Issue Description

The Menace of the Land-Sea Beasts

Doctor Cyrus Beard invents a device that evolves animals into water-breathers. The test animals, however, become savage after undergoing the treatment. Beard reverses the effects, and returns to his research. Weeks later, a stunning migration of land animals is spotted entering the sea, from every coastline. The savage beasts attack a cargo ship, sinking it. In response to the ship's distress call, Aquaman and Aqualad arrive. Aquaman quickly discovers that the animals, despite their aquatic characteristics, are unresponsive to his telepathic control of marine life. Aquaman summons a school of sharks to ward the animals off. Using their tusks and trunks, the elephants hurl the sharks away. With the freighter crew safe, and the animals moving out to sea, the Aquatic Aces attempt to recover the ship's cargo, only to find the holds empty. Beard summons Aquaman, revealing that he is the cause of the animal attacks on the shipping lanes.

Somehow, his mutagenic compound has contaminated the water supply, along every coast on Earth. Beard provides Aquaman with a weapon to reverse the evolutionary effects on the animals. Aquaman catches up with the hordes of animals, as they lay waste to another cargo ship. Aquaman pulls the trigger on Beard's weapon, but nothing happens. Aquaman and Aqualad do their best to distract the animals, while the ship's crew flee to safety. Attempting to salvage that ship's cargo, Aquaman, once again, finds the holds empty. Aquaman notices a clump of seaweed that was also at the scene of the previous ship's sinking. Investigating, Aquaman discovers that the seaweed is concealing a diving bell, piloted by Beard's assistant, Kirk. It was Kirk who used Beard's device to mutate the hordes of animals into a savage herd, then steered them towards cargo ships.

Kirk followed behind the horde, looting the sunken freighters of their valuable cargo. Kirk lashes out at Aquaman, with the diving bell's claw. Chasing Aquaman and Aqualad to the surface, Kirk herds them towards a horde of savage Hippopatamuses. Aquaman and Aqualad elude the beasts, and Kirk, by swimming into a narrow crevasse. Unfortunately, the crevasse is filled with smaller, but no less savage, animals. Aquaman hurls a rock at the diving bell. The Hippopatamuses pursue the rock, inadvertently destroying the diving bell. Aquaman carries Kirk to the surface, with the animals right on his heels. Aquaman lures the savage hordes to the coastline. With the mutagenic element recovered from Kirk, Aquaman reverses the power on Beard's device, restoring the animals to normal. Returning the device to Beard, Aquaman gets the inventor to promise not to experiment on anything bigger than laboratory mice in the future.

The Cosmic Gladiators!

The image of a ship in distress leads Aquaman and Aqualad into a trap. As the illusion of the ship fades, the Aquatic Aces are drawn from the sea by a tractor beam. The two heroes are deposited into an enormous tank, filled with the aquatic denizens of dozens of other worlds. The tank is towed to an alien world. There, Aquaman, and the other captives, bear witness to a host of gladiatorial games. After their tank is brought into an enormous underground complex, Aquaman, Aqualad, and the other captives are given energy lances, and instructed to train for the games. While sparring, Aquaman observes the fantastic abilities of his fellow captives, as they try to kill one another. Aquaman convinces them that, by working together, they can all win the chance to return to their respective worlds. The tank is wheeled into an arena, and the order is given for the aquatic men to fight.

For long moments, Aquaman, and the others, play at combat. Then, as one, they turn their "steeds" to the tank's wall, and shatter it, with concentrated fire from their lances. Aquaman orders the alien, called "Styz", to increase his body temperature. The water from the tank boils into steam, providing the escapees cover in which to flee. Aquaman orders the alien, called "Myrot", to use his ability to manipulate and control water, to form a column next to a tall buliding. Aquaman swims up the column, to reach the rooftop. From there, Aquaman is able to ascertain the location of the space port. Aquaman swims back down to the street, only to find his companions, including Aqualad, have vanished. Suddenly, Aquaman is drawn inside a truck. There, Aquaman finds his missing companions. Aquaman meets Starra, the leader of an opposition movement to the alien world's dictator, Tiros.

Aquaman offers to kick off the revolution, if Starra will finish it. Aquaman orders the alien, called "Xuvia", to serve as Starra's bodyguard, as Xuvia is covered in protective scales. Drawing from several lakes, Myrot propels Aquaman's team through the streets, within columns of water. Using the weapons provided by Starra, Aquaman, and his associates, lay siege to the city. Aquaman spies Xuvia racing towards the tyrant's arena. Aquaman confronts Xuvia. The treacherous alien intends to inform Tyros on where he can find Starra's opposition forces. Aquaman fights a defensive battle against Xuvia, eventually tricking him into falling into a deep pit. The weight of Xuvia's scales will not allow him to climb the pit's walls. Should Xuvia retract his scales, however, he will be no match for Aquaman. Once Starra's opposition forces have overthrown Tiros, Aquaman, and his companions, are returned to their respective worlds.

Aquaman

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

Aquaman (Volume 1)

Starring: Arthur Curry as Aquaman and Aqualad.

Aquaman, the King of the Seven Seas, takes the plunge into his very own series. As the King of Atlantis, Aquaman protects not only his people but also all of Earth's oceans from any threat! This volume was important for a number of reasons. Mera was introduced as a character and a Superhero wedding (Aquaman and Mera) occurred in issue 18. Aquababy (Arthur Jr) was born in issue 22. Aquagirl (Tula) was a new character (33) and she became a love interest for Garth. Ocean Master was introduced as Aquaman's Half-brother in issue 29 and Black Manta became one of Aquaman's greates villains starting with issue 35 which included the Manta Men. Issue 40 began a multi-issue stor arc entitled the Quest for Mera and it concluded with issue 48. Aquaman had journey's to the land of the Maarzon's and to the surface world during his quest. Aquaman put Narkron in charge and he became a dictator which led to a Revolution in issue 47. The Bugala was introduced in issue 43 as was Aqualad dealing with the creature without Aquaman. Issue 46 was unique becaus it presented the same story as issue 45 but from Mera's perspective. Issue 49 reintroduced Phil Dawson, whom Aquaman met in issue 49 and very shrewdly had a picture of Deadman carved into the rocks under the ocean as a shadowing of his back-up role in issues 50-52. Those issues offered us the artwork of Neal Adams and the Deadman stories crossed over with the Aquaman lead story. Issue 54 brought Aquaman against the Crime Organization he battled in issues 44-46 and a new villain was unleashed, Thanatos. Issue 56 ended Aquaman's Title but when he was given it back in 1977, it started with issue 57. This storyline picked up where Adventure 452 left off. Aquaman went after Black Manta, thinking his son was dead. Cal Durham has a change of heart and starts turning for the good. Issues 58-60 had a Mera back-up story as she went to her own dimension of Xebel to find a device to safe Arthur Jr. Vulko told Mera in issue 58 that he was still alive. When Mera returned in Issue 60, Vulko told her that Arthur died. Issues 58-60 included such villains as Fisherman, Scavenger, and Kobra. It also included the origin of Aquaman in issue 58. Issue 61 had Batman and Green Lantern guest star as they battled Kobra. The issue ended with Batman yelling at Aquaman because Kobra got away and Aquaman swimming away from him. They later came to blows in Brave and the Bold 142. The funeral happened in issue 62 and Aqualad (after uncovering issues from his past in Adv. 453-455)

decided that he needed to meet with Aquaman face to face. Mera blames Aquaman for the death of their son but the reconcile at the end of the story and after the robot villain was defeated. The last panel left the cliffhanger that Ocean Master was behind the robot. Issue 63 ended this solo run which included a reunion with Aqualad, a journey to the ancient city of Atlantis and a battle with Ocean Master. When DC expanded the pages of their books, the Martian Manhunter was going to back-up Aquaman, but with the cancellation of half of DC's line of books, the Sea King lost out.

Collected EditionsShowcase Presents: Aquaman Vol. 1 (Adventure Comics #260-280, 282, 284; Aquaman #1-6; Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #12; Showcase #30-33;Detective Comics #293-300; Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #55; World's Finest Comics #125-129)Showcase Presents: Aquaman Vol. 2 (Aquaman#7-23, World's Finest #130-133, #135, #137 and #139 and The Brave and the Bold #51)Showcase Presents: Aquaman Vol. 3 (AQUAMAN #24-39, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #73 and a story from SUPERMAN'S PAL, JIMMY OLSEN #115)Aquaman: Death of a Prince (Adventure Comics #435-437, 441-455 and Aquaman #57-63)

Note: Although canceled in the early 1970s, the series was subsequently revived as a part of the DC Explosion. It was canceled once again approximately one year later.

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