Also, here's a panel where Wave, yells at a wave, I guess.

We did go back and find this concluding issue--I'm not sure I got it where I did the rest of the series, but okay--but we might be kind of hard on it. With dragons, conspiracies, multiple underwater societies, and a grab-bag of assorted superheroes; it was the human element that I don't buy here. From 2021, Atlantis Attacks #5, "Eye of the Storm" Written by Greg Pak, art by Robert Gill and Ario Anindito.

Previously, billionaire Mike Nguyen had taken over Amadeus Cho, and was going to use him to defend his city of Pan, by killing Namor. Nguyen tries to play this off as "no more kings," but the refugees-turned-citizens of Pan are starting to realize he maybe didn't have their best interests in mind. Nguyen denies that, saying money was only a means to an end, and promises to never abandon them; but mind-controlling a Hulk is real super-villain stuff, so...Back in Atlantis, after a bit of posturing and back-biting, everyone has started to realize, they all wanted peace; and maybe you can't blame an entire nation for the actions of one cranky dragon. Talks are interrupted by the incoming Totally Awesome Hulk, but Namor's scientists had discovered Pan's location, so he's able to have him, the Hulk, Shang-Chi, and Sword Master teleported back near Pan. There, Sword Master steps up, to get the mind-controlling crab off of Amadeus. Amadeus is apologetic, but Namor scoffs, he'll soon have something to cry about: the shockwave from the last Hulk punch, had created a tidal wave that would destroy Pan within minutes!

Low on confidence, Amadeus still rushes to try and stop the wave; while the combined Agents of Atlas struggle to get as many people as possible to shelter. And here's where my suspension of disbelief runs out: Nguyen gives his shelter, to a pair of refugees that had been POV characters through the series. I don't see any way a billionaire would've given his life for a kid, even their own kid, unless they had planted their brain inside of them or something. Anyway, the Hulk-slap reduces the effect of the wave, but Nguyen dies.

In the end, Pan is on the way to being recognized as an independent nation; but Amadeus is stinging, feeling used by both Nguyen and Jimmy Woo, and he takes his leave of the Agents. But Woo doesn't have time to dwell on that, since Knull was coming, and next would be King in Black: Namor. Read more!

Somehow, Atlantis Attacked...again.

I poke fun, but I also don't know if I remember seeing this when it was coming out. If I had, maybe I would've remembered it was five issues, not four. Grrr...From 2021, Atlantis Attacks #4, "Secrets Revealed" Written by Greg Pak, art by Ario Anindito and Robert Gill, color art by Rachelle Rosenberg.

This would've been based on much more recent continuity, not going back to the 1989 annual event, or even to Namor's then fairly recent demise (and return) at the hands of the Squadron Supreme. Instead, this followed the creation of the new Agents of Atlas in War of the Realms and was somehow a King in Black crossover as well. High point recap: Jimmy Woo had both his new and original Agents, mostly defending the Pacific rim. Billionaire Mike Nguyen had built a "portal city" called Pan, which featured a teleportation network that could reach numerous cities worldwide, including Tokyo and NYC. (This would've been when the mutants had Krakoa, did everyone teleport everywhere for that stretch?) But, of course there's a dark secret--uh, no, not the dark you're thinking of when billionaires come up--the city was powered by scales of a captured Atlantean dragon! Namor, of course, won't let that stand: most of the Agents aren't especially keen on enslaving the dragon either, but maybe don't want millions to die if the Atlanteans attack the city. Throw in another underwater faction, the Sirenas; who hated both Namor and the dragon, and partnered up with Nguyen against them.

Even with assorted forces closing in Atlantis, Namor is still prepared to fight his way through whoever and destroy Pan himself. Nguyen appears to him via hologram, wanting to cut a deal, since he thought he had all the cards. Namor realizes, as civilians try to defend their homes, that Nguyen had opened the city to refugees not out of benevolence, but more to use as human shields. Nguyen thinks he, Namor, and the Sirenas would be unstoppable together; Namor counters, no one could stop him now, and he wasn't about to make a deal with someone he couldn't trust...a lesson politicians in the real world are maybe starting to learn in dealing with the U.S, but that's neither here nor there.

Namor's fight with newcomers Luna Snow and Aero is cut short, as M-11 hacks Nguyen's mainframe, which exposes Jimmy Woo's secret: there were more dragons. In fact, earth was perhaps secretly ruled by dragons, including Woo's consigliere of the Atlas Corporation, Mr. Lao. But, Woo went along with it, because if the dragons weren't fighting with human proxies, they could destroy the world themselves. The argument continues, while young hero Wave saves Atlantis from the dragon: the second time she'd save Atlantis in this series, so she was pretty popular there, even when Namor shows up. Back in Pan, Amadeus Cho discovers Nguyen's secret bunker, but Nguyen then takes control of Cho with a robot crab, beefing him back up into the Totally Awesome Hulk! To be continued...which is super-annoying, since I found four issues in the same box. That fifth, though... Read more!

Is Atlantis done attacking? As done as it's gonna be...

So we started blogging Atlantis Attacks annuals June 2015, so it took me over four years to re-purchase or gather them all up; and yet this last one to go I actually had two of in my garage. At least two of...From 1989, Avengers West Coast Annual #4, "Gather Now Ye Seven Brides!" Story and pencils by John Byrne, inks by Terry Austin.

Because I've gone in absolutely no order, this is chapter twelve of fifteen: I think there was a New Mutants regular issue and a Marvel Comics Presents in there as well, but we're just focusing on the annuals and I don't think I ever had the other two. The Deviant Ghaur has gathered up and mesmerized seven unwilling brides for Set: She-Hulk, Andromeda, Dagger, the Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey, the Invisible Woman, and the believed-dead-at-the-time Storm. (This was during the Outback era for the X-Men, who appeared in the third chapter, but wouldn't appear again in this story. I don't think Storm was abducted that issue, but they didn't exactly help get her back, either! And I don't know if this was mandated by Claremont or X-Men editorial, but every time someone sees her, they're like "That looks like Storm--but she's dead!") Ghaur is annoyed to discover that Dagger was currently blind, which may be another setback: since the humans somehow refrained from slaughtering the Atlanteans, his blood sacrifice to bring back Set didn't go through. But there may be a workaround.

While the Avengers and the Thing meet and try to work out their next move, Ghaur sends the ladies on a fetch-quest for the mystic doo-dads he needs. They are all acting as themselves, except they have to obey Ghaur's orders, whether they like it or not. (And they don't!) A passing ship sees She-Hulk wrestling a giant squid thing, and calls in the Avengers. Iron Man is surprised when She-Hulk clocks him one, and has to stun her; later she rages trying to return to Ghaur. The Avengers opt to let her go, to lead them to Ghaur, which works: they fight their way through Ghaur's loyal Deviants and some of the brides, while Ghaur frantically tries to use the items and the other brides' powers to resurrect Set. Wonder Man destroys one of the doo-dads before it's fully charged, but thinking fast Ghaur has the Scarlet Witch use her probability-altering powers on it, so it would work. Beast makes a goal-line stand, trying to cram an iron gauntlet into the works, but too late! Set is reborn! Things look pretty bad for our heroes, and I'm not sure they would improve the next chapter, either. I know I threatened "you can sort them into order yourself," but here goes:

1. Silver Surfer Annual #2
2. Iron Man Annual #10
3. X-Men Annual #13
4. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23
5. Punisher Annual #2
6. Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9
7. Daredevil Annual #4 (It's really #5!)
8. Avengers Annual #18
9. New Mutants Annual #5
10. X-Factor Annual #4
11. Web of Spider-Man Annual #5
Twelve is this one, silly.
13. Thor Annual #14
14. Fantastic Four Annual #22

Also this issue: Wasp and She-Hulk rate the Avengers' hunks! A USAgent story, tying into last year's Evolutionary War annuals. A Firebird story, with some lunkhead Atlanteans trying to conquer the desert. And a Squadron Supreme-centric chapter of "The Saga of the Serpent Crown" that details the events just prior to their limited series.
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I was feeling a little down on comics the other day, but I managed to get to my local Comic Book Shop for their back issue Mondays sale, and recharged the batteries with a solid pile of stuff. Including one that brings us so close to the finish line! From 1989, Iron Man Annual #10, featuring "Two If By Sea" Written by David Michelinie, pencils by Paul Smith, inks by Mike Gustovich.

