Posted - December 26, 2024

Invaders 4

Continuing from last issue, Namor and Bucky have left the rest of the Invaders as they go on the hunt for U-Man. Captain America and the torches won't have any of that and have "invaded" the local air force base on the hunt for a plane that will be both fast and seat three.

I really appreciate that the planes shown in the Invaders are actual World War II planes instead of just generic aircraft. It shows respect for once work on the part of Frank Robbins and Roy Thomas and it makes me respect their work.

There is a misunderstanding with the local authorities but our heroes manage to high-tail it out of there.

Then we get this incredibly informative overview panel - just wonderful.

As we catch up with Namor and Bucky we learn a bit more about U-Man. He is a banished Atlantean scientist named Merrano.

Merrano and his Nazi allies are out to ambush Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the Invaders are bent on seeing them fail. There is another party in the Caribbean though - evidently a group of reporters.

The way the above panel is written, I would surmise that Betty Dean featured on those old 40s timely tales. If so, then it's really great of Thomas to refernce those golden age characters.

And now, for the big bad guy . . .

The incoming plane carrying Churchill almost gets caught, where it not for the radio warning from Betty Dean.

U-Man won't give up though, he manages to get hold of the plane and is within moments of ripping its wing.

Fortunately, Namor arrives in time!

Captain America takes care of Merrano's Atlentean henchmen.

The struggle between Sub-Mariner and U-man ends with a draw because of strange interruption.

Some kind of "tractor beam" is pulling at the plain carrying Churchill; it's not the Nazis, their ships are being pulled as well. It take both Torches and Namor to save the plane

We'll never know what that phenomena is; this issue only has a note from Roy Thomas to check out the latest issue of Skull the Slayer. Hmmm, maybe someday we'll read that rather obscure comicbook, for now we are left with a mystery. Anyway, the end of the issue ends with mission accomplished: Churchill is safe.