Atlantis Attacks: Difference between revisions

*[[Ralph Macchio (comicseditor)|Ralph Macchio]]

"'''Atlantis Attacks'''" was a [[comic book]] [[superhero]] [[Fictional crossover|crossover]] storyline which ran through most of the summer [[Annual publication|annuals]] published by [[Marvel Comics]] in [[1989 in comics|1989]] and 2020.

The storyline is a complicated, multi-layered crossover regarding the return of the seven-headed [[List of Marvel Comics demons#Elder Gods|Elder God]] [[Set (comics)|Set the Old Serpent]] at the hands of the various underwater empires of the [[Marvel Universe]]. The title is misleading, however, as [[Atlantis (Marvel Comics)|Atlantis]] and its then-leader [[Attuma]] only play minor roles in the story as flunkies for the real masterminds: the [[Lemuria (continent)|Lemurian]]s and their leader [[Llyra]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lantz|first=James Heath |title=Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner: Scion of the Deep or Royal Pain?|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=#91|page=55 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date=September 2016|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref>

* the [[Silver Surfer]]

* the [[X-Men]]

** [[Betsy Braddock|Psylocke]]

** [[Sidewinder (comicscharacter)|Sidewinder]]

* [[Set (serpent god)|Set the Old Serpent]]

* Part 6: ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]] Annual'' #9<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Conway, Gerry|penciller= [[David Ross (comics)|Ross, David]]|inker= [[Andy Mushynsky|Mushynsky, Andy]]|story= The Serpent in the Shadow|title= [[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]|The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual]]|issue= #9|date= 1989}}</ref>

* Interlude: ''Avengers West Coast'' #52-56

30 years after the crossover eventstoryline, the title would bewas revivedrevisited as a five-issue [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]], written by [[Greg Pak]] with art by Ario Andito. The new storyline pitted the [[Agents of Atlas]] against [[Namor|Namor the Sub-Mariner]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsarama.com/47446-marvel-s-revives-atlantis-attacks-for-30th-anniversary-event.html|title = Newsarama &#124; GamesRadar+| date=6 July 2023 }}</ref>

After discovering that the Big Nguyen Company has stolen Atlantis' sacred guardian dragon and are using her magic to power the portal city of Pan, an enraged Namor attacks the city, only to be thwarted by the [[Agents of Atlas|New Agents of Atlas]], Pan's protectors. After [[Amadeus Cho|Brawn]] tells him that immediately releasing the dragon would disrupt the portals holding the city together, Namor gives the team one day to return the dragon or else face the wrath of Atlantis.<ref>''Atlantis Attacks'' (vol. 1) #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

While most of the Agents of Atlas work to bolster Pan's defenses and to free the dragon without disrupting Pan's portals, Atlas' leader [[Jimmy Woo]] sends [[Namora]], [[Venus (Marvel Comics)|Venus]], [[List of Marvel Comics characters: A#Aero|Aero]] and [[List of Marvel Comics characters: W#Wave|Wave]] to Atlantis for a diplomatic mission. Wary of Namora's familial ties with Namor, Brawn discretely orders [[Shang-Chi]] and [[ListLin of Marvel Comics characters: S#Sword MasterLie|Sword Master]] to tail her. Upon arrival, Wave is warmly greeted by Namor due to her recent role in defeating the [[Sirena (Philippine mythology)|Sirenas]], longtime enemies of Atlantis. Wave and Aero explain they only defeated a villainous faction of the Sirenas, but their words fall on deaf ears when Atlantis' citizens come out to celebrate Wave's arrival. Brawn, [[Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson)|Uranian]], [[Delroy Garrett|3-D Man]] and [[M-11 (comics)|M-11]] eventually find a way to replicate the dragon's magical energy to power Pan's portals, and the dragon is safely freed from captivity. However, when the dragon arrives back home she unexpectedly goes berserk and begins attacking the underwater kingdom. After the dragon is subdued, Atlantis' scientists discover the source of the dragon's behavior to be an implant embedded in her scales. Namor accuses Brawn to be behind the deception and immediately flies to Pan for revenge. Namor violently ambushes Brawn and proceeds to attack the Big Nguyen Company's CEO and Pan's founder Mike Nguyen in his personal tower at the Heart of Pan, but is stopped by the combined efforts of the Pan Guard and Brawn, who sends Namor flying back into the ocean. While the rest of the Atlas agents prepare themselves for another attack from Namor, Nguyen reveals that he's also recruited the Sirenas to help defend Pan from Atlantis.<ref>''Atlantis Attacks'' (vol. 1) #2</ref>

With help from the Sirenas, Namor is eventually overpowered and imprisoned. During a meeting between the Agents of Atlas, the Pan Guard and the Sirenas, a disagreement erupts when Nguyen and the Sirenas' leader Sea Hunter propose to launch a retaliatory attack Atlantis. Namora accuses the Sirenas of treachery, revealing the dragon's implant to be made from Sirena tech. After Namora and Carina of the Sirenas recount their people's history, the group finds itself torn between protecting Pan, attacking or defending Atlantis. The disagreement eventually escalates into trading blows when several members within the group take sides between the Atlanteans and the Sirenas. During the commotion, Namor is able to break free from his prison.<ref>''Atlantis Attacks'' (vol. 1) #3</ref>

Namor swiftly subdues the combined group and flies back to the heart of Pan, threatening Nguyen and Pan's citizens as retribution for attacking his kingdom. A hologram of Nguyen offers an alliance between Pan, Atlantis and the Sirenas to Namor; before the king could retort the recovered Agents are able to catch up to Namor and resume fighting him. Brawn talks down the combatants and confronts Woo over the secrets that he's withheld from the team. Woo reveals to all that for thousands of years, ancient dragons have served as advisors for human rulers, with the Atlas Foundation having its own dragon, Mr. Lao, serving him as well. As fighting each other openly would raze the planet, dragons have used humans as proxies in their own personal conflicts against each other, making them responsible for almost every major war in history. Woo is content with this balance of power, but Nguyen suggests uniting the world under Pan, proposing to Namor and Woo that by harvesting the power of their dragons, they could overtake the rest of them.

With Namor preoccupied, the Sirenas use the opportunity to head to Atlantis to destroy its dragon, bringing a reluctant Wave along with them. Upon arrival, they discover that despite being freed of her implant, the sea serpent continues to rampage across the kingdom. Wave effortlessly incapacitates the dragon without killing her. Much to the Sirenas' shock, the Atlanteans celebrate Wave's actions. As Namor returns to Atlantis with Namora, Venus and Aero, the rest of the Agents uncover Nguyen in his personal bunker and confront him. Having anticipated this, Nguyen attaches a Sirena tech implant onto Amadeus, transforming him into the Hulk.<ref>''Atlantis Attacks'' (vol. 1) #4</ref>

Under Nguyen's control, the Hulk makes quick work of the Atlas Agents. To prevent any further invasions against Pan, Nguyen commands the Hulk to kill Namor, much to the shock and anger of Pan's citizens. In Atlantis, just as Wave is able to get Namor and Carina to come to a truce, [[Silk (comics)|Silk]] warns the group a mild-controlled Hulk is on his way to destroy Atlantis. With help from the Agents, Namor is able to isolate himself and the Hulk to a deserted island two miles from the Heart of Pan for their fight. As the Hulk pummels Namor, Sword Master distracts him long enough for Shang-Chi to remove the device, freeing Amadeus from Nguyen's control and reverting him back to Brawn. Unfortunately theyThey are too late, as the shockwaves emitted by Amadeus as the Hulk have created a massive [[tsunami]] that is heading towards the Heart of Pan. With some goading from Woo and Namor, Brawn transforms back into Hulk and creates another shockwave to weaken the tsunami with help from Namor, Wave, Aero and [[List_of_Marvel_Comics_charactersList of Marvel Comics characters:_L L#Luna_SnowLuna Snow|Luna Snow]]. The city is saved, although Nguyen dies protecting a [[Madripoor|Madripoorian]]ian refugee and her young son from the tsunami.

One month later at the Heart of Pan, Woo announces to the Agents and Pan's new leadership at a banquet that Atlantis and the Sirenas have signed a non-aggression pact, recognizing Pan as an independent nation. Woo congratulates Delegate Angie Thrasapalt, the refugee Nguyen rescued, on winning her election. Still feeling guilty for Nguyen's death and angered with Woo's machinations, Amadeus quits the team. As Mr. Lao laments losing Amadeus as a potential leader, he and Woo plan their next move: helping Namor fight the [[Knull (character)|King in Black]].<ref>''Atlantis Attacks'' (vol. 1) #5. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==NotesReferences==

[[Category:Comics by John Byrne (comics)]]

[[Category:AtlantisComics inby fictionWalt Simonson]]

[[Category:WarsWar in fictioncomics]]