This was the second chapter of Atlantis Attacks, and the revived Lord Ghaur is already starting to build his alliance, with Attuma, Llyra, and Krang. But someone else is under the sea today: the invincible Iron Man, tailing a pair of Mafia Maggia mini-subs off the California coast. The subs are tailing a larger ship, which is itself stopped by Namor, the Sub-Mariner! It's innocent enough: Namor was looking for the creepy alien spawn of his wife Marrina, and was just going to ask if the crew had seen any. Instead they panic, since they were secretly Hydra! Routed, the Hydra goons elect to blow themselves up, leaving Iron Man to wonder what they were up to and why the Maggia was after them.

Iron Man and Namor team-up and work the case, which leads them to the Panama Canal, where Hydra is planning a big drug giveaway, in the hopes of taking over in the ensuing chaos. Speaking of ensuing chaos, the Atlantean army is also there, using the canal to prepare a sneak attack! While Iron Man scuffles with the Atlanteans, Namor has to split off to stop Hydra's drug ship, and that captain also opts to blow himself up--and Namor with him! This barely gets a page, so I don't know if this was mandated somewhere and had to be squeezed in, or if they just ran out of space, or what. Even with that, this isn't a great showing for Hydra: they're completely disposable villains, who act like even they think they're completely disposable.

I also don't think Smith and Gustovich were a good match, but the art was stronger for some of the next feature, the pin-up story "Can You Top This?" (Written by David Wohl, with art by Jackson Guice, Gene Colan, John Byrne, Keith Pollard, and Bob Layton.

There's also the inexplicably titled "There Are No Wire Hangers Underwater!" (Written by Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Don Perlin, inks by Don Ald.) Returning to Atlantis after the reports of Namor's death, Andromeda confronts her father, Attuma. Then a few pin-ups, and the second chapter of "The Saga of the Serpent Crown," in which we discover that in the Marvel Universe, the battle between Set and Demogorge was what killed the dinosaurs! (Written by Peter Sanderson, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Keith Williams.) I don't think that comes up very often; I'd love it if it took like five different things to kill the dinosaurs there: a comet, giant god battle, the Celestials, multiple alien invasions...
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It's been years since we started checking out Atlantis Attacks annuals, and I honestly thought we were close to the end here! Still a bit left to go, but today chapter eleven, from 1989, Web of Spider-Man Annual #5, "War Zone: New York" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Javier Salteres, inks by Randy Emberlin.

There's about 80 super-heroes, mutants, and assorted costumed vigilantes in New York City (and the rest of this crossover...) but today it's Spider-Man and the five current members of the Fantastic Four left to face the invasion of the Atlantean army! (They had Sharon Ventura as She-Thing and Ben Grimm was currently human and his Thing exo-suit was still in the shop!) The Atlanteans are outgunned and outmanned, but the launch of their kaiju "Megasaur" turns the tide at least temporarily: Attuma refuses to hear any naysaying about his victory. The real powers here, Ghaur and Llyra, know better; but this is just a distraction, to get the army away from Atlantis so they can destroy it! Why would they turn on their allies? This would be the sacrifice they needed to summon Set, although the real push would be the Brides of Set--and Ghaur captures the Invisible Woman to add to their number!

The narration this issue is carried by reporter in the field Trish Fox, largely arguing with the talking head news anchor back at the station. It wears a bit thin...Attuma and the Atlantean army are completely demoralized by the loss of their home, but Reed and Spidey are more concerned with getting Sue back. There's also a brief scene with a mysterious figure saving some soldiers, but he's wearing a coat and long hat, so we have no idea who he is. It really works! (Once again, since I've gone out of order on these, it might not be readily apparent.)

Also this issue: more "Saga of the Serpent Crown," some Fred Hembeck, and Captain Universe and Silver Sable stories! And we're down to two chapters to go, including the next one, West Coast Avengers Annual #4. Getting there...
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When I found today's chapter of Atlantis Attacks in the quarter bin, I also grabbed Avengers Annual #18 and Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9 since I might not have...totally blogged those already. All part of the method! From 1999, Daredevil Annual #4 (it's really #5!) "A Friend in Need" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Sam de la Rosa.

Spider-Man had been hypnotized and captured by Tyrannus in the aforementioned previous chapter, but this issue starts in Daredevil's current continuity, namely walking the earth like a bum, around about Daredevil #268. On reflex more than anything, DD saves a man from getting killed by snake-men: the man, Leo, was on the trail of his missing friend Wally, who had gone into the "Save Our Society" rehab program, which was a front for Tyrannus! Who should probably have his own tag, since we've seen him multiple times over the years, even outside of this crossover.

Daredevil isn't willing to further help Leo, since at this point he really didn't want to be responsible for anything. Which Dr. Strange finds a little out of character: he had been believed dead for some time, but DD doesn't seem especially surprised to see him. Still, even at this low point, Daredevil still has to help. Meanwhile, Tyrannus was planning to step around Ghaur and take the forefront in Set's return, by using the Viper as a human sacrifice. Unfortunately for him, while his plan allows him to summon and control Set (and Spider-Man has a fair handle on Daredevil) Tyrannus loses concentration on controlling Viper, and gets tossed into the pentagram with the demon, which seemingly takes a bite out of his head. While it's feeding, Strange casts it out, the place explodes and the serpent-men are returned to normal. (Viper makes the traditional escape.) Spidey is also freed, but Strange disappears without him seeing, telling DD no one but him will remember him being there. Leo finds his friend, who doesn't want to go home, and tells him they weren't friends, they were drinking buddies. Harsh.

There's a Frenz/Sinnott cover on this ish, that makes it seem like it's going to be more retro: DD doesn't have his beleaguered stubble, or Strange his eyepatch. The interior art is slightly more gritty, but not much. Bagley also penciled "the Saga of the Serpent Crown," but there were bigger names in the back-ups: Jim Lee on a Wild Boys story--they were two trashy recurring thugs; they had nothing on Turk. (And they may have just recently died in Old Man Logan #44!) John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson draw a Fat Boys story: they were a kid skate gang, and kind of suck. And Whilce Portacio does a Ben Urich story; all of these were written and colored by Gregory Wright.


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"Lemuria Attacks" would've been a worse title, if more accurate here.

I haven't blogged a chapter of Atlantis Attacks for some time, but I had the final installment waiting for me, so I scheduled this for some ways out: from 1989, Fantastic Four Annual #22, "For Crown and Conquest" Written by Roy Thomas, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Tony DeZuniga.

With Set dismembered by Demogorge the previous chapter, Ghaur and Llyra are playing defense, even though they still have their captured "Brides of Set" and a giant Serpent Crown; as the Avengers and Fantastic Four make their final push to beat them. Ghaur no longer has the Power Cosmic, but they still have an army of Lemurians, and the outside chance that sacrificing the Brides will manifest Set. Llyra does get another setback with the return of the believed-dead Sub-Mariner, who then gathers the FF (minus the captured Invisible Woman) to fight past a lower airlock; but Ghaur then uses the Serpent Crown to turn them against each other. Llyra tries another tactic, claiming she could use the Crown's power to resurrect one of Namor's lost wives, either the Lady Dorma, or Marrina, if he smashes the other one. Choosing neither, Namor instead recovers Namorita: Llyra had hoped to trick him into killing his cousin.

Ghaur turns up the Crown's power (leaving Llyra hanging out to dry, although she escapes) but is then confronted by the returning spirit of Naga, who had been killed while using the Crown years ago. Fighting it out, the two destroy each other, and the freed Brides push the Crown into a crevice to be crushed. (There's a slight nod to continuity: Storm is recognized, even though she was also believed dead at the time.) Reunited with his cousin, Namor tells the assembled heroes he plans go with her, and not rejoin a team or look for the Atlanteans. Which I would've thought would lead to Namor hanging out with the New Warriors, but he'd be getting his own book again in about a year. Still, a slightly underwhelming finish to the whole crossover.

Also this issue: "Savior of the Lost Artifacts!" (Written by Mark Gruenwald, pencils by Tom Morgan, inks by Mike DeCarlo.) As Reed and Sue host the dedication ceremony for the brand-new Four Freedoms Plaza, Reed doesn't feel at home, missing the Baxter Building. (It had been destroyed by Kristoff, re-running Dr. Doom's old plan to launch the building into space.) Sue comments on the keepsakes and such they lost, when a massive pile of them appear! Old uniforms, Fantasticars, Dr. Doom's time machine, all saved from the Baxter Building--but by who? Then, Stan Lee stars in "Mission: Impossibleman" (Written by Gregory Wright, art by Hillary Barta) and the final chapter of "The Saga of the Serpent Crown" recap. (Written by Peter Sanderson, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Keith Williams.)
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Another Liefeld chapter? Wouldn't have bet on that.

He also drew the New Mutants chapter we blogged over a year ago, now I'm wondering if he worked on any of the Atlantis Attacks chapters we haven't seen yet. From 1989, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23, "Abominations" Plot by Gerry Conway, script by David Michelinie, pencils by Rob Liefeld, inks by Tim Dzon, James Brock, Curtis, Vince Mielcarek, and Keith Williams.

Lord Ghaur and Llyra's big plan to bring back elder god Set continues to move along, and this issue they're bringing in another conspirator, longtime Hulk foe Tyrannus. Who, while not having his own tag, has been mentioned multiple times on the blog but is rarely scanned. We've seen him turned into a geezer, merged with the Flame of Life and launched into space, and today he's the Abomination? When did that happen? He was in the Abomination's body, while Emil Blonsky was human; Llyra and Ghaur waste little time switching them back. The enraged Blonsky, back in his monstrous body, then proceeds to go on the rampage in New York City; and Spider-Man and She-Hulk try to stop him. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but I've often thought She-Hulk doesn't find Spidey funny in the slightest, and may even find him a bit annoying...

There are several She-Hulk panels that look alike to me, and I wonder if Liefeld copied himself! Anyway, Ghaur takes a second to tag a briefly unconscious She-Hulk with "the Mark of Set!" She-Hulk later hits Abomination with a gasoline truck, setting him on fire, and he jumps in the river and disappears. Meanwhile, Tyrannus is bringing in another conspirator, the Viper; setting up Punisher Annual #2.

This will be the ninth chapter blogged here, and I know I have another scheduled! The missing ones are going to be a bear now, though. Off the top of my head...the misnumbered Daredevil Annual, Iron Man Annual #10, um...Web of Spider-Man Annual #5, and I forgot West Coast Avengers Annual #4! I thought I had done that one already, actually.

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The chapter of Atlantis Attack reminding me I'm missing three chapters.

This issue takes place after Punisher Annual #2, but mentions a previous chapter I don't have handy, the next chapter I'm not sure I remember, and I know there's another one in there somewhere. From 1989, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9, featuring "The Serpent in the Shadow" Written by Gerry Conway, pencils by Dave Ross, inks by Andy Mushynsky and Mike Gustovich.

