The X-Men encounter a member of a sub-terranean culture. No, a different one.
Originally Published February 1968
Beast and Iceman are out on dates with Vera and Zelda when, as usual, they happen to be attacked by a giant monster.
This Dee Snyder-looking fellow is the eponymous Sub-Human, who also dubs himself Grotesk after Beast describes him as "grotesque" (to his face, no less!)
After the scuffle, Grotesk retreats to an underground cave, sealing the entrance up so e canquietly reflect on his origins and treat us to a flashback.
As it happens, Grotesk the Sub-Human was once Prince Grotesk the Sub-Human, (okay fine, his name was Prince Gor-Tok, which is surely much better,) Heir to an Underground Empire that was wiped out by radiation sickness when mankind began using atomic bombs. Despite the implication that the Sub-Humans were planning on attacking the surface, this is still a pretty sympathetic backstory, complete with a lost love angle.
Tears, you guys. Tears.
The anti-nuclear, "man-was-not-meant-to-meddle" lesson here is pretty obvious, but actually not worse for doing so. Grotesk is a pretty sympathetic figure here. Let's not dance around it: in this comic, the human race is officially to blame for a literal extinction of a people because of nuclear weapons. Is it a nuanced or complex allegory? Perhaps not, but it's effective anyway.
And I know what you're thinking: another underground civilization making war on the surface? Didn't we just go through this with Tyrannus and Mole Man? Well sure, smart guy, but it's a big planet and you're closed-minded for thinking there can only be one or two civilizations beneath its crust.
Meanwhile, Professor X has been acting strange lately, drilling the X-Men exceptionally hard in the Danger Room, and being secretive, which we haven't seen from him since... well, it hasn't been that long. He's even re-instituted his demerit system, which can't be good for morale.
Elsewhere, at Archer College (located where else but in Manhattan) a scientist named Dr. Hunt has developed a device called the Nuclear Oscillotron, which will be used to create Earth Tremors. Despite the fact that this definitely sounds like the kind of machine that will be used to bring about the total destruction of Earth, Dr. Hunt insists it can and will only be used for the betterment of Mankind. In fact he's willing to stake reputation on it!
Naturally, the tremors anger Grotesk, who goes in search of the cause, which he believes (correctly) to be a machine that he can use to destroy humankind.
The X-Men, minus Jean (who Professor X requires for some secret experiments, much like last issue) go examine Grotesk's lair and track him to Archer College. Angel and Iceman go to warn the Professor, who has stepped out and instructed Jean, much to her teammates' frustrations, that she must remain at the mansion to wait for him.
With Grotesk's arrival at the College, intent on using the Oscillotron for its surely-not-deliberate-but-undeniable purpose of destroying the Earth, only Cyclops and Beast stand in his way... to be continued!
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