Issue Description

At the base of a lighthouse, Aqualad awaits the arrival of Aquaman and Mera. The old lighthouse keeper directs Aqualad's attention out to sea, where an enormous wave has formed into a giant saw. The wave crashes into the lighthouse, cutting it in half. As it topples, it is caught in an airborne cushion of water, that then moves out to sea, carrying the lighthouse. Aqualad dives into the ocean to follow it. He finds that the water stream carrying the lighthouse is being controlled by Mera. As it nears her position, she and Aquaman spy the lighthouse keeper hanging on for dear life. Mera flings him into the sea. Aqualad sends the octopus, Topo, to rescue the old man, and return him to shore. Confronting his friends on their menacing actions, Aqualad is quickly scooped up in a hard water "spoon", created by Mera. Aqualad dives out of the shallow ladle, only to find a much deeper hard water cup descending on him. At the last moment, the "cup" is shattered by another hard water object, and Aqualad dives deep beneath the waves to safety. He is met by the real Aquaman and Mera. Mera projects an immense hard water fortress atop the waves, from which Aqualad mounts an attack on the doppelgangers. Engaging Aqualad, the Mera duplicate's hard water constructs begin to shatter the walls of Aqualad's "fortress". The copy King and Queen of Atlantis, however, are surprised by Aquaman and Mera, who have flanked them and struck from the rear. Aquaman and Mera grapple with their duplicates. Suddenly, the duplicates fade away. In their place, standing on a floating platform, is a sinister alien, pointing his weapon at the monarchs of Atlantis.

The alien identifies himself as Xen, an intergalactic aquarium owner. He has come to collect Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad as specimens for his exhibits. Focusing his duplicating ray gun on them, Xen creates giant energy duplicates of the three heroes, and sends them to collect his prize. The heroes dive deep, and once below the waves, Aquaman summons a squadron of octopi and swordfish to engage their pursuers. Aquaman's energy duplicate, however, countermands his orders, forcing the marine life to dance and perform acrobatic tricks. Aquaman and Mera suddenly turn, and charge their duplicates, striking them, then swimming , ever faster, in circles around the giant's heads. The constructs become too dizzy to continue the pursuit, but the three heroes have forgotten about the giant Aqualad duplicate. It grabs the lot of them and turns them over to Xen. At gunpoint, Xen leads the three heroes to his space ship, and an awaiting holding tank. Already within the tank are specimens from Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, and Mercury. As the giant energy construct of Aqualad vanishes from view, the rocket's engines rumble to life. All seems lost, as Xen prepares to leave Earth.

As Xen's rocket begins to lift off, Aquaman summons a flock of sea eagles, commanding them to lift several octopi, out of the ocean, and over the ship. The octopi release their ink over the rocket's view shields. Xen reverses engines to return to the surface, rather than risk colliding with something before they can reach escape velocity. As the rocket descends, it lands upon sharp coral spikes that the octopi have pushed into position. The spikes crack the holding tank, freeing Aquaman and the other would-be aquarium specimens. All dive into the sea, with the Shell-Back Man from Saturn blocking the alien's assault weapons with it's massive shield-like shell. Xen turns the duplicating ray on himself, creating an army of Xen's to assist in retrieving "his" specimens. An epic battle ensues beneath the waves. While Aqualad, and the aliens, fight a pitched battle with the Xen army, Aquaman and Mera return to the surface, and Xen's rocket. Mera snatches Xen's duplicating ray gun away with a hard water hook. Aquaman uses the weapon to create a giant energy construct of Xen, and sends it below the waves to rout Xen's forces. Xen and his cronies are placed in the ship's hold. Aquaman creates a series of obedient Xen duplicates to pilot the rocket, and return the other aliens back to their respective worlds.

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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