The Punisher and Moon Knight had run across Viper at a "Save Our Society" addiction clinic, but this time we meet the clinic's head, Dr. Tyrone. He seems like a nondescript blonde fellow, but he's really long-time Hulk foe Tyrannus! Who seems to have some new powers after his run-in with the Flame of Life, including a bit of mesmerism. Which is how he's able to get Cloak under his power, when the hero comes to the clinic for his addition, to the light of Dagger. Tyrannus kidnaps Dagger, and forces Cloak to recover "the book of Kell," for some choice forbidden mystical knowledge. When Tyrannus sics a serpent-man on Cloak, he snaps out of it; but Tyrannus not only has piles of snake-guys there, he's franchised his clinic to over two hundred locations! (Cloak is also helped out, though he doesn't see it, by that mysterious armored figure we keep seeing. And who I think I spoiled before, but keep it under your hat.)

Spider-Man is also there, having run into Cloak checking out the clinic before; but also having recognized a tattoo on one of the clinic workers as being from the Sons of the Serpent. While Cloak escapes with a feverish Dagger, Spidey discovers junkies being turned into serpent-men, and is hypnotized by Tyrannus and surrounded by them!

This would be immediately continued in Daredevil Annual #4 (it's really #5!), which I'm frantically digging for now...Also this ish, a Prowler back-up with very McFarlane-style art (it's Scott McDaniel) and a Mary Jane Watson feature tied into the then-current storyline of a rich stalker getting the Parkers blacklisted everywhere. And another chapter of "the Saga of the Serpent Crown," that says it's based on a John Byrne story, but I don't know from where.
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The chapter of Atlantis Attacks with Atlantis Attacking.

The Atlantean invasion is in full swing in today's book, chapter eight of Atlantis Attacks, 1989's Avengers Annual #18, "Avengers Assembled" Written by Michael Higgins, pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Mike Gustovich.

Ghaur and Llyra's giant re-creation of the Serpent Crown is complete (and starting to have an effect on any unfortunate enough to have worn it in the past) so it's time for the invasion to get going, led by Attuma, who may be starting to slowly realize he's not the top of the totem pole here. Although the Atlantean army has a few super-powered troops, like Orca and Tyrak; the Avengers have called in both teams and the reserves, fielding 22 members at the start and a few more by the end. The Atlanteans are forced back on multiple fronts, although in New York, the fleeing Atlantean soldiers are taken out by a gigantic undersea creature; and Warlord Krang catches a beating from a mysterious, armored figure. (Whose identity you could probably guess, if I had blogged these in any kind of order!)

Also this issue: Captain America recruits Quasar to the Avengers, and we see his initiation interrupted by Firelord; "Cap's Avengerability Analysis," which is as good a reason as any for Kevin Maquire, Lee Weeks, and Kieron Dwyer art; and another chapter of the "Saga of the Serpent Crown." This one ties into some old issues of Sub-Mariner, but I don't know if the Helmet of Power there was always intended to be a disguised Serpent Crown, or if that was a retcon.

This is the seventh chapter we've looked at, with one scheduled; I still have six more I have to find somewhere...
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So I found another copy for fifty cents, which made cracking and buying it easier than finding my copy somewhere: from 1989, Punisher Annual #2, featuring "Knight Fight" Written by Mike Baron, art by Bill Reinhold.

This would be the second of five straight Punisher Annuals that were involved in some crossover, starting with the Evolutionary War and going until 1992's the System Bytes: traditionally, Punisher would be scheduled fairly early in the crossover, before things got really nuts, to keep him grounded. And this Atlantis Attacks chapter starts both grounded and weird, as a passing Marc Spector sees a guy at a pet store eat a gerbil at the counter! Curious, Spector trails the guy back to a private drug rehab clinic; meanwhile, the Punisher is on the trail of a murderer, who turns out to have checked himself in with the same organization. Frank investigates the clinic's downtown office: Baron's Punisher was still able to pass in polite society; unlike say, Ennis's version, who usually looked like a monster. Staking out the office, Frank hears a tricked-out chopper, setting up the best panels in the whole crossover.

No Marvel misunderstanding brawl for these guys, they're professionals. I know some later writer would wreck this--Frank kills Marc's insane brother or something--but I love the idea of these two just being super-cool with each other.

