Marvel Triple Action #32
The cover dress prominently features “starring Capt. America, Hawkeye, Goliath, and the Wasp”, which is a weird way to frame a reprint of Avenger’s #40. Of course, by the time this issue saw print the Avenger’s line up was drastically different. Perhaps they thought it was better to list the primary characters. Hercules is also prominently featured on the cover, and in the battle with this issue's enemy, yet he doesn’t rank title card billing.
Titles like Marvel Triple Action were one of the only ways to read the early issues of the Avengers pre-internet. They also still represent an affordable way to own the physical issues without buying keys (follow me for more money-saving tips!). This was how I learned Marvel lore as a kid. Written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Don Heck, the Sub-Mariner tangles with a U.S. submarine. After that he finds the cosmic cube (off-panel, no less!) and briefly uses it to go toe to toe with the Avengers, especially Hercules.
Subby has always seemed more of a solo act, and the only team I readily associate him with is the Defenders (whose roster also includes former rival/ally the Hulk). The readers, either of the original Avengers issue or this reprint, probably never suspected Namor would one day become an Avenger himself. This is at least the second time I am aware of that Namor has tangled with the Avengers, the other time being his brief alliance against them alongside the Hulk. Namor must have knocked some respect into Herc's thick head in this issue, because decades later, when protesters took to the streets after his induction into the Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hercules was the most vocal in supporting the Atlantean.
As a fan of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch it was disappointing to see them sit out the action this go around. Really, it’s just a very oddball issue overall. Herc’s stupid boasts give intel to the enemy. Hank Pym talks about giving himself a set of wasp wings when shrunk down and then promptly forgets about it—again. No one ever mentions Namor once possessed the cosmic cube ever again.
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