Issue Description

Aquaman's powers are out of control, and Swamp Thing helps Aquaman defeat a two-bit villain in order to prove this to him, and give him the help he needs.

Aquaman swims across a rotting corpse in a bed of seaweed, and is taken aback when the seaweed coalesces into the Swamp Thing. Aquaman rashly lashes out with his telepathy, quickly finding himself entangled in the seaweed bed the Swamp Thing is manipulating. The briefest of conversations convinces the two antagonists that neither is the monster they believed the other to be. Due to a rotting corpse washing up on the shore of Star Bay, the mayor shuts down the popular tourist attraction. When questioned by his staff, the mayor produces a ransom note, requesting three million dollars, signed by someone calling themselves "Toxin". A bit of rotting undersea vegetation accompanied the note, the same flora found throughout the dead man's body. As the mayor relays this information, a member of his staff begins choking on the salad he was consuming. Suddenly, plant life bursts from the man's gullet, killing him. The mayor resolves to pay the ransom. Swamp Thing's connection to the Green provides him with awareness of the plant related murder. It also leads him to suspect that one of the men in the mayor's office was actually responsible for that death. Aquaman and Swamp Thing stake out the mayor's office, waiting for someone to leave to deliver the ransom money. As the mayor drives away, Aquaman slices off Swamp Thing's left hand, with his harpoon, then fires the appendage at the car. While waiting for the car to reach it's destination, Swamp Thing comments on Aquaman's current situation, comparing the Sea King to an alcoholic vagrant sleeping in the alley behind them. Both men have lost control of their lives. Swamp Thing offers to help Aquaman with his dilemma, but the Sea KIng refuses.

The Mayor hurls the briefcase holding the ransom money into the sea. It is picked up by Patti Matson, the lifeguard who found the dead man's body. Aquaman closes on Matson, who retaliates by firing an array of harpoons at the Sea KIng, from her high tech sea sled. Aquaman easily dodges the barrage, but is surprised to find that the harpoons are tracking him. Aquaman lassos the missiles with his own harpoon line, just as Matson releases mines into the water. Swamp Thing grows a new body from his severed hand, still clinging to the mayor's car, and confronts the mayor. Upon seeing the Swamp Thing, the mayor attacks, using his own power to control flora against the plant elemental. Aquaman telepathically orders a school of fish to provide him with a momentary distraction. The fish, however, terrified of Aquaman, due to the mutagenic changes that have, of late, befallen him, refuse to assist him. Matson fires on Aquaman with laser cannons, enraging the Sea KIng enough to throw caution to the wind, and engage her head on. Aquaman grabs Matson's sea sled and hurls it out of the sea, crashing it into the mayor's car. Aquaman loops his harpoon line around the mayor's leg, and throws him out to sea. Matson spears Aquaman in the back, further enraging the already volatile Sea King. Swamp Thing entangles the mayor in sea greens, then carries him back to shore. At this point, Aquaman has gained the advantage over Matson. Out of control, the Sea KIng is broadcasting telepathic commands into Matson's brain, causing her to repeat everything Aquaman is yelling at her. Swamp Thing enters Aquaman's mind, to expose the root rot in the Sea King's soul that has poisoned his telepathic abilities. With the full realization of what has happened to him revealed, Aquaman begs the Swamp Thing to help him.

Aquaman (1994)

Publisher

DC Comics

Volume Description

Aquaman (Volume 3)Starring: Arthur Curry as Aquaman and Tempest.

The King of the Seas stars in his very own series written by the legendary Peter David (SUPERGIRL, HULK). Whether on land or in the sea, Aquaman battles against foes with a whole-new look and a whole-new status quo!

Peter David begins this new series with a bang. Based on the Atlantis Chronicles and Aquaman Year 1, we know that Aquaman continued documenting events where his mom Atlanna left off. Aquaman's origin has been changed. His mom Atlanna was a queen of Atlantis and since her husband King Trevor was impotent, the wizard Atlan came to Atlanna in a dream and she willingly submitted to him and she had a child. So the wizard Atlan is Aquaman's Father and he becomes Aqualad's mentor. Issue 1 starts off with a new villain Charybdis who steals Aquaman's Telepathic powers and Aquaman's left hand is chewed to the bone by pirrana. Aquaman has a new bearded look as well. Dolphin becomes a regular in the series. Aquaman 0 has The Sea King with a hook where his hand used to be. Issues 3 and 4 has Superboy and Lobo as guest stars respectively. Then in issue 5 there is another twist. In Time and Tide, Aquaman had relations with an Inuit girl named Kako. At the end of issue 5, we find out that her son Koryak is Aquaman's son too. From issue 5, Aqualad split with Aquaman, trying to find a woman who looks like Tula. While Aquaman, Koryak (who has repressed anger toward his father) and Dolphin battle Darkseid's Deep Six. Kako's fate changes during the battle with the Deep Six and she becomes a fire elemental known as Corona by issue 8. She remains that so she may form a sisterhood and balance with Naiad, the Water Elemental.

Atlantis is slowly rising from the bottom of the sea and Vulko and other scientists are looking into this. Issue 9 showcases the villain, Deadline and he is hired by Atlantis King Thesily to destroy Aquaman. The Sea King gets a new grappling hook for his arm that is telepathically controlled and can be used in various functions. So this issue showcases Aquaman's ability to perform as a hero outside of his watery realm. Koryak is embraced by the people of Atlantis and he envisions himself ruling one day. King Thesily dies in an attempt to murder Koryak and he refuses to help him as another earthquake shakes Atlantis. By issue 11, Koryak leads the Atlanteans out of Atlantis to seek their destiny, while Aquaman and Dolphin stay back. At the end of issue 11 Aquaman and Dolphin take their relationship to the next level and the issue ends with a surprise guest Mera. Thanatos returns and traps Aquaman and Dolphin in his realm while he goes at with the blue costume as the new Aquaman. He apparently meets his fate at the end of issue 14 at the hads of Major Disaster, in an Underworld Unleashed Crossover. Aquaman finds out that Mera and a boy named AJ have lived in Thanatos' Realm. AJ cannot exist in this realm without severe aging. So he has to stay and Mera goes back with him. Mera did say that AJ may be Aquaman's son (they resemble each other).

The Justice League guests in issue 16 to investigate the threats to the surface world that Aquaman (actually Thanatos) made. They have a great battle with the Sea King and Mera. Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter determine that Aquaman is not a threat and wants to be left alone, so they peaceably leave but agree to monitor future actions of the King of Atlantis. The Posedonians ask King Iqula of Tritonis for passage through their sacred tunnels. Iqula warns of the danger but they don't heed his advice and they become pawns of Kordax (ancient villain of Atlantis)

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