Issue Description

Featuring the first appearance of Aquagirl! An Atlantean girl named Tula convinces Aqualad to leave Atlantis. The pair leaves together and finds an underwater dance club where they perform as dancers. But the club's owner holds a shady secret!

On patrol, Aquaman and Aqualad are on hand to rescue the passengers of a jet, which has crashed into the ocean. While Aqualad maintains the morale of the passengers through song, Aquaman gets a signal to the Coast Guard. Aquaman spends a few moments basking in the media coverage generated by the rescue, before returning to Atlantis. News of the rescue has even reached the fabled underwater city, and so, Aquaman receives a hero's welcome from the Atlanteans, and his wife, Mera. Aqualad, dejected at the lack of acknowledgement he gets as Aquaman's sidekick, sullenly wanders the streets of Atlantis. Suddenly, he is accosted, and kissed by, a beautiful young Atlantean girl. She is Tula, a childhood friend of Aqualad's, all grown up now. Tula convinces Aqualad that the two of them should set out together, to make their own mark on the seven seas, away from Aquaman, Mera, and Atlantis. Tula fashions herself a costume, and Aqualad dubs her "Aquachick". The two aquatic teenagers approach Aquaman and Mera, on the throne, and declare their intention to leave. Mera is outraged at their audacity, but Aquaman, reluctantly, lets them go. As the two teen adventures reach coastal waters, they discover "Dr. Dorsal's Deep Six Discotheque", an underwater go-go dance club for teenagers. The adolescent patrons party for as long as their oxygen supply holds out, then return to the surface. Aqualad and Tula hit the dance "floor", attracting the attention of the establishment's owner, Dr. Dorsal. Recognizing them as Atlanteans, Dr. Dorsal offers the pair jobs as house dancers in his club. The two readily accept. Dr. Dorsal also reveals that he, too, is a water breather, though not Atlantean, only pretending to be a surface dweller, so as not to alarm his patrons.

Aqualad and "Aquachick" are quickly introduced to Dr. Dorsal's prize possession, a mutant, two-headed eel. The eel has powerful hypnotic abilities, and quickly mesmerizes the two Atlantean teens. While under the eel's sway, Dr. Dorsal makes a few "suggestions" regarding what the teen duo might do for "fun" after hours. Enlisting the surfacer dwelling club kids in their "merriment", Aqualad and Tula lead a raid on KIng Pier. There, the teenage gang engages in acts of hooliganism, robbing the box office of a diving horse show, as well as the attending audience. Handing the ill-gotten gains over to Dr. Dorsal, Aqualad begins having a crisis of conscience. Dr. Dorsal quickly gives Aqualad another round of his eel's mesmerism. Dr. Dorsal intends to plunge Aqualad, deeper and deeper, into a life of crime, until he can never go back to his former life. In this way, he will have no choice but to always serve Dr. Dorsal. To that end, Aqualad, Tula, and the teenage club goers, now called the "Aqua Kids", are sent on another after hours raid. This time their target is a posh yacht club ball. Again the gang commits acts of vandalism and thievery. This time, though, they must elude pursuit from the enraged yacht club members, as well as the Coast Guard. With Aqualad and "Aquachick" running interference, the "Aqua Kids" escape. The Coast Guard informs Aquaman of his former sidekick's activities. Aquaman asks that he be allowed to bring the boy in alone. The next day, a man calling himself "The Old Shellpicker" approaches Aqualad, Tula, and the "Aqua Kids", hiding out on the beach of a secluded cove. The man brings the group warning of a nearby Coast Guard cutter that is rapidly closing in on their location. Spying the cutter, The teen gang dives into the ocean, taking "The Old Shellpicker" with them.

Aqualad informs Dr. Dorsal, that, for saving them from the Coast Guard, "The Old Shellpicker" is now part of the gang. Dr. Dorsal immediately sees a use for the aged beachcomber, as coastal surveillance. Dr. Dorsal's suspicion is aroused, however, when he finds "The Old Shellpicker" wandering about his laboratory. Dr. Dorsal gives the "Aqua Kids" their next assignment, a raid on the Naval submarine base at Surfport. The "Aqua Kids" balk at the idea, citing it as too dangerous, but Aqualad brings them all in line. Dr. Dorsal then informs them all that their previous raids have already made them all criminals, and that there's no going back now. Anyone who doesn't follow his orders will be turned over to the authorities. Overhearing the plan, "The Old Shellpicker" swims to the surface, and places a message for the Coast Gaurd inside a buoy. Dr. Dorsal witnesses "The Old Shellpicker's" ascent to the surface and follows. Intercepting the message, he realizes there is a spy in his midst. Dr. Dorsal shows the message to Aqualad. Aqualad and Tula ask "The Old Shellpicker" to accompany their raid on the submarine base. Aqualad uses a magnetic "sponge" to draw off the voltage from the electrified net surrounding the submarine base. He then cuts a hole in the net big enough for everyone to swim through. Looming before them is an underwater mine field. The "Aqua Kids" see no way through it. "Aquachick" though, does. She shoves "The Old Shellpicker" into the field, causing a cascade detonation of all the mines. A mask falls away from "The Old Shellpicker's" face, revealing him to be Aquaman. Aqualad is horrified at the sight of his lifeless mentor's body