Issue Description

Summoned to the Pentagon, Aquaman travels to Washington, D.C, aboard a Navy seaplane. There he is shown a video taped television broadcast, of an ultimatum, issued by the Ocean Master. Ocean Master's appearance triggers memories, of Aquaman's first encounter with the famed marauder of the seas. Aquaman and Aqualad had been on patrol when they came across a pod of whales stampeding through a fjord. The pod's terror was so great that they refused to heed Aquaman's telepathic commands to calm down. Diving below the waves, the two heroes spied the root of the pod's fear. An automated whaler had targeted the pod, and was firing a barrage of harpoons into the whales. Aquaman and Aqualad cut the harpoon tow lines, freeing the whales. His whale poaching operation thwarted, Ocean Master recalled the robot whaler to his manta ship. Closing in on Aquaman and Aqualad, Ocean Master began firing on them. Riding Storm and Imp, the two heroes broke for the surface. Ocean Master's manta ship also surfaced, and immediately came under attack by a US Navy destroyer. Ocean Master released fog across the ocean's surface to foil the destroyer's ability to target the manta ship. Covered by the fog bank, the manta ship dove. The Ocean Master had escaped. His reverie comes to a close, as Aquaman returns his attention to the images on the television monitor. In a fantastic demonstration of his power, the Ocean Master, through inexplicable means, strands an ocean liner atop a passing ice berg. Ocean Master threatens to strike and strike again, if the international navies of the world continue to hunt for him.

Journeying to the stranded ocean liner, Aquaman and Aqualad arrive in time to see the ice berg breaking up. Diving below the waves to investigate, the two heroes only turn up a lone sperm whale, following it's migratory path across the oceans. Riding atop a giant manta ray, Aquaman and Aqualad begin searching the surrounding environs in ever widening circles. They re-encounter the same sperm whale. Suddenly, a pillar of salt rises up from the ocean depths, breaks through to the surface, and forms an immense wall, blocking the harbor entrance. Aquaman summons a pod of whales, instructing them to shatter the wall with sound waves, generated by the impact of their tails slapping down against the water. Playing a hunch, Aquaman, instructing Aqualad to follow, dives back down below the waves, in pursuit of the mysterious, lone sperm whale. Alarmed by Aquaman's investigation of the whale, the Ocean Master races to intercept him. As soon as his manta ship is in range, Ocean Master fires a heat seeking torpedo at the two heroes. By swimming past a volcanic vent in the ocean floor, Aquaman is able to divert the torpedo form it's intended targets. A second torpedo is launched, but this one merely circles, around and around, the heroic duo. Suddenly, the torpedo casts a net, ensnaring Aquaman and Aqualad. Brought on board the manta ship, the two captives, at last, come face-to-face with the Ocean Master. Ocean Master explains that he has surgically implanted two devices in the sperm whale. The first device causes random catastrophes via molecular manipulation of the environment, The second device scrambles brain waves, to prevent Aquaman taking telepathic control of the whale. Tied up, Aquaman and Aqualad are placed within Ocean Master's robot whaler. The whaler is then sent to the ocean's surface, where it is immediately targeted, by the US Navy, for destruction.

Aquaman kicks the harpoon release on the whaler, firing a barrage of harpoons into a nearby atoll. As the harpoon lines grow taut, the robot craft is upended, cracking open as it crashes into the coral island. Aquaman and Aqualad use the jagged coral to sever their bonds. Unable to telepathically take command of the sperm whale, Aquaman tames it the old fashioned way. Riding the whale, Aquaman goes after the Ocean Master. As the whale nears Ocean Master's manta ship, the molecular destabilizer implanted in it's body disables the gyroscopic stabilizers on the vessel. Unable to steer his ship, The Ocean Master crashes into the sea floor. Ocean Master exits the wrecked hulk, and prepares to engage Aquaman in combat. Aquaman orders Aqualad to stay out of the fight, insisting on facing Ocean Master alone. Aquaman, however, takes a purely defensive stance in the fight. He dodges and parries every thrust of the Ocean Master's spear, but never once takes any offensive action. Aqualad tries to send in a swordfish to assist in the fight, but Aquaman refuses to accept any aid. Having located the manta ship on sonar, the Navy ships release depth charges on the target. The explosions separate Aquaman and Ocean Master. When the water finally clears, Ocean Master is gone. Returning to the surface, Aquaman gets the Navy to call off the attack, informing them that Ocean Master's ship has been destroyed, and the villain has already fled the scene. He tells the captain that the sperm whale still has to be caught, and to follow a south-southwest heading, along it's migratory route. Aqualad questions Aquaman on his refusal to actually fight the Ocean Master. Aquaman reveals that the Ocean Master is really his half-brother, Orm Curry. Having two human parents, Orm did not possess Aquaman's Atlantean gifts, or powers, and thus, growing up together, bore a deep resentment for Aquaman. His jealousy and hatred for his half -brother would lead Orm down a dark path, as youthful indiscretions led to juvenile delinquency and eventual adult criminal undertakings. Now, to Aquaman's deep regret, Orm had become an arch-criminal, the Ocean Master. The sperm whale is found beached on some rocks. Once Ocean Master's surgical implants have been removed, the sperm whale is returned to the sea. Aquaman is left to ponder what action he will take when next he encounters his evil half-brother.

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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