In Tales to Astonish starring the Sub-Mariner, Issue #8, 1980, Sub-Mariner (Prince Namor) clashes with The Thing.
A mysterious helmet made of an unknown metal is giving off ‘certain mysterious rays’ and is in the hands of New York’s police commissioner. Namor feels the helmet is too dangerous to remain in the hands of ‘ignorant humans’, so the authorities employ The Thing to have it transported to The Pentagon.
While The Thing is on his way with the helmet, Namor bumps into him (literally) and the fight ensues.
The fight is evenly-matched, with each gaining an advantage at different points of their tussle. Namor’s strength starts to ebb as he’s away from the water and on the receiving end of The Things’ clobberin’. After a building collapses on Namor, he’s fortunate enough to find an underground water pipe to replenish his strength. He gets The Thing to pursue him to a power station, after which Namor throws a highly-charged piece of equipment at him.
The Thing gets electrocuted and his dazed, while Namor is prepared to strike him with a huge boulder to finish the fight. An acquaintance from the past interrupts Namor before he proceeds, swiftly ending the fight. The Thing says to himself, “I don’t get it! I lost that fight on a TKO… I know I did! Then how come I feel like I won??“
