Issue Description

In celebration of the new monarchs, a new statue of Aquaman and Mera, carved from diamond coral, is unveiled in Atlantis. For his contributions to the Atlantean's continued well-being, Aqualad is given a new mount, a giant sea horse, called "Sea Imp". The festivities come to an abrupt close, however, when word reaches Aquaman that a tremendous, dual-headed creature has made off with an Atlantean farmer. Aquaman and Aqualad immediately set off to rescue the Atlantean. Locating the creature, lurking half out of the mouth of a cavern, Aquaman lures it out, while Aqualad enters the cavern and leads the Atlantean to safety. The creature spies Aqualad, and the Atlantean, escaping it's lair. It turns from it's pursuit of Aquaman to go after them. Spooked by the horrific creature, Aqualad's mount bucks, hurling Aqualad, and the Atlantean, to the sea floor. The creature rapidly closes on them. Aquaman hurls a large, sharp piece of shell, beaning one of the creature's heads. It lashes out, striking Aquaman, and rendering him unconscious. Aqualad races to save his mentor. As he is about to pounce on the creature, it vanishes. As Aquaman recovers, he and Aqualad are greeted by Kaltor, Aquaman's Atlantean mentor. Kaltor was the first Atlantean Aquaman ever encountered. He taught Aquaman many, many vital lessons in how best to live beneath the waves. Kaltor is hunting the creature. He is old, though, and fears he does not have the strength to long continue. He has come seeking Aquaman's aid in destroying the creature. He asks Aquaman to return with him, to Atlantis, where Aquaman can swear a solemn oath, before the Atlantean High Council, to slay the creature. En route, Aquaman and Aqualad are ambushed by the giant Atlantean villain, Lukhan.

Kaltor knocks Lukhan out with one blow, then frees Aquaman and Aqualad. Returning to Atlantis, they are met by Queen Mera, and Kaltor's daughter, Starene. Aquaman, as promised, takes the oath. Aquaman, Aqulad, Kaltor, and Starene depart to hunt for the creature. Unbeknownst to the quartet of adventurers, Mera also follows, spurred on by her jealousy over Starene's attentions to Aquaman. Kaltor splits off from the group to search the badlands. The creature attacks Mera, destroying her chariot, then dragging her away, deep into a labyrinthian series of caverns. Finding a conch horn, Mera blows a distress signal. Aquaman, Aqualad, and Starene, hearing the sound, investigate, and spy the creature burying Mera's chariot. They pursue the creature into the cave. Aqualad breaks off a stalactite, hurling it down on the creature. Aquaman lassos the stalactite, preventing it from impaling the creature. He then lassos one of the creature's heads, instructing Aqualad to similarly tie up the other head. Leashed, the creature flees deeper into the caverns. Aquaman feels the leash suddenly go slack. As he and Aqualad round the corner, they see the creature in the final stages of it's transformation into Kaltor. Through a series of observations, Aquaman had already guessed the truth about the creature, which was the reason he stopped Aqualad from killing it. Kaltor explains that exposure to a strange gas, while rescuing Atlantean miners, was the cause of his affliction. As Kaltor begins to transform once again, this time permanently into the creature, he pleads with Aquaman to end his torment, and slay him.

The creature lashes out at Starene, as it darts down another cavern. Aqualad tends to Starene, as Aquaman summons eels to flood the caverns, seeking out both the creature and Mera. The eels lead them to Mera. Then, the creature attacks. Mera's cavern chamber is littered with treasure. Aquaman and Aqualad are able to procure weapons from the piles of lost currency. Aqualad harpoons one of the creatures heads, but, having swum too close to the leviathan, is snatched up in one it's great claws. Aquaman attacks with a sword, slashing away at the creature's other head, with greater and greater force, until the sword breaks. With the loss of his weapon, Aquaman ushers Mera and Starene deeper into the caverns, to momentarily escape the creature. Using the diamond from Mera's wedding ring, Aquaman carves a saber from a large sea shell shard. Aquaman resumes the attack. The creature grabs Aquaman, and begins to crush the life out of him. With his last gasp, Aquaman musters up the strength for one last strike, plunging the saber deep into the neck of the creature, slaying it. Upon it's death, the creature transforms back into Kaltor, who, remarkably, is still alive. Slaying the creature has reversed the effects of the gas on Kaltor. All return to Atlantis for a celebratory feast, where Aqualad laughably proves that he still hasn't quite tamed his new mount, Sea Imp.

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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