Issue Description

Responding to a distress call from Captain "Forty Knot" Bradley, Aquaman and Aqualad are asked to clear an obstruction preventing the ship from retracting it's anchor. The obstruction turns out to be a sperm whale battling against a giant squid. The two sea creatures have become entangled in the anchor chain, in the midst of their blood feud. Their killing frenzy is so great that they ignore Aquaman's telepathic commands to cease fighting. Aquaman and Aqualad push the ship's anchor into a nearby volcanic "blow hole". The intense heat of the burning magma travels through the anchor, up the chain, to the warring marine creatures. When the chain becomes too hot to bear, the sea creatures end their struggle, and move away from the anchor chain, and each other. Freed of encumbrance, the anchor begins to slowly ascend to the surface. En route back to Atlantis, Aquaman and Aqualad are caught in an undersea explosion, and buried under a veritable mountain of coral. They are rescued by Dr. Starbuck, and his amazing animal companions, Boduhr, a gorilla, and Krakka, a sea eagle. Dr. Starbuck, a marine biologist, has perfected a method of turning air breathers into water breathers. Having abandoned life on the surface, Dr. Starbuck asks Aquaman for refuge in Atlantis. Aquaman goes one better, and, after showing Dr. Starbuck around the great domed city, proclaims him an honorary Atlantean and chief advisor to the throne. Just then, Topo arrives with another distress call from the surface. Aquaman and Aqualad mount up on their respective sea steeds, Storm and Imp. Bidding their farewells to Mera and Dr. Starbuck, the two heroes ride out of the city. Crossing over the Dungeon Depths, Aquaman and Aqualad are struck by giant bolos. Knocked from their sea horses, they plummet into the Dungeon Depths.

When Storm and Imp return to Atlantis riderless, Mera fears the worst. Placing her infant son on the throne, she bestows regent status on Dr. Starbuck, giving him the power to rule over Atlantis in her son's name. Mera then departs to search for Aquaman and Aqualad. Mera, however, never makes it out of the city. Dr. Starbuck drugs her and locks her away in a palace basement. Several days later, Boduhr and Krakka, leading a contingent of Atlantean soldiers, attack and destroy a desalinization plant on the surface. Captain Bradley, alerted to the attack, arrives at the scene, and orders his fleet to begin releasing depth charges on the Atlantean invaders. Bradley, however, is too late. The Atlanteans are already long gone. When questioned about this new course Dr. Starbuck has set for Atlantis, the deranged scientist states that the desalinization plant was removing vital minerals and nutrients from the water, that the Atlanteans need for their farms. It had to be destroyed. The Atlanteans seem placated by Dr. Starbuck's reasoning, and thus, a few days later, the Atlanteans join Boduhr and Krakka, in attacking a surfacing nuclear submarine. The submarine rapidly dives to escape the assault, then radios Captain Bradley regarding the incident. With Aquaman refusing to answer his distress signals, Captain Bradley sees no choice but to order the fleet to seek out Atlantis... and destroy it. The Atlanteans continue to voice concern over Dr. Starbuck's "well-meaning" efforts to preserve the safety and security of the underwater city. Nonetheless they continue to comply with his commands to assault surface targets. Unable to discern the location of Atlantis, Captain Bradley orders the fleet to begin dragging the seas with grappling hooks, set at the greatest depths. One such hook descends all the way down into the Dungeon Depths. Aquaman and Aqualad escape the strange heavy water, that has kept them from ascending to freedom, by clambering up the grapple hook's chain.

Returning home, Aquaman and Aqualad are stunned to see Atlanteans dragging Navy frogmen, in chains, through the streets of Atlantis. Aquaman stealthily frees one of the frogmen, and then takes his place in the procession. Aqualad returns the man to the surface. Placed in a cage with the other Navy divers, Aquaman learns of the Atlantean war against the surface, propagated by Dr. Starbuck, in Arthur, Jr.'s name. The Navy divers are quick to recognize Aquaman in their midst. They inform him that they are equipped with a radio homing device, that, even now, is leading Captain Bradley's fleet to Atlantis. Aquaman is released from the cage, and brought before his son, the "King", and Dr. Starbuck, the King's regent. Dr. Starbuck interprets Arthur, Jr.'s infantile gibberish as a request for a fight to the death between the "Navy diver" and Boduhr, Dr. Starbuck's aquatic gorilla. Like a Roman gladiator, Boduhr is armed with a net and trident. A fierce combat ensues. Aquaman strikes the ape, again and again, to no avail. Boduhr is able to entangle Aquaman in the net, and bring him forcefully down onto the sea floor. The impact knocks the scuba gear loose, revealing Aquaman's face to the Atlantean court. Dr. Starbuck declares Aquaman a traitor, and in league with Atlantis' enemies on the surface. "Speaking" for Arthur, Jr., Dr. Starbuck demands Boduhr deliver the killing blow. Boduhr thrusts his trident down on Aquaman, but it is deflected by a hard water sphere, projected by Arthur, Jr. Aquaman then uses the self same sphere to bludgeon Buduhr senseless. The Atlanteans rise up against Dr. Starbuck. Krakka swoops in to attack Aquaman. The Sea King uses Boduhr's net to ensnare the aquatic sea eagle. Meanwhile, on the surface of the sea, Aqualad, returning the navy diver that Aquaman had rescued and impersonated, bears witness to Captain Bradley ordering the fleet to release depth charges on Atlantis. Aqualad dives down to warn Atlantis of it's impending doom, only to find the entire city protected underneath a hard water shield, created by Queen Mera. The city saved from destruction, Aquaman turns Dr. Starbuck, and his amazing aquatic animals, over to Captain Bradley.

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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