The office has both armed guards and loose snakes, although the latter are too sluggish in the chill to be up to much; and the same actually applies to the creepy forked-tongued goons that jump the guys. Later, at Marc's mansion, we get a bit of recap, with oddly different lettering, tying the snake men back to Viper, and last year's "snake riot" from Captain America #344. (Such a great issue, I want to read that now!) Hitting the clinic, Moon Knight and Punisher realize while the riot had been considered a "mass hallucination," these goons really were turning into snakes! Then, Frank gets ambushed by Viper, who shoots him up full of...snake juice, I guess. Which doesn't turn him into a snake, yet, but he goes wild, shooting up the place. More so than usual, even. The Viper bugs out, and I'm not sure where she turns up next in the crossover; partly because I'm reading them in no particular order.

Moon Knight manages to if not hypnotize, at least confuse the Punisher, with his shiny crescent darts; and Frank goes into convulsions and passes out. Taking him back to the mansion, Marc takes care of him until he comes out of it, two days later, and that's that for this chapter, which is still probably one of my favorite single issues of the time. Also this issue: a surprisingly dark Microchip back-up, and not just because night-vision goggles play a big part in it. There were several of those over the years, but Micro has to go straight to murder-town on this one. Then some "Punisher's Fighting Techniques" with art by Jim Lee, and the fifth chapter of "The Saga of the Serpent Crown," featuring Conan vs. Thoth-Amon!

Let's see: Atlantis Attacks was 14 chapters, and so far we've looked at six now, with a seventh scheduled. Hoping I can dredge up the rest eventually!
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Today we continue our sporadic coverage of the Atlantis Attacks crossover, with the third chapter, featuring a guest-star I love to death, used badly; in a trope I somehow associate with the book's regular writer even though he didn't write this one. From 1989, X-Men Annual #13, "Double Cross" Written by Terry Austin, art by Mike Vosburg. Now, Austin's a name you've seen on a ton of X-Men comics, but he was an inker--aside from that link there, I didn't know he had any writing credits.

Set during the X-Men's Australian outback days (which lasted maybe two years, but still seems a definitive era) the story opens with Dazzler about to jump into bed with Wolverine, in a somewhat hammy pass. She is interrupted by Alison--herself!--and the rest of the X-Men, since she's actually Diamondback, from Captain America! By way of explanation, Storm goes through her taped account: rejoining the Serpent Society, DB was on a mission for Ghaur and Llyra, who wanted some mystic artifacts stolen from Mr. Jip. Instead, the somewhat cadaverous and apparently pantsless Jip captured Diamondback, and Dazzler, then swapped their bodies in order to blackmail them into collecting the magic items...that I thought he supposedly had. Hmm...

Splitting into groups and teleported by Gateway, the X-Men fight the Serpent Society in the Savage Land, Ohio, and Iceland; collecting the items. Longshot is believed lost, but upon receipt of the items Mr. Jip restores Diamondback and Dazzler, then returns Longshot to leverage his position. But Jip and the X-Men are double-crossed by Diamondback, who is retrieved by her boss, the teleporting Sidewinder; they had likewise double-crossed the Serpent Society and bilked them of most of their fee. Ghaur and Llyra receive the mystic doodads, and have a chuckle at how humans can be so short-sighted, since they would use them to raise Set and kill them all...while Mr. Jip laments the setback: he had been trying to stop Ghaur and Llyra's plan only because it involved Dagger, and Jip had his own plans for her. Jip also notes their plan may have repercussions for Storm as well...

Even though Austin wrote this, the body-swap aspect feels like regular writer Chris Claremont; and I'm not sure why. I don't know if he used that one that often, but still. I don't think I've read another comic with Mr. Jip, so I don't know if he's used correctly; but Diamondback is a bit out of character here, far more shallow and callow than she had become in Cap. Also this issue: a Jubilee story, written by Claremont under a pseudonym; and another chapter of "The Saga of the Serpent Crown," featuring a cameo from Kull!
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Look, you can sort these into order later. Yourself.

The current plan is to slowly, eventually, blog all of Marvel's 1989 annuals, the Atlantis Attacks crossover. So far, in no particular order, we've covered four (and an issue of Quasar that tied into the What If? for this event) but now we hit a chapter I hadn't read: New Mutants Annual #5, "Here Be Monsters" Written by Louise Simonson, pencils by Rob Liefeld, inks by Tim Dzon.

So, I didn't read this one back in the day, because I've never been a fan of the New Mutants: the phrase "ah'm near invulnerable when ah'm blastin'" just makes my jaw clench up, for one thing. (I know I had Cable's first appearance, though; and New Mutants #100...) But this issue also ties into New Mutants #76, which I also hadn't read, guest-starring the Sub-Mariner in a fight for the Horn of Doom. You know, the one Subby blows to summon big, cool monsters, like that one that looks like Moby Dick with feet. (Giganto.) This time around, Ghaur and Llyra send some Deviants to steal the Horn, with they do from Namorita. Because the Deviants resemble some of the New Mutants, and Namorita knows about their recent encounter with Namor, she goes after them, accompanied by super-powered Atlanteans Sharkskin, Eel, and Undertow. Their group name was Surf, which doesn't really make sense: they were underwater all the time, they might see currents, but would they see surf? If they were a DC team, they'd probably get killed in a crossover, but Marvel's allowed Surf to sink into obscurity.

While the required Marvel-misunderstanding brawl rages, Ghaur blows the Horn, drawing a giant, poisonous, squid-monster to destroy Atlantis. Ghaur's sub does take a hit, and the Horn is lost, but he still declares this a pretty good sacrifice to Set. The combined heroes manage to stop the monster by burying it in an undersea trench, but while most of the Atlanteans are saved, the city is (once again) destroyed. This was chapter nine of fourteen, and we've looked at five now...I doubt we'll do this faster than we did with DC's Ghosts annuals, but you never know.
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I think I had the whole run, minus one issue that I have now but still don't like, but I may have lost most of the Atlantis Attacks annuals over the years. So, I've been re-buying them here and there as I stumble across them, and set up a tag for them here as well; since they probably won't end up in the same box anytime soon. Today, chapter one! Even if we've checked out a couple others before. From 1989, Silver Surfer Annual #2, "How Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth..." Written by Steve Englehart, pencils by Ron Lim, inks by Keith Williams. Englehart and Lim were the regular Silver Surfer team at the time, and would be until Englehart left after #31, which also features Williams.

This issue cleverly uses the space-travelling Surfer, without having to drag him back to earth, again. While the Dreaming Celestial stirs restlessly on earth, the Surfer loses control of his board, after passing through a mysterious cloud of space dust. Using the power cosmic, the Surfer reconstitutes the Deviant Ghaur, who had been disincorporated some time back. (In Iron Man Annual #6, even though the editorial footnote says #7!) The Surfer is less than pleased with this turn of events, while Ghaur goes on about this being his godlike destiny. Ghaur attacks the Surfer, but soon realizes he's not at full strength (or is way out of his league...) and traps the Surfer momentarily and flees. Now, the Surfer knows full well Ghaur will almost certainly be up to no good as soon as he gets back to earth, but he had his own problems, in the form of a new Kree-Skrull War, that had dragged Zenn-La in.

Ghaur returns to earth, and heads straight for the underwater city Lemuria, where he frees long-time Sub-Mariner villainess, Llyra. He needs her help, because he's learned about something called the Serpent Crown...Meanwhile, the Surfer tries to transmit his thoughts to earth--something I'm not sure I've seen him try since--and his warning is seemingly received by Dr. Strange, Alpha Flight's Talisman...and the Dreaming Celestial.

The rest of the issue features, like the rest of the AA annuals, a hodgepodge of back-up features and the serialized recap "The Saga of the Serpent Crown," written by Peter Sanderson, pencils by Mark Bagley, inks by Keith Williams. (Did they do the whole serial? Maybe we'll see!) We may check out one of the back-ups here later, in our ongoing exposé of pirates being dicks.
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