Issue Description

Mera finds life as Queen of Atlantis increasingly more lonely, as Aquaman is constantly away patrolling the seven seas. Aqualad stays behind to keep her company, however, the boy's impetuousness proves to be too trying for Mera to handle, without Aquaman. As her displeasure grows, she begins acting out against her Atlantean subjects. While Aquaman is away, a strange fish arrives in Atlantis, carrying Mera's old hand mirror, left behind in Dimension Aqua. Once the mirror is imparted to Mera, the image of Dimension Aqua's greatest scientist, Xeron, appears within the looking glass. He has repaired, to some degree, the gateway device for transit between Dimension Aqua and Aquaman's world. Professor Xeron can send people, or things, from Dimension Aqua to Mera, though he cannot, as yet, bring them back again. Mera immediately sends for her old "pet", a horrific sea creature she calls "Choggar". Mera is overjoyed to see the beast, climbing aboard it's back to ride it around Atlantis. The Atlanteans, however, are not as fond of the path of destruction the creature leaves in it's wake. Soon, a group of Mera's old friends cross over from Dimension Aqua, to take up residence in Atlantis. They quickly wear out their welcome with their rambunctious behavior and disrespectful ways. As the Atlantean's umbrage towards Mera's friends increases, so too does their contempt for the new Queen. Meanwhile, on the surface, a man known as T.T. Taggert is making plans to add Aquaman, and the Atlanteans, to his "Aquacade", a water themed amusement park. To that end, he has allied himself with Nikkor, one of Mera's friends. Taggert will make sure Aquaman never returns to Atlantis, if Nikkor will deliver the Atlanteans to Taggert's "Aquacade". Nikkor orders his companions, from Dimension Aqua, to round up the Atlanteans, for transport to the surface. Aqualad bears witness to the capture of the Atlanteans, and immediately swims off in search of Aquaman.

Aqualad finds Aquaman freeing Kraka, a giant squid, from a fishing trap. Aquaman is stunned to hear that Nikkor has usurped the Atlantean throne, as well as Mera's seeming complicity in selling the Atlanteans into bondage. Aquaman and Aqualad immediately swim back to Atlantis, but they are ambushed by Taggert's men. The two heroes take cover within a giant scallop, but when Aquaman orders it to re-open and release them, he discovers that the scallop is made of steel. Taggert has trapped them. Taggert places a 24 hour guard on Aquaman, with orders to kill the sea king, if the Atlanteans do not perform in Taggert's "Aquacade". Soon enough, Taggert is making huge profits, due to the popularity of his latest attractions. Under duress, Aquaman, Aqualad, and the Atlanteans put on the greatest water show in history. Below the waves, in Atlantis, it is revealed that Nikkor has been regularly drugging Mera, since his arrival, to bring her in line with his scheme to become King of Atlantis. Back at the "Aquacade", Aquaman is rehearsing a new show, commanding octopi and squid, penned in adjacent pools to the Atlantens, to project water from their ink sacs into the air. In effect, Aquaman has created mollusk fountains. Their true purpose, though, is not to entertain Taggert's audiences, but to increase the water level of the Atlantean's tank until it overflows, spilling over the lock gate, into the sea. Aquaman instructs Aqualad, and the Atlanteans, to swim for the ocean, while he holds off Taggert's men, buying them the time to escape. Believing the whole affair to be just another part of the show, the audience breaks into thunderous applause, even as Aquaman is overwhelmed by Taggert's forces.

Aware that Aquaman cannot survive out of water for more than one hour, Taggert places him in a glass diving bell, in clear view of a clock. Taggert will release Aquaman only if he agrees to order the Atlanteans to return to the "Aquacade". Aqualad and the Atlanteans forcibly take back Atlantis. Nikkor and Queen Mera are placed on trial for treason. On the surface, the clock winds down on Aquaman. Taggert is shocked that the sea king did not break, sacrificing his life for the sake of the Atlanteans. Under cover of darkness, Taggert return's Aquaman's limp body to the sea. Aquaman, however, is only feigning death. While all eyes were on him in the diving bell, Aquaman commanded a passing sea gull to move the clock's hands forward. Mera and Nikkor are found guilty, and sentenced to live out their lives in the Dungeon Depths. Aqualad races back to the surface, encountering Aquaman, already en route to Atlantis. Aqualad reveals Mera's fate to Aquaman. Then the two race off to stop the Atlanteans from carrying out the sentence. Arriving too late, Aquaman, to the shock of the Atlanteans, hurls himself down into the Dungeon Depths. The inescapably powerful ocean current drags the sea king down, miles deeper, until he finally reaches the bottom. Mera is overjoyed to be reunited with her husband. Nikkor states that the drugs he had given to Mera, to make her compliant with his wishes, have clearly worn off. In a murderous rage, Aquaman attacks Nikkor. Their struggle though is interrupted by the emergence of a nightmarish, subterranean, aquatic horror. One that does not obey Aquaman's commands. Forced to work together to stay alive, Aquaman and Nikkor attack the creature, stabbing at it with broken pieces of stalagmites. Mera spies her hand mirror floating down to them. Again Professor Xeron's face appears in the glass. He has completed repairs on the gateway between their two worlds. They can escape back into Dimension Aqua. The news comes too late, though, as the creature has already grabbed Aquaman, it's grip too strong for the sea king to break free. Nikkor calls to Mera to leave with him through the portal, but Mera refuses. She will stay with Aquaman until the end. In a sudden change of heart, Nikkor re-attacks the creature, stabbing at it repeatedly until it releases Aquaman. Nikkor sacrifices himself, remaining behind to divert the creature, while Aquaman and Mera escape to Dimension Aqua. Back in Atlantis, Aquaman explains to the Atlanteans that Mera had not been in her right mind, due to Nikkir's manipulations. All is forgiven.

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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