Issue Description

With the birth of his son, Aquaman contemplates giving up his life of adventure, much to Aqualad's chagrin. Just outside Atlantis, the Fisherman, the Un-Thing, and the Fire-Haired Karla make preparations to launch a satellite. Once activated, the satellite churns up the ocean waters, opening a mile high hole that extends to the sea floor. The Atlanteans rush to inform Aquaman of the situation. Investigating, Aquaman and Aqualad catch sight of the satellite, and give chase. The satellite is on the verge of escaping them when it is caught in one of Mera's hard water constructs. Aquaman deactivates the satellite. Bearing witness to Aquaman's interference, the Terrible Trio take action. The Fisherman casts his line around the satellite and reels it in. As Aquaman and Aqualad move in to engage the Fisherman, they are blocked by the Fire-Haired Karla, who sets the sea ablaze around the two heroes. Mera is just about to enter the fray, when she finds herself held fast in the grip of the invisible Un-Thing.

The invisible Un-Thing drags Mera, and the baby, into the Terrible Trio's underwater saucer. Aquaman summons a thresher shark to serve as a barrier against the Fire-Haired Karla's acetylene torch-like hair, and leads Aqualad to safety through the flames surrounding them. Aquaman descends on the underwater saucer to rescue Mera, and his son. He is attacked by the invisible Un-Thing. Unable to see where the Un-Thing's blows are coming from, Aquaman is beaten down. The Terrible Trio escape with Mera, the baby, and the satellite. Re-activated, the satellite begins carving holes in the ocean again. Aquaman and Aqualad catch up to the underwater saucer, and re-engage the Terrible Trio. Aquaman commands octopi to squirt ink into the water, allowing him to target the invisible Un-Thing. The Fisherman catches Aqualad in his line, and begins to reel him in. As Aquaman struggles with the Un-Thing, they both plummet into one of the open holes in the ocean. No longer immersed in water, the Un-Thing loses his invisibility. His advantage gone, Aquaman easily defeats him. Meanwhile, Aqualad, instead of fighting against the Fisherman's efforts to reel him in, begins swimming, ever faster, around and around the Fisherman, entangling him in his own line. Disgusted by the incompetency of her two associates, the Fire-Haired Karla resumes the attack. Her assault on Aquaman is blocked, however, by one of Mera's hard water constructs. The Queen of Atlantis is free.

The Fire-Haired Karla proves able to burn through Mera's hard water barrier. Mera, changing tactics, grabs the Fire-Haired Karla in a hard water hand. With the Terrible Trio defeated, their masters make their presence known, as an alien saucer descends down one of the ocean holes. Known only as "Them", the aliens intend to take the earth for their own people. Water, however, is anathema to them, so they enlisted the aid of the Terrible Trio in stealing every drop of water on Earth. To maintain the clandestine nature of their invasion, the aliens have decided to eliminate Aquaman, Aqualad, and Mera, themselves, along with the Terrible Trio. Aquaman ushers everyone into the Terrible Trio's underwater saucer, avoiding the alien's first assault by escaping into the sea. The aliens pursue the second saucer into the ocean. Using the satellite controls on board their saucer, the Fire-Haired Karla sends the satellite on a collision course with the alien saucer. Both are destroyed on impact. Aquaman turns the Terrible Trio over to the authorities. In appreciation for the Fire-Haired Karla's assistance in defeating the aliens, Aquaman offers to speak on her behalf at trial, in the hopes of garnering her leniency from the judge, during sentencing.

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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