Issue Description

On the hunt for the missing cargo ship Vulcan, Aquaman and Aqualad instead encounter one Captain Sykes, and his ship, the S.S. Seahawk. Captain Sykes wastes no time in boasting that it is he who has spirited away the Vulcan, and her crew. Using the hostages as leverage, Captain Sykes forces Aquaman to retrieve two ancient relics, for his "maritime collection." Following a map provided by Captain Sykes, Aquaman and Aqualad locate the resting place of the first relic, dead center in an enormous coral mountain. Issuing out a telepathic command, Aquaman instructs hatchet fish & swordfish to begin chipping away at the coral, while a host of other fish carry away the debris. Finally, Aquaman commands a porcupine fish to break through the remaining thin layer of coral separating them from the artifact. Upon breaking through the final barrier, an unknown gas is released into the chamber. The effects of the gas are twofold. Three of the fish... the porcupine fish, a cow fish and a goosefish... all grow to gargantuan proportions, while becoming increasingly agitated. Aquaman and Aqualad attempt to flee the chamber, but the goosefish blocks the egress. Surrounded, Aqualad desperately swims into their midst, to drive them off before they reach Aquaman. Exposed to the gas, Aqualad, too, expands to giant size. Aqualad makes quick work of the enormous fish, before turning on Aquaman. Before Aqualad can attack his mentor, the last of the gas seeps from the chamber. No longer under the influence of the gas, Aqualad returns to normal size and sanity. With the danger passed, Aquaman retrieves the relic from the broken coral cavern. It is a small chest, with no visible opening. Aquaman returns to the S.S. Seahawk, and turns the chest over to Captain Sykes. Aquaman is given another map, with the location of the second artifact marked upon it. This time, their destination is Pecos Island. As Aquaman and Aqualad draw near to Pecos Island's coast, a great sea serpent surfaces from beneath the waves, driving the heroes away.

Making for open sea, Aquaman and Aquald are only barely able to stay ahead of the creature. It rears up through the waves, as if to pounce on the two heroes, when suddenly, it falls back, unwilling to pursue them past a certain point. Keeping Aquaman and Aqualad level with it's eye line, the sea serpent waits. Never venturing any farther forward. Aquaman notices that the creature ignores a school of passing fish, and thus summons hundreds of fish, instructing them to form a tunnel to the shore. Aquaman and Aqualad are able to swim to Pecos Island unseen by the sea serpent, but as they break the surface & rush the beach, the creature turns & comes for them. As the pair escape into the jungle, the creature rampages through the docks and boats lining the shore. In the jungle, Aquaman and Aqualad are suddenly surrounded by the native islanders, who take the duo prisoner, at spear point. Aquaman petitions the tribal leader for their release, stating that they have only come to Pecos Island to retrieve the second relic, a wailing shell. Outraged, the tribal leader informs Aquaman that the shell was created by a powerful wizard. The wailing sound emanating from it keeps it's protector, the sea serpent, at bay. As long as they have it in their possession, the creature will not venture any further inland. Aquaman offers to remove the sea serpent as a threat, once and for all, in exchange for the shell. Scoffing, the tribal leader releases Aquaman, while continuing to hold Aqualad hostage. Aquaman returns to the sea, where he is immediately set upon by the sea serpent. Telepathically summoning dozens of electric eels, Aquaman instructs them to prod the creature with a massive electrical charge, distracting the sea serpent long enough for Aquaman to swim past it, rapidly heading for the open sea. The creature gives pursuit, but once again stops short of leaving the island's coastal waters. Aquaman again instructs the electric eels to strike. As the sea serpent lurches forward to escape the stinging shock, it crosses over the coastal water boundary, and fades away. Aquaman has correctly surmised that the wizard that created the sea serpent, rooted it to Pecos Island. Provoking it to move out of the island's coastal waters broke the spell, causing the creature to vanish. No longer prisoners of their own home, the grateful islanders reward Aquaman with the wailing shell.

Returning once again to the S.S. Seahawk, Aquaman, this time, refuses to give up the relic, until Captain Sykes releases the Vulcan hostages. Captain Sykes relents, leading Aquaman and Aqualad through a hidden pass through the cliffs lining the coast line. There, a secret bay opens up before them. The crew of the Vulcan are allowed to get their ship back under way. It is only after the Vulcan has been given safe passage, sailing across the bay, through the hidden pass, & into open water, that Aquaman passes the wailing shell off to Captain Sykes. Cackling in triumph, Captain Sykes gleefully tells Aquaman that the sound vibrations of the wailing shell will open the chest, releasing an indestructible, immense, aquatic genie-like creature, that will be his to command. With it by his side, Captain Sykes will plunder all cargo ships and sink all naval vessels that oppose him. Of course, he'll do away with Aquaman and Aqualad, too. Captain Sykes holds the wailing shell against the chest, but nothing happens. Aquaman has substituted a clever lookalike for the real wailing shell. Captain Sykes is thwarted. In a rage, Captain Sykes orders the pirate crew of the S.S. Seahawk to kill the two heroes. Aquaman and Aqualad dive for the bay. Octopi disarm several of the pirates, while a swordfish relieves another of his pistol. Captain Sykes pulls a lever that lowers a massive gate across the entryway to the bay, trapping Aquaman and Aqualad with the villains. As Captain Sykes brings up a machine gun to finish the heroic pair, Aquaman commands a nearby sperm whale to bring him an anchor chain, which he quickly ties to the gate. The sperm whale then tears the gate loose from the cliff walls, with such force that they begin to collapse. Aquaman orders Captain Sykes to lay down his arms, or he'll leave him to die in the rapidly collapsing cavern. Captain Sykes quickly complies. He and his pirates ride out atop the sperm whale,watching, as his secret maritime base is buried in tons of rock and debris, Captain Sykes is turned over to the authorities. Unable to destroy the impregnable chest, Aquaman settles for having a hammerhead shark shatter the wailing shell. Without a key, the chest, with it's terrible contents, will remain sealed forever.

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.

Please first Sign In before leaving a review.

Status: Not in Collection