Issue Description

A quiet day in Atlantis finds Aquaman and Mera discussing the eventual fate of their son. Aquaman fantasizes that Arthur, Jr. will grow up to be a crime fighter, and future protector of the seas. Mera, however, desires that their son become a great scientist, and eventual ruler of Atlantis. Distracted by their spirited debate, neither notice "Aquababy" wandering off. Outside of Atlantis, a dragon-shaped submarine descends on the domed city. On board is Genghis Khan's greatest scientist, Tamerkhan. Centuries ago, Tamerkhan saw the era of the Mongol empire coming to it's close. He built a great submarine, and departed beneath the waves with his personal bodyguard, the four-armed Mongol warrior, Attucka the Merciless. They turned to piracy to survive. Tamerkhan invented a formula to retard their aging, effectively making them both immortal. In the 17th century, Tamerkhan fathered a daughter, Liat. Tamerkhan then invented a serum that allowed them all to breathe underwater. The aged Tamerkhan has grown weary of roaming the seas. He has come to Atlantis to see his daughter married off, so that the Golden Horde of the Mongol Empire might live on through her children. Finding his way on board Tamerkhan's submarine, Aquaman's infant son is accidentally doused by strange chemicals. The chemicals rapidly age him from infancy to adolescence. Attucka is about to slay the intruder, when Liat declares her intention to marry the young prince. Meanwhile, Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad are scouring the environs around Atlantis for Arthur, Jr. They find Tamerkhan's submarine, and are met by the teenage Arthur, Jr. & his bride-to-be, Liat. Taken aback by the sudden changes in their son, Aquaman nonetheless invites the Mongols into Atlantis, throwing a huge feast to celebrate his son's betrothal. Outside the city walls, Tamerkhan's submarine is watched over by the Atlanteans. It suddenly roars to life, releasing a magnetic claw that disarms the Atlantean guards.

Tamerkhan's submarine begins cutting into the Atlantean dome. Tamerkhan focuses the beam from his Dragon Talisman on Arthur, Jr. bringing the young prince under his sway. Aquaman is informed of the submarine's assault on Atlantis. Aquaman is about to attack Tamerkhan, when Attucka orders him to stay his hand or watch Mera die. Aqualad leaps into the fray, only to be instantly put down by the mesmerized Arthur, Jr. Tamerkhan leads Aquaman out onto the balcony so that he can bear witness to the destruction of Atlantis. Tamerkhan demands that Aquaman tell the Atlanteans to cease all resistance and recognize Tamerkhan as their new ruler. Aquaman instructs Mera to create a hard water battering ram, using her power to control and manipulate water. He sets off to attack Tamerkhan's submarine. Tamerkhan has come prepared for Mera's powers, dousing her construct with chemicals, hidden in his ring, that dissipate it. The submarine's magnetic claw hand grasps Aquaman. Immobilized, the monarch of Atlantis sees no alternative but to surrender Atlantis to Tamerkhan. Aquaman is imprisoned in an Atlantean dungeon. Mera, surprisingly, switches sides, using her feminine wiles to garner favor with Tamerkhan, offering herself as his wife. To liven up the wedding ceremony, Mera proposes that Aquaman face Attucka in a duel to the death. Aquaman is given a short sword, and the battle begins. With Tamerkhan distracted by the combat, Mera lunges for his Dragon Talisman, hurling it down to Aquaman, and crying out to him to destroy it.

Aquaman destroys the Dragon Talisman, but in doing so, leaves himself open to a terrible blow from Attucka. Dazed, the Sea King is in no shape to defend against Attucka's killing strike. With his wits returned to him, upon the destruction of the Dragon Talisman, Arthur, Jr. tackles Attucka, saving his father's life. Attucka though is too powerful for Arthur, Jr., quickly gaining the upper hand. A recovered Aquaman rejoins the fight. As he brings the Mongol's own axe to his throat, Attucka counters by drawing his two-pronged sword down on Arthur, Jr. Tamerkhan orders Mera to plead with Aquaman to surrender or their son dies. Aquaman does so, but Attucka, who covets Liat for himself, intends to kill Arthur, Jr. anyway. Only Liat's intervention on his behalf spares Arthur, Jr. The young prince is forcibly brought to the altar to marry Liat. Before he can say his vows, though, he reverts back into infancy. Tamerkhan gathers the chemicals needed to re-age Arthur, Jr. back to adolescence. As he is about to inject the infant with the aging formula, Arthur, Jr. grabs Tamerkhan's ring and swallows it. With his chemical deterrent to Mera's powers lost down the gullet of the child, Mera spings into action, creating hard water hammers to break hers, and Aquaman's, chains. Attucka moves in to strike the Sea King down, but Aquaman loops his chains around Attucka's sword, disarming him. The two struggle for several moments, until Aquaman lands a devastating haymaker. Attucka falls backwards, and is impaled on his own double bladed sword. With Attucka dead, Tamerkhan and Liat flee for their submarine. Mera encases the vessel in a cube of hard water. Mera opens a hole in the block to give Aquaman access to the submarine. Boarding it, he and Mera discover that Tamerkhan and Liat have disintegrated into dust. Their great age has finally caught up to them. The dragon submarine is scuttled at the bottom of the Dungeon Depths. All is right once more in Atlantis.

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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