Issue Description

Patrolling the Atlantic Ocean, Aquaman and Aqualad are alerted to danger in Atlantis, by a signaling lantern fish. Racing to the ancestral home of his mother's people, Aquaman encounters the Atlantean, Pomoxis, just outside the great domed city. It is Pomoxis who has sent word to Aquaman, via the lantern fish, that Atlantis is threatened. A series of underwater explosions have been occurring with alarming frequency, not far from Atlantis. Pomoxis fears that the detonations will grow nearer still, potentially reaching Atlantis, utterly destroying it. Aquaman and Pomoxis race to investigate the source of the explosions, leaving Aqualad behind, to inform the Atlanteans that help has arrived. Aquaman and Pomoxis discover large amounts of gas emanating from fissures in the ocean floor. Moving closer, the pair are caught in another explosion. En route from Atlantis to rendezvous with Aquaman, Aqualad sees the flash, but is too far away to determine if Aquaman or Pomoxis have come to any harm. Upon reaching the site of the explosion, Aqualad finds Aquaman staggered, but uninjured. Aquaman informs Aqualad, and later the Atlanteans , that Pomoxis died in the explosion, buried under tons of rock and debris. Aquaman also assures the Atlanteans that the explosions are merely volcanic eruptions, the worst of which having passed. Aquaman and Aqualad depart Atlantis, resuming their oceanic patrol. No sooner do they break the surface, then they run across a sinking cargo ship. Aqualad ushers the crew onto the back of a sperm whale, while Aquaman tries to save the cargo. In short order, Aquaman is unable to salvage the ship's cargo before the ship explodes & sinks to the bottom of the sea. When Aqualad questions Aquaman as to why he did not summon the fish to aid him, Aquaman snaps at his young charge. Ordering Aqualad to get the ship's crew to shore, Aquaman, angrily, swims away. Aqualad worries that the earlier explosion may have affected Aquaman's mind. The truth is far more sinister, for "Aquaman" is really Pomoxis, wearing an impossibly perfect Aquaman disguise. During those few moments that Pomoxis and Aquaman were caught up in the underwater explosion, a rift in time opened. Pomoxis shoved Aquaman through it, changed into his Aquaman costume, & took Aquaman's place, the better to exploit the trust the world has for the hero, making it easier for Pomoxis to maraud the seas. The real Aquaman was rendered unconscious by the powerful forces that drew him through time. He awakens to see a Persian galley bearing down on him

The Persians immediately attack Aquaman, believing him to be a Greek warrior. Aquaman easily outdistances the Persian warship, making his way to a nearby island. There he is met by a Greek army. The Greeks were witness to the Persians attack on Aquaman, and welcome him among them. The army was to cross over to the mainland to bolster the ranks of the Greek forces, led by Militiades, against the Persian invaders. Their ships were sunk, though, by a recent earthquake, leaving them marooned. Aquaman summons a pod of whales to carry the Greek army, and their arms, to the mainland. They have arrived to late to aid Militiades' forces, as the Persian fleet has already arrived. Inspired by the engraved image on a Greek warrior's shield, Aquaman rides out on dolphinback to meet the Persian fleet, declaring himself to be Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. The Persians scoff at this boast, attacking Aquaman with spears and arrows, all of which are plucked from the air by the mouths of fish. Octopi then hurl swordfish at the Persian sailors. Followed by whales battering the Persian galleys to splinters. With the Persians routed, Aquaman returns to the Greeks, who hail him as Poseidon, returned to save his people. Aquaman allows the masquerade to stand, wondering if he will ever see his time again.

In the present, Pomoxis continues his own masquerade as "Aquaman". On his next patrol with Aqualad, he suggests splitting up to cover more ocean between them. Aqualad is put off by the idea of separating the team, but reluctantly complies. Alone at last, Pomoxis quickly closes in on a passing cargo ship. Diving beneath the waves, Pomoxis orders sawfish to cut into the cargo ship's hull, allowing octopi to make off with the bounty. As the ship sinks, the crew escape in life boats. Pomoxis returns to his lair, with plans to convert the looted ship's goods into gold and silver. Soon enough, Pomoxis will be the wealthiest man in Atlantis. Suddenly, Aqualad appears, catching Pomoxis in the Aquaman costume, but with the mask pushed off his face. Pomoxis had ridden off on the wrong porpoise when he parted ways with Aqualad, revealing himself to be an imposter. Aquaman always rides his favorite porpoise, "Porpy". Pomoxis quickly overpowers Aqualad, carrying him to a remote island. It's sole structure an abandoned lighthouse. Bound tight, Aqualad is left to die, drying out in the sun, as his hour-out-of-water time limit expires. At that moment, 2500 years ago, Aquaman spies the same gas, rising to the surface, that preceded the explosion, that hurled him through time. Aquaman dives down into the gas, desperate to find another hole in time, to return him to the present. The ocean floor is violently shaken by an earthquake, which topples an underwater mountain, raining rock and debris down on Aquaman. All seems lost.

Back in 1962, Pomoxis, as "Aquaman", continues his reign of terror on international shipping lanes. Aqualad is seconds away from fatally succumbing to dehydration. Gasping his last breath, he is stunned to suddenly find Aquaman at his side. Freed from his restraints, and returned to the sea, Aqualad is filled with questions. Aquaman details his narrow escape from beneath the crumbling mountain. Another rift in time had, indeed, opened. Aquaman sped through it before he could be completely buried. His favored porpoise, "Porpy', had led him to Aqualad, in the nick of time. Now it was time to confront Pomoxis. Alerted by his early warning signal fish, Pomoxis spies Aquaman and Aquald closing on his lair. Armed with a speargun, Pomoxis steps out to face them. Aquaman summons a school of swordfish to put down Pomoxis, but Pomoxis parries the attack with his own swordfish. Aquaman sends octopi to attack Pomoxis on his right flank, but again Pomoxis has his own octopi, that defend him. Aquaman stampedes giant sea horses at Pomoxis. Pomoxis lassos them with eels. Pomoxis counters Aquaman's catfish with dogfish. Too evenly matched, there seems to be no way to break the stalemate. Aquaman, though, has one last strategy left to try. Diving into a bed of kelp, Aquaman maneuvers around to take Pomoxis from the rear. Pomoxis has seen him, though, sending torpedo fish into the kelp bed to pummel Aquaman. Downed, cling fish drag Aquaman's unconscious body over to Pomoxis, who levels his speargun at Aquaman's head. As the cling fish bring Aquaman closer, Pomoxis is startled to see that it is actually a large sea turtle, wearing his "Aquaman" costume, and not the hero himself. Before Pomoxis can react, Aquaman is upon him. In the struggle, Pomoxis drops the speargun, which the sea turtle spirits away. Aquaman defeats Pomoxis, turning him over to the Atlantean authorities. Aquaman reassures the Atlanteans that the explosions they so feared were simple volcanic eruptions, and that he had first hand knowledge that they had been going on for a long time. They would not be encroaching upon Atlantis. Aquaman and Aqualad take their leave of Atlantis, with the intent of returning all the ill-gotten goods garnered by Pomoxis.

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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