The World Below

History: The world's largest ocean liner, the S.S. Luxuria, was trapped within a giant air bubble and taken to the sub-sea city of Atlantis. The amphibious Atlanteans planned to study the captured humans on board and rise out of the sea to invade the surface world. Their plans were foiled by Doctor Droom, who found the secret entrance to the sub-sea kingdom. Droom used his hypnotic powers to place the Atlanteans in a trance, making them think the surface world was a wasteland with no living creatures. Droom then hypnotized the people aboard the S.S. Luxuria, making them forget the whole incident, and released the ship from captivity.

Height: 6 ft.

Demonstrated Powers: The humanoid-fish Atlanteans had an advanced civilization, and were amphibious, being able to survive in both water and air.

Comment: It is unknown if there is any connection between the Atlanteans from “The World Below” and Goliath, Titan, or Gargantus.

Comment: Similar giant aquatic inhabitants were seen in the story “At the Stroke of Midnight!” in Amazing Adult Fantasy # 13 (art by Steve Ditko); possible connection?

Comment: It is possible that these “Atlanteans” are actually an offshoot of The Inhumans. It is known that a group of winged Inhumans once broke off to become The Red Raven's Birdmen. The only member of the Inhumans ever shown to have aquatic abilities was Triton. It is possible that Inhumans with aquatic abilities were regarded as outcasts and therefore seperated themselves from Inhuman society.

Comment: It is possible that these “Atlanteans” are actually members of some extra-terrestrial aquatic race, possibly connected with The Monster From the Lost Lagoon (introduced in Fantastic Four # 97) or the Manphibian (introduced in Legion of Monsters # 1).

Comment: It is possible that the shark-creature Kai-Mak, who fought The Golden-Age Vision in Marvel Mystery Comics # 23 (Sept. 1941) (art by Simon & Kirby), was actually a mutated “Atlantean”.

Comment: In the reprinted story, changes were made through retroactive continuity. The story was redrawn and relettered; “Dr. Droom” became Dr. Druid , “The Atlanteans” became The Aquaticans, and “Atlantis” became “Aquatica” (to avoid confusion with the Atlantis of Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner).