In the Late Spring of 1940
The police had gotten better at tracking Namor when he approached. Police Squad cars, equipped with steel animal nets and Tear gas bombs rushed to capture him. Namor saw this and laughed, charging at them, they fired tear gas and nets, disorienting him.

"We're gettin him! That tear gas does the job!"

"That's what you think!" he suddenly jolted forward. He's been brought down in such a way before and survived the electric chair. Evidently the same trick wouldn't work twice. Namor delivered a swift punch to the jaw of one of the officers, killing him with his strength. He then fled.

In the Mayor's Office.

"I think we should appeal to the Governor to call out the National Guard at once. The police have failed to"

Mator La Guardia cut him off.

"Then we'll appeal to him. This terror has got to stop at once!"

Namor burst through the window and into the room.

"And how do you think the national guard will stop me? I could break you in half if I wanted but you'll be more useful to me alive!"

La Guardia was offended.

"Useful to you? I'll.."

La Guardia approached Namor but his assistant warned him.

"Hey. Stop! He'll kill you!"

"Show you how I'll be useful."

Namor swung his first and struck the mayor, sending him flying. This time he held back his strength.

"I'm going to rule this country before I'm through and neither you nor the National guard nor your army can stand up against my might! So if you value the lives and property of your citizens you'll not try to stop me."
La Guardia's rage had reached its boiling point.

"All Right-I've listened to you. Now listen to me!"

He reached for his phone.

"Hello get me the Governor! I'm going to call out the National Guard!"

Namor accepted the challenge.

"So that's your answer, you've asked for trouble, and you're going to get it."

With a Punch, he brought his fist down on La Guardia. This time he did not hold back, and it cost the Mayor his life.

Having killed the Mayor, the Sub-Mariner leaped out the window, anticipating the coming challenge.

It was then that he spotted the elevated train. He grabbed the girder and with his strength, ripped out a pillar. The train came and in a horrific loud ring, the "EL" came crashing down. There were many people killed, but all Namor could think of was how he could top this.

The Torch searched the city and surrounding waterfront areas. When he found nothing he came down to a police car, extinguishing his flame.

"Any news on the Water man Jeff?"

"Nope, must have disappeared for awhile. Thank goodness!"

"Can we drop you off anywhere Torch?"
"Yes. Headquarters"

At headquarters, Police Commissioner Lewis Valentine was unhappy. The Sub-Mariner had fled after his rampages and this was no different. He regretted agreeing to hand over the Torch to Horton given how that choice had resulted in the man's death. The choice to accept the Torch into the police force was made largely to combat the attacks by the Sub-Mariner.

"What happened"

"Sub-Mariner vanished Sir"

"Did you try to stop him or did you chicken out?"

Other masked crime fighters had attempted to stop the Sub-Mariner before, but his attacks were random and most of the masked crime fighters were ordinary men with guns, which were proven to be useless against the Sub-Mariner's tough skin. If it ever happened. It would likely not go well for the ordinary man.

The Torch was offended by the idea.

"Are you trying to insult me! I should."

He raised his fist. Valentine moved quickly.

"Before you hit remember you're a policeman and I'm your superior officer, now let go!"

As if saving his life, a police officer came in.

"Chief! The Submariner is at it again! He just tore down the elevated"

The Human Torch burst out a wall in a burst of fire.

Valentine had to admit. "He'll be a worthy opponent for the Sub-Mariner."

The Human Torch spotted the wreckage of the Train and became enraged. Touching down he inspected the damage. Spotting bent girders he decided to bend them into shape. The Torch burned his hands hot enough to heat the steal so it would bend to the desired shape. When this was done he moved up to the tracks and began to place back the broken tracks. Finally the wheels had been bent out of shape, he fixed them back into place. A police officer approached him.

"Hey Torch! A Dame down there wants to see you."

Looking over, he saw Betty Dean and flew down to meet her, subduing his flame. Betty was standing near a car.

"Could I have a word please?"

Betty got into the driver's seat and Torch sat in the passenger seat. Once they were in the car, Torch spoke first.

"What's on your mind?"

"The Sub-Mariner. He's dangerous. He's also misguided. He sees the human race as one country. Apparently the Nazis have been killing his people."

"What?"

"I started to explain that to him when we met but that's when we were ambushing him. Doesn't exactly defend our case."

"Listen, Betty, He's done enough damage. Besides my orders to kill him if I can't bring him in?"

"You're a fool".

The Daily Bugle
Iggy ran into the room.

"Fellas! Mister Goodman wants you all of you in his office pronto!" You ain't gonna believe what's happened!"

The waiting stopped.

The Sub-Mariner was pitching a fit and taking it out on the city and the chief of police sicced the Human Torch on him. It was as if the gods of legend had returned to Earth. At least, if you read about it in the papers, that is.

To follow the Marvels through their combat, as the Sub-Mariner bolted from landmark to landmark sowing destruction, the Torch a streak of fire on his tail.

What we saw was carnage and destruction and confusion.

"Cripes! Look at the EL!" was what Jonah said when he saw the derailed train and people being helped out."

Iggy stopped a young boy for directions.

"Which way, kid?"

"Th-That way...towards the Empire State Building!"

There were frightened people who felt safe a minute or two ago, trying to get out of the way but not sure which way to run.

"I've gotta get to a phone…"

I was thinking of Doris and hoping she was safe.

Namor spotted the Empire State Building and flew to the top.

"Attention All Police Cars! The Sub-Mariner was seen atop the Empire State Building."

The Human Torch was in the car with Betty Dean.

"Step on it!"

"I can't there's a traffic jam".

Not wanting to waste time. The Torch burst forward, burning a hole through the car's roof.

Namor found a Mooring mast as the top of the Building, somewhat disappointed he still destroyed it. It came crashing down, crushing a car.

As the Human Torch neared the Empire State Building, he spotted the Sub-Mariner hurling the Mooring Mast down to the crowded streets below. Panic followed as a huge steel top crashed to the ground.

The Torch reacted the mast, his super hot body cutting through it. When he was deep enough he turned off the flame and began to search, finding and pulling the mangled bodies out from under the mast.

Several policemen began approaching.

Get after the Sub-Mariner, Torch! We'll take care of these people!"

The Torch turned on his flame and burst into the air, zooming swiftly to the top of the Empire State Building. The Sub-Mariner was gone, having fled after hurling the mast. The Torch returned to searching .

We barely even saw any of the action, it moved so fast.

"Look here he goes!"

The Human Torch was flying away from the Empire State Building.

"I'm no fan of that guy. I don't hold with people built from a kit, but right here an' now. I hope he gives that water breathing jerk what for!"

A Policewoman walked up to us.

"Don't say that! You don't know what you're talking about!"

"And you are?"

"Betty Dean, policewoman. I've met Namor. He's only trying to get what he considers justice for his people. You shouldn't judge him until you know both sides of the story."

""People?" There's more than one of him?"

Another reporter came running.

"Hey! Didja hear? The Sub-Mariner guy just flooded the Holland tunnel, an it's fulla cars!"

All I could think of was "I've got to get to a phone…"

Jonah had enough and as we left, he state behind a little to taunt Dean.

"You'll have to excuse us. Officer Dean, much as we'd love to listen to you make excuses for a rampaging maniac. We have work to do.

Namor flew through the air. He looked down at the dock and spotted Betty Dean standing alone. It could have been an obvious trap but Namor ignored this.

"Namor!"

He landed near her.

"Namor, the police force wanted me to offer you a warning"

"A warning?...For me"

"The Human Torch is now a member of our police force. We're prepared to send him after you. He has legal authority to kill you."

Namor scoffed.

"I've heard of him. So you think that little flame of his can hurt me? Hah!"

He moved back to the dock.

"Tell your people I'm not through, and as for the Torch let him come!"

Namor dived back into the water.

Once he'd gotten a good distance away, Namor took off, flying above the Bronx Zoo. He saw an opportunity. Touching down before the cage of a Lion. People began to scream and run away. Namor seized the bars of the cage and broke them off. Standing back as the lions escaped.

"Go on. Eat out their Black hearts! Gorge yourselves!"

A large group of Keepers ran to attempt to tame the hungry beasts. Namor hurled an iron beam at the trainer, hurling it like a javelin, impaling the keeper. The Sub-Mariner gloated, failing to realize a lion approaching him from behind. 400 pounds of raging fury lands on his back. Namor reached to his back and hurled the beast over his shoulder. The Lion regained its footing and resumed its attack, lunging towards him, Namor killed it with a single punch.

Namor then headed to the World of Reptiles, smashing the glass of each glass case and then quickly leaving the reptiles to their own devices. The snakes quickly slithered out. Searching for the best way to cause further destruction, the Sub Mariner noticed a large Elephant and destroyed its enclosure, freeing it. As Namor rips the bars the Elephant lets out a roar and charges its way out. Further elephants were freed. A small stampede formed in the street. People panicked and fled. Among the fleeing crowd was a mother with a baby carriage, which was overturned. The Sub-Mariner spotted the mother choosing to flee, leaving the baby on its own and facing death. His pity is awakened. Leaping down to the carriage and land before an Elephant. Quickly maneuvering under it, he raises it above his head and hurls him into the other elephants.

Namor takes the baby in his arms and flies has some recollection of where a hospital is and touches down on the roof, before a nurse and several reclining patients. He held the kid towards the nurse.

"This child needs someone to look after him".

Namor moved towards the corner of the building. He heard one of the spectators say something.

"He can't be as bad as they say."

He scoffed at this and said to himself mostly.

"You'll see."

He took off and flew through the air.

The Human Torch flew up above, something caught his eyes, animals running loose. Like a Blazing comet, the Torch landed in center of several rampaging animals. Many retreated from his presence. He saw a tiger leap at a zookeeper. With limited options he flew forward, grabbing the tiger, burning it. It panicked in pains and scratched him viciously. He released it instinctively. It attempted to come at him again. A shot rang out. The zookeeper had shot the tiger dead.

"That's one less killer."

The Human Torch recovered.

"Now to get them back in their cages."

The Torch's fire kicked up. He shot several blasts and moved in circles and angles, leaving trails of fire that forced the animals back. Most of the cages were broken. He created rings of fire around the animals. Betty Dean arrived on the scene. She told the Torch the Sub-Mariner was seen heading towards the George Washington Bridge.

The Sub-Mariner saw the George Washington Bridge. The idea came to him that he would destroy another man made monument.

He landed on the pedestrian walk as people ran from him.

"They won't think much of it when I'm through."

Bracing himself he grabbed one of the bridge's columns and with his mighty strength, brought it crashing down.

Suddenly a blazing figure was spotted sailing through the air as steel girders came crashing down on cars. The figure landed on the bridge. Namor shouted the name of the recognized attacker.

"The Human Torch"

"There you are Water rat."

"At last we meet Firebug."

Namor quickly reached for and grabbed a girder, hurling it at the Human Torch. The Torch caught it, it became hot and began to bend before he released it.

Namor charged. Torch released a sheet of flame. The Sub-Mariner is caught on fire, the fire can't hurt him, but the heat is too much even for him. For the first time in a while he is forced to flee, running towards the side of the bridge and preparing to leap off. The Torch followed angrily.

"Come back here you rat!"

The Torch hurled balls of fire at him but the Sub-Mariner hit the water. Torch continued to shout.

"You'll have to come back up sometime! And when you do!"

Namor swam away, angry that he'd been made to retreat. He vowed that he would be back.

In his head, Namor realized the torch was tougher than he thought. He needed a new strategy and he had an idea of how to do just that.

Namor had kept objects taken like trophies hidden away. Among them were air pressure tanks used by Submarines which he had sank. He thought they could extinguish the Torch's flame.

The Sub-Mariner arrived at the Statue of Liberty and quickly took it hostage. He had forced all people off of it, doing so because he knew the Human Torch would come. Anticipating his arrival he climbed to the Torch of the Statue of Liberty.

We didn't catch up to either of them at the tunnel..or the Bronx Zoo...Or the George Washington Bridge. It wasn't until they reached the Statue of Liberty that we got more than a glimpse of them.

"See. There! Up on the statue!"

And it was from quite a distance.

Namor put the tank down. The Torch came in, landing before him.

"I've got you know water rat!"

He fired a blast. Namor ducked and holding the tank, turned on the full force of the air. The Flame was extinguished. The Torch, now in his human form, collapsed onto the statue of the flame. The Air having served its purpose, Namor placed it down, grabbed the Torch's by the neck and delivered a swift punch. He then picked him up over his head and hurled him off the Torch.

"The Sub-Mariner's blown out the Torch's fire somehow...and he's thrown him off!"

Moments before the Torch hit the water his flame returned.

"We held our breath as the Torch burst into flame again...but…"

"Splash!"

"Too late he's hit the drink! And look! That fish-faced rats divin' in after him! Say can robots drown?"

The Sub-Mariner had dived after him and collided with him, bringing him down into the water.

Below the Sub-Mariner's hands were over the Torch's throat. He was struggling to find a way to kill the Torch now that he had him. He grabbed his head and pulled him down. The Torch felt himself losing consciousness. He needed to think of something quick. Namor had left the tank above, it titled on the edge and finally fell, hitting the water and striking the Sub-Mariner. The Human Torch saw it and grabbed it, using it as a weapon he struck the Sub-Mariner, this would not have phased him but the Human Torch grabbed the notch and turned, air shot out in the Sub-Mariner's eyes, blinding him. Torch made a run for it, holding the container. The closest thing he could reach was the Statue of Liberty. He needed only a moment before his flame returned. He looked back into the water. The Sub-Mariner was still down there, his element of surprise gone. After waiting for sometime, the Human Torch chose to count his losses and flew off

Betty Dean was trying to talk to Commissioner Valentine.

"But, I tell you. I can talk to Namor. I'm sure he'll listen to me. He's not at all as bad as you think!"

"I know, Miss Dean, but we can't take that chance. The Sub-Mariner must be destroyed!"

The Human Torch flew in

"And I'm the one to do it!"

I finally reached a phone…

"You're all right, Doris? Nothing's…"

"No..there was some noise and the building shook. But that's all. It's you I'm worried about.. Out there in all that."

"Look...Get to the Lanigan's and wait for me there. There'll be newsmen there. So if anything happens, you'll know right away."

A Police Officer entered the Commissioner's office.

"Commissioner! Switch on your Television Set Torch!, Watch this!"

"Watch what?"

I got a tap on the shoulder.

"Phil! Kiss'er for me and hang up! We're going to Radio City!"

"What he's kidnapping rockettes now?"

"Whole television studio. Take a gander."

Jameson pointed to a store Television set. Namor's face was on it.

"This is Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner, with a message for the so-called Human Torch! This is my final warning! Get off my trail Torch!...or Suffer the Consequences!"

The Human Torch took off like a rocket, firing out the window. Betty Dean tried to stop him but Valentine discouraged this.

"Wait!"

"He can't. It's his job to get the Sub-Mariner.

The Torch burned through the roof and burst through into the Studio. Namor had been waiting. There was a man behind a glass wall that thought to himself.

"Thank Heaven. He threatened to kill me unless I televised him"

The Torch and Sub-Mariner engaged in close quart combat.
"I've got you now Water bug!"

"That's what you think!"

Sub-Mariner leaped up into the hole that the Human Torch had created in his entrance and he flew off.

"And you don't think much!"

Torch flew off after him.

Of course, All we found at Radio City was scared employees, wrecked equipment and holes in the walls. The Torch and Sub-Mariner had hot-footed it upstate, and the roads were too jammed and panicked with new yorkers to follow. So while they wheeled and soared and clashed in the spring sunshine, we kept to the shadows and strained for any word of them.

Human Torch chased Sub-Mariner to the reservoir. He dives into the water. The flames obeying their master's command, completely cover the reservoir, thus trapping Sub-Mariner in his own element. The Torch then flew to the ground and spotted a reservoir worker. He asked him to call the police. He recognized the Torch and did so.

In the Reservoir, the Sub-Mariner realized something was wrong. He was water was being filled with Chlorine. He struggled to get past the flames, but the intense head drove him back, slowly but surely the chlorine took its toll. Then no longer able to combat the power of the chlorine, the Sub-Mariner passed out. The Human Torch called in a bombing run. The explosions inadvertently saved the life of the Sub-Mariner. One of the blasts propelled him out of the Reservoir, causing him to land on the grass. Struggling to recover, the Human Torch confronted him. He was in very little condition to fight back as the Human Torch created a ring of fire around him.

The Sub-Mariner attempted to leap. The wings on his ankles were badly singed and he crashed to the ground some feet away. He was in danger now, but he spotted a plane flying above, one of the planes to have dropped the bombs. The Sub-Mariner used his strength to leap, grabbing onto the wings of the plane. The Torch shot off after him, thinking to himself about how the safety of the pilot prevented him from using his flame. This resolved itself when the Sub-Mariner lifted the pilot out of the cockpit and released him, his parachute activating. Taking advantage of this the Torch fired a blast, which struck the aircraft. It soon began to fall. The Human Torch charged. Namor leaped down to the water a second before the Human Torch's charge cut the plane in half. He dove into the water in time to escape

The Human Torch had grown exhausted of this song and dance. The Sub-Mariner would continue to escape thanks to his use of the water. He was already wondering about a solution, until he had an idea. He flew off, at a slower pace this time, hoping that Sub-Mariner would follow him.

We kept to the shadows and strained for any word of them.

The Radio in the bar was our only source of information in Lanigan's.

"Repeat. The latest Developments: The Human Torch has imprisoned the Sub-Mariner beneath a sheet of flame in an upstate reservoir….(pzzt)... but the undersea dynamo freed himself..(Pzzt)...even as the army bombed his fiery prison!"

"Can't you get any better reception that Lanigan?"

"shh!"

"We Will continue to bring you updates as they occur, but now a word from…"

"BLAST THEM!"

I'd lost my temper. Doris was beside me.

"What is it? Phil? What's wrong."

I had to get it off my chest.

"Look at us!.. Just sitting here waiting! There isn't a thing we can do!...and this is our city! Our World! Who gave them the right to just come in and take it away from us!"

A reporter got off the phone.

"Look alive Kids! Police Poll says the Torch is back in town...and headed for the Torpey Chemical Works!" He's up to something all right."

"Let's Move." Jonah said grabbing his hat.

As luck would have it, the police had cleared the bridges by then, and our press credentials got us through."

"Boy, Phil, I've got to hand it to you. You're one smart guy!"

"Huh?"

"If You'd taken that job. You'd be on a steamer to Europe right now. An' you'd be missing this. Who cares about the war in Europe anymore? We got our own war right here..and this time we're Johnny on the spot!"

It was the first thing I heard in all this that made any sense. It was like a war. Not just the battles, but the very fact of the Marvels themselves. A war...or some freakish violent storm, and all we could do...was hold out fast and hope to ride it out.

As the Torch approached, he spotted a Watchman, landing he made the odd request.

"I need to have as much sulphuric acid as you have."

"Sulphuric Acid? Holy Mackerel, what for?"

"The Forensic Scientists say its one of the few things that could burn through the Sub-Mariner."

The Torch gathered the tanks of chemicals together. As he carried one he heard something and turned around. The Sub-Mariner had snuck in and quickly leaped to hide behind a heavy machine.

"Ah there you are you rat."

As he had hoped, the Sub-Mariner had followed him. Torch hurled the chemical. Sub-Mariner ducked and the decanter shattered behind him on a pillar. Torch prepared to hurl another one. The Sub-Mariner dodged it. The Decanter struck a vat of nitroglycerin. It began to burn through, starting a fire. The Sub-Mariner quickly ran to the water's edge and leaped in just as the explosion would've engulfed him. He considered fleeing again, but chose instead to peak his head out. He saw the Torch struggled to contain the fire. Enough of the warehouse was left intact, including a set of stairs leading to a top floor. Realizing his foe was distracted, the Sub-Mariner moved quickly and stealthily out of the water and up the stairs while the Torch believed he had retreated.

Reaching the second floor, the Sub-Mariner discovered something that made him smile. A large glass case, big enough to fit over a person. He realized the advantage such an object gave him. He lifted it up over his shoulder. With his great speed he burst out. The Torch was looking for him. He flew up and came down.

"Let's see you burn your way out of this!"

With quick speed, he brought the case down on the Torch, to his surprise. The case came down, cutting off the supply of air, and returning the Torch to his human form.

The Sub-Mariner rose up, triumphantly. The Torch was punching the glass but it seemed too thick. The Sub-Mariner laughed triumphantly and began to gloat. He now intended to pick the case up and find a way to dispose of the Torch, but as he did so, lifting up the bottom slightly, a massive burst of fire ignited both the Torch himself and the tube. Sub-Mariner realized his mistake and quickly shut the case back down, extinguishing the flame again.

The Sub-Mariner was left perplexed. The Human Torch pounded the glass with rage.

"When I get out of this I'll burn your every inch."

The Sub-Mariner had to admit that's what he was afraid of. If he moved the Torch even slightly the flame and the battle would start up again, which meant he couldn't finish him off. If the Sub-Mariner left then all it would take to free the Torch was the arrival of someone else. The conflict had proven that neither could really hurt the other. Sub-Mariner while not burned could be repelled by the intense heat of the Human Torch, but that was about it. Neither could really do any damage to the other. The Human Torch couldn't escape. In other words, it was a deadlock. The question was...

"Now what?"

The Human Torch couldn't help but act smug.

"Got the Tiger by the Tail and can't let go."

The police arrived. Betty Dean among them.

"Stand where you are!"

The Sub-Mariner panicked.

"You again! Take one more step I'll…"

She chose to alleviate the situation.

"Namor Don't."

Betty looked over the situation.

"Turn yourself in. I promise you'll get a fair trial."

Namor was hesitant.

"I was promised that before."

She had to admit that was true. Still Namor looked at the scene before him. He'd avoided the Human Torch many times before during the battle. The wings on his feet were burned. While he could leap great distances. He was uncertain if he could still fly but he could swim and there was water right there. He didn't want to kill Betty, who was his only friend as sad as that was. The police officers would take time to free the Torch. Their guns were useless against him and possibly the extra thick case around the Torch. Killing, the police officers would accomplish nothing and there were enough that a momentary distraction would result in the Torch being freed.

Finally he chose to cut his losses. He looked at the Human Torch and smiled.

"Farewell, Human Torch. You were a worthy adversary."

The Torch actually smiled back.

"So long, Namor, you were a tough customer."

We had just arrived and were watching the scene before us. Jonah couldn't believe it.

"It's that cop...that Dean woman. She's gotten em' to make nice at each other! I don't believe it. They're actually smilin' at each other!"

Jameson sagged in disappointment.

"If they shake hands, I'm gonna throw up."

Just like that...it was over. And of course there were no reprisals. No punishments. Nobody got hurt but us. Normal People. Untold dollars in property damage, multiple deaths and the assassination of the City's elected official and the man responsible got away scott free.

"Aw, nuts! The Torch just let him go, after all he did! That ain't fair!"

"Forget it, Iggy. You expect a storm to pay for the damage it caused? A war to care who gets killed?"

"Huh?"

The Next day dawned like nothing had happened at all.

Everybody put their backs into digging out, repairing the damage. Just like ants. And we all grumbles, and we all said something out to be done. But what was there to do? What was there for a man to do?

I found Doris at a makeshift clinic on the East Side.

"This is Mister Compton, Phil. He was in the El when it went down."

"Sone ride, you bet! Whoooee!"

"Um...Doris...can you spare a minute?"

We stepped out into the night sky. It was beautiful. The moon was out and shining over the river.

"What happened yesterday...what's been happening for months...It'll blow over. It can't keep on forever...but until...until things are sane again. Well...a man's nothing next to those things…"

"Phil...what are you saying?"

"Maybe..we should put our wedding plans off for a little while just…"just until this is all over."

"I don't want a Superman, darling, I just…"

"You don't understand, a man…a man's got to be able to protect his family. If he can't do that...he's got no business being a husband."

"If that's how you feel…"

She removed her ring.

"You'd better have this back. I wouldn't want to burden you."
"Doris...I…"

"If you ever want to give it back. You know where to find me."

And she left. I looked down at the ring in my hand.

When this is over, I'd said. When would that be? It would blow over the world wouldn't stay like this. It couldn't.

I looked up and my eyes widened.

Could it?