The Impossible Tunnel

History: In an attempt to dig a sub-oceanic tunnel from the United States to Europe, engineer Robert Saunders built a gigantic atomic-powered drill vehicle. He and his crew began to drill on the New England coast. Weeks into the project, the work crew ran into a huge, air-breating octopus. They hastily build an electric fence to keep the octopus at bay. Exploring the tunnel, they found an underground city, a peaceful utopia with a wealth of gold. Seeing the corrupting influence his work crew was having on the city, Saunders was concerned about what would happen if the entire surface world was allowed in to spoil the subterranean paradise. Saunders turned off the electric fence, and the octopus attacked, wrecking the tunnel. Returning to the surface, Saunders told his superiors the project was too dangerous of a task. The project was cancelled, leaving Saunders with a sense of satisfaction that he saved the beautiful subterranean world.

Comment: The giant octopus looked very similar to the giant octopus used by Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner in Fantastic Four # 14; possible connection?

Comment: In X-Men: The Hidden Years # 4, the mutant Magneto stated that low-level subterranean radiation in the “Savage Land” made everyone mildly telepathic, thus allowing people from diverse cultures to communicate with each other (which explained how everyone seemed to speak English). Saunders and his crew must have been exposed to the same radiation, as they were able to communicate with the people of the sub-oceanic world, seemingly in English.

Comment: Speculation - In Tales of Suspense # 43, Iron Man travelled to the subterranean kingdom called The Netherworld (not to be confused with the limbo-like spirit realm). Centuries ago, the Netherworld had been a technologically advanced city on the continent of Atlantis that was covered by a pressure-dome to protect it as it sank into the sea, then continued to sink below the Earth. It is possible that the sub-oceanic utopia was an offshoot colony of the Netherworld.

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