Issue Description

A playful Queen Mera, entices her husband, Aquaman, into pursuing her for a kiss. Catching up to her, Aquaman takes his prize, only the woman he kisses isn't Mera. It is her twin sister, Hila. As Hila is regarded as the black sheep of the family, Mera, out of shame, has never told Aquaman that she even had a sister, let alone a twin. Hila, along with her love, a man named Kandor, were exiled from Dimension Aqua, for crimes, she contends, they did not commit. Hila has come to ask her sister to free her from the hold Kandor has over her, so that she can start a new life. Hila leads Aquaman and Mera to the mouth of an underground river, one that leads to Kandor's lair, deeply recessed inside an underwater mountain. Posing as Hila, Mera takes the jeweled starfish, that Hila was sent out to obtain, and approaches Kandor's throne room. Aquaman hangs back, in the shadows, preparing to strike. Mera is startled to see a large amphibious creature sitting on the throne, and wonders why Hila had made no mention of Kandor's horrific transformation. The robed toad, however, is revealed to be a decoy, as the real Kandor appears, behind Mera, grabbing her. Mera calls out to Aquaman, but it is too late. Kandor has already trapped the Sea King.

Kandor and Hila had planned all along to ensnare Aquaman. Mera is furious that she fell for her sister's lies. Kandor, too, is angry, as Hila was supposed to return with Aquaman alone, not send Mera in her place. Kandor seeks the whereabouts of the "Seven Golden Eels", fabled to bestow great power upon whosoever grasps them. Aquaman refuses to give up the whereabouts of the eels. Kandor unleashes three deadly challenges to try to loosen Aquaman's tongue. First, one thousand and one harpoons are hurled at Aquaman. Aquaman dodges several volleys, before grabbing a harpoon and using it to block the remaining spears. Next, a pulverizing pendulum descends on Aquaman. Aquaman evades the first swing, but takes a glancing blow from the second. Thrown to the sea floor, Aquaman seems too stunned to avoid the deadly pendulum. At the last moment, Aquaman rolls away. The pendulum strikes the ground and shatters. Finally, Kandor sends in his armadillo warriors. Using Roman legionary tactics, the shelled soldiers deflect Aquaman's first attack, but are bowled over by his second. Curling up into armored balls, the armadillo warriors roll forward, knives out. Aquaman nimbly skips over their shells, sending the warriors crashing into the chamber walls. Angrily, Kandor, himself, rushes to engage Aquaman. Meanwhile, in Atlantis, Hila, impersonating Mera, sits upon the throne. Hila is taken aback by the outpouring of love and admiration the Atlanteans, and Aqualad, have for Mera. Overwhelmed, Hila bolts from the throne, and departs Atlantis with great haste. Inside the mountain, Kandor, using his native ability to control and manipulate water, has gained the advantage over Aquaman.

Caught on a column of hardened water, Aquaman is about to be crushed against the cavern ceiling, when Hila intervenes. Hila uses her own water manipulating powers to fight Kandor to a standstill. Mera, having lost her abilities some time ago, can only stand and watch, as Hila takes Mera's place at Aquaman's side, in opposing Kandor. In despair, Mera wanders Kandor's palace. Paused at a mirror, Mera is startled to see the image of Professor Xeron staring back at her. Through the looking glass, the chief scientist, of Dimension Aqua, telepathically restores Mera's powers. Kandor suddenly appears and gasses Mera, thinking it is Hila. The gas has hypnotic properties and places Mera under Kandor's sway. Seeing Hila, who Kandor believes is Mera, about to free Aquaman, from the clutches of Kandor's hard water starfish, he sends Mera to stop her sister. The twin sisters battle for several moments, constructing and reconstructing one hard water weapon after another. Mera wins. Kandor, realizing that "Mera" is actrually Hila, rushes to the side of his injured love. Aquaman asks Mera to quickly free him, but the gas has made her loyal to Kandor, so she refuses. The armadillo warriors return, pushing an enormous spiked wheel. They have chosen this moment to rebel against their enslaver, Kandor. Kandor hurls a massive hard water sphere at the juggernaut, which easily crushes the momentary impediment. Aquaman instructs Mera to create a hard water inclined plane. The juggernaut loses it's momentum on the ramp, rolling backwards to a stop. The armadillo warriors leap over the stalled juggernaut, and attack. Aquaman, Mera, and Kandor work together to defeat them. Hila recovers. Kandor frees Mera from his hypnotic control. Aqualad arrives to inform everyone that Hila and Kandor have been cleared of all of the charges against them. Their exile is over. They are free to return to Dimension Aqua.

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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