Appearing in "Never Bother a Barracuda!"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Captain Barracuda ⏵
- Mr. Starkey
- Karthon the Quester ⏵ (First appearance)
- Naga (Only in flashback)
- Lemurians (First appearance) (Main story and flashback)
- Royal Alchemists (Unnamed) (First appearance) (Only in flashback) (Death)
Other Characters:
- The Ancients (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- United States Navy personnel
- Smith
Locations:
- Lemuria (Only in flashback)
- United States Navy look-out station on the Florida coast
Items:
- Serpent Crown (Main story and flashback)
- Inertia-Ray
- Atomic Activator
Vehicles:
- Captain Barracuda's submarine
- United States Air Force bomber (5092)
Synopsis for "Never Bother a Barracuda!"
Karthon the Questor battles Namor for the crown and is defeated. He reveals to Namor the history of the Serpent Crown and of the mad tyrant Naga. Unfortunately, Captain Barracuda captures them both on his way to steal an atomic weapon. Namor frees himself but must decide whether to pursue Karthon who has fled with the Serpent Crown or to stop Captain Barracuda's atomic torpedo!
Notes
- In this issue, Karthon told Namor that the Helmet of the Ancients had been created centuries ago by the Royal Alchemists of Lemuria and that they had completed it by immersing it in a long-lived sea-beast's vital fluids so that it would make its wearer immortal. Once that was done, they gave it to Naga who immediately used its powers to make them kill themselves.
- However, the accuracy of this origin came into question after later stories (including Captain America #181 and Marvel Two-In-One #66) described the crown as having come from the Lemuria that had existed on the surface.
- Later, after Doctor Strange researched the history of the Serpent Men in Marvel Team-Up Annual #5, it was revealed that the Serpent Crown had actually been created in Pre-Cataclysmic Lemuria by an alliance of human alchemists and Serpent Men.
- Finally, Chapter Seven of the Saga of the Serpent Crown in Daredevil Annual #4B revealed that the origin presented in this issue was partially true after all. Although the water-breathing Alchemists of Lemuria had not actually created the Serpent Crown, the Elder God Set had shown them how to treat the Serpent Crown with special oils that would make its wearer immortal and forever young.