as it sailed past him. "Impressive, but let's see how you fight under water!" With a cry he dive bombed her, knocking her back into the surf. Looping around, he crashed into her.
The two titans locked their arms around each other. "Such strength!" Namor tightened his grip as he lifted her up.
"Trying to drop me, eh?" the She-Hulk freed one arm and slammed her fist into Namor's side, driving the breath from him. Pressing forward, she directed him down, crashing them back onto the beach.
"Poseidon's beard, this land dweller is stronger than even the Thing!" Namor slipped free of her grasp. There was something familiar about the oddly large woman, but Namor's memory was still fuzzy. He felt that he should know her, yet he could only draw a blank. He pushed the troublesome thoughts aside he flew away.
"Coward! Come down and fight me!" the She-Hulk raged as she tore chunks of coral out with her hands and tossed them into the air.
Namor, to his credit, avoided the deadly projectiles and considered his strategy. "Look at her, she hasn't tired or slowed once since we began this battle. Clearly she is nearly my equal on land, but how can she handle the ocean?"
Flying away, he dove into the cool salt water headfirst. Once submerged, he began to swim around the small clump of land, forming a large whirlpool. Zooming up he brought the water with him, dragging it over the island and dumping it.
The She-Hulk coughed and choked on the salty brine as he swooped by, knocking her back into the surf. He continued his assault, dragging her back into the ocean. Grabbing her ankle, he swung her around under the raging waters. Letting go, he watched as she crashed into the ocean floor. "A good battle, but no air breather can withstand such crushing depth!"
Namor's eyes grew wide when he saw the She-Hulk stand up and stomp towards him. "Impossible!"
Noticing the gray tones of her flesh, Namor rushed towards her. "She must be drowning!" He swam close enough to grab her and hoist her back towards the surface. "If she could survive that, perhaps I could use her."
Breaking the surface, the now gray She-Hulk shrugged off Namor's assistance and made her way towards shore. "Ok buddy, what's the big idea?"
Namor floated out of the water, making sure to stay high enough to be keep out of her reach and to make sure she had to look up. "I am Namor, prince of Atlantis, and I desire your aid."
"Oh? And what exactly would I get out of this?"
"The gratitude of Atlantis, knowledge that you struck back against the surface world, and what ever treasure you can find."
She smiled. "Well, those are certainly acceptable terms. When do we start?" Inwardly, her thoughts grew cold. "Sure, I'll work with you, but only until something better comes along."
Namor nodded slightly in approval. "I don't trust her. Better to use her as fodder before her ambition does me in."
-A
Five days had gone by and things grew worse. Reports of the She-Hulk and Namor grew by the hour. They had been spotted terrorizing nearly every coastal area. Conventional weapons proved to be less than useless. The Avengers themselves had been stretched thin trying to stop the damage, all save one member.
Betty Ross glowered at the team. "I don't care what you say, I'm going to talk to her."
"There is merit in such a plan." Lady Thor spoke first. "As individuals we are weak and the combined forces of the Sub-Mariner and She-Hulk have proven to be stronger."
"I see your point." Iron Man agreed as a warning klaxon blared. "Reports coming in from Canada! The Sub-Mariner is trying to establish a beachhead on Banks Island!"
"And like I said, I'm going." Betty Ross pushed herself away from the table as she changed. The Hulk towered over them. "And I'm going to settle this once and for all."
-A
Taking a prototype Stark jet, the team made it to Northern Canada within the hour. Authorities had managed to evacuate the neighboring islands. A ring of destroyers circled the island. The Avengers touched down on a makeshift landing strip. "Colonel, what is thy situation?" Lady Thor eyed the assembled troops. Most of them barely looked old enough to shave.
"Well, they leveled pretty much every building on the island. That seems to be keeping them busy, but they've demolished the village. Frankly the only thing left on that hunk of dirt is a bird sanctuary and I don't think that will keep them occupied for much longer. " Colonel Armbuster took his pipe out and waved it at the offending island.
"We'll handle this." The Hulk exited the plane. Ignoring the stunned gasps, she eyed the troops. "Keep your men back. If the five of us can't handle the situation, no one can."
Armbuster relit his pipe. "I'll keep that in mind little lady." The Avengers were ferried across the water towards the island.
The island was utterly ruined. Remains of buildings lay scattered about like broken toys. "So Hulk, how do we handle this?" Ant-Man adjusted his helmet.
"Ant-Man, Wasp, you two to shrink down and scout ahead; I'll go behind you. Lady Thor, you and Iron Man stay here in case we need backup." The Hulk grunted the orders as Ant-Man and the Wasp vanished from sight.
-A
At their small size, both the Ant-Man and the Wasp were almost invisible to the naked eye. Perched on a flying ant, they flew towards the smashed houses and felled trees that formed a makeshift barrier. Landing on a tree, they saw Namor arguing with the She-Hulk.
"Confound it woman, stick with one temperament!"
"It's not something I have control over you jerk!" the She-Hulk seethed.
"Thy antics have ceased to amuse me." Namor hovered above the ground. "Bad enough you limit our attacks at night, but now you seek to dictate to a Prince of the Blood?"
"I didn't want any part of that, but if you're going to force the issue buddy, you've got another thing coming!"
"Huh, maybe if we keep quiet they'll take themselves out?" Ant-Man whispered to the Wasp. Namor immediately looked in their direction.
"Wait, my sea-born senses detect something!" He narrowed his eyes. Accustomed to seeing in everything from brightness to total darkness, he spotted the colorful forms of the Ant-Man and the Wasp easily. "Our discussion shall have to wait. We are being invaded!"
"What?" the She-Hulk spun around, fists clenched.
"I think they spotted us dear." The Wasp clutched Ant-Man's middle as they flew away. Ant-Man franticly radioed the Hulk as they dodged hastily thrown projectiles.
The Hulk spotted her mother and Namor charging towards them. Ant-Man and the Wasp zoomed past her ear. "Tell Iron Man and Lady Thor to stand by!" She shouted into the wind as she prepared to fight.
"What's this, more surface dwellers?" Namor spat.
"Betty?" The She-Hulk put herself between the two powerhouses. "Why are you here?"
"Because someone has to stop this, mother!" The Hulk looked at her mother with pledging eyes. "Just walk away, please."
"You ask the ruler of Atlantis to yield? I'm not sure if I'm to be impressed by such attitude or insulted."
"Stay out of this fish boy!" the She-Hulk growled.
"No one talks to the Sub-Mariner in such a fashion!" He scooped the struggling She-Hulk up and lifted her overhead. "If you desire her so much, then take her!" he threw her at the Hulk.
Catching her mother, the Hulk put her aside. "My friends are near the town. Go there and they won't harm you, I swear! Just stay out of our way." She leapt into the air, tackling the Sub-Mariner and bringing him to the ground.
The She-Hulk looked at her daughter fighting and slipped away without saying a word. She moved quickly towards the ruined town and spied the two other Avengers. She ducked behind the crushed remains of the town hall as Lady Thor and Iron Man flew past. "Hurry, we must stop this mindless rampage!" Lady Thor shouted as she flew. The She-Hulk didn't hear what Iron Man said in response.
"She said I could trust them, but can I?" She looked at her hand, already growing paler in the afternoon light. "I'm sorry Betty, but I won't be locked up again." She exhaled as she turned back to her regular self. Grabbing discarded clothing, she bundled herself against the cold. Wading out in the water, she snagged a drifting canoe and climbed inside. She silently began to paddle towards the mainland away from the ships' line of sight.
-A
The Hulk glared at the Sub-Mariner. He had the upper hand, literally, as he simply flew out of her reach and pelted her with larger and larger rocks. "Trying to wear me down, clever." Any attempt to leap at him was rewarded with him simply darting away. "And with the water so close he can repower himself at his leisure. How can I slow him down?"
In answer to her question, a lighting bolt shot out of the sky and struck the flying Atlantian. Namor crashed into the dirt as Iron Man unleashed twin repulser rays into the prince. "Cease fire!" The Hulk yelled as she charged. Namor shakily stood up in time for the Hulk to crash into him, driving him to the ground.
"Release me!" Namor raged as the Hulk tightened her grip around his torso. To her surprise, he stopped struggling and seemed to go slack.
"A trap for sure, but how?" Her vice-like grip increased as Namor's eyes snapped open. Electrical current flowed out of him, shocking the Hulk loose.
"Fool, as a Sub-Mariner I posses all the abilities of the deep, including the powers of the electric eel!" Namor lashed his fist out, sending a lighting bolt directly into Iron Man's chest plate. The red and gold Avenger staggered under the assault until Lady Thor struck Mjolnir in rapid succession.
"Aye mortal, you can summon the powers of eels, but the goddess of thunder can summon the power of the storm itself!" A near hurricane level wind swept through the area as massive amounts of lighting struck the ground around Namor.
One such bolt split the ground wide enough to bring in sea water, showering everyone with the salty liquid. "Such land dwellers could prove to be my undoing if I continue thus battle further. There will be another time to fight." Without a word he dove into the water, tunneling his way to the sea.
"Shall we go after him?" Ant-Man scanned the area. His ants couldn't find any trace of the prince.
"Nay, we shall see to our wounded first." Lady Thor helped the Hulk to her feet as Ant-Man and the Wasp aided Iron Man. "Then we shall avenge this slight!"
-N
Namor was well into the Arctic Circle by the time the Avengers had reported back to the Army. "Some of those fools seemed familiar! Curse my mind, I must I ever be tormented by half remembered faces?" He swam on towards the ruined remains of Atlantis under the Arctic ice. "If I am to wage war on the surface world, I must have some place of solitude. I will make the world pay for what it has done to my people!"
-A
"Well, this wasn't exactly the best foot we could have put forward." Iron Man spoke up after the team flew back to the mansion in total silence.
"What do you suggest?" The Wasp asked.
"Team, we're going to capture the Sub-Mariner!" Tony Stark winced as his suit's power units whined with protest at his movements.
"A noble goal, but how?" Lady Thor steered the plane back towards Stark Industry's private airfield.
"First we get healed up then we do some research on Atlantis. I'd bet Mister Stark's liquor cabinet that is exactly where he is going."
"Fantastic, but count me out." The Hulk spoke up at last.
"What? But why?" Ant-Man raised the question.
"My mother escaped. Those sea rats saw her and just let her paddle on by." The Hulk shook her head. "No, I have to find her first. Sorry guys, but I can't lose her again. I won't."
"Very well, Hulk, we wish you the best in thy quest." Lady Thor stood up after she landed the plane. "But we shall need more than that when next we battle the Sub-Mariner!"
The end
Based on "The Avengers Meet the Sub-Mariner", which was first published The Avengers I#3 (January 1964) with credits to Stan Lee (script), Jack Kirby (pencils), and Paul Reinman (inks). This takes place right after Sensational Comics#17. The final showdown between Hulk and the She-Hulk will be continued in Sensational Comics#18. Next month we get a bigger surprise.
The Return of…Captain America!
Avengers Assemble!
They Call Me Bruce
Wonder work here fella
Wolvmbm
Great update as your surprised me a bit in this story. By knowing the connections between the Hulk and Betty Ross early on in the series, this version of the Hulk does not leave the Avengers in the #2 issue. Unlike the comic book version of the character. Very clever having the Hulk ID exposed to the Avengers early on. Please do keep up the good work upon such a great series like this one as I cannot wait to read the next issue of the Avengers.
From wingedcat13, in regards to the first issue
Hey the Marvel characters I know are guys. When did this change?
Technically before issue one; this whole of Marvel stories was inspired by an old issue of What If? Basically what if Jane Foster became Thor? I had already been working on a golden age She-Hulk series and figured, why not? The rest fell into place. Thus Betty Ross became the Hulk instead of Bruce Banner, Jane Foster gains the hammer instead of Don Blake, and Maria Pym becomes the Wasp instead of dying. Ant-Man and Iron Man are still the same and I have intentions of changing them out. Not yet anyway.
From Darci
Thanks for this update from November 1963. Unlike the original story, in this one the Hulk did not leave the Avengers, which ranks as a major from Marvel continuity. It will be fascinating to see what ramifications this has!
The mysterious "master" the Space Phantom refers to turned out to be Immortus, but we had to wait over 100 issues to find that out. I wonder if that's going to prove true again? Looking forward to "The Avengers meet…the Sub-Mariner!" unless you have another trick up your sleeve (like last issue).
Well, all I can say is you won't have to wait a hundred issues to find out more about the Space Phantom's master. But sadly you are going to have to wait, and thanks a million for proofreading this.
Upcoming issues
Amazing Fantasy#9 Taskmaster VS the Armless Tiger Men!
Sensational Comics#18 The Avengers Take Over!
Tales to Astonish#17 The Wasp VS the Human Top!
Journey into Mystery#19 The Return of Zarko, the Tomorrow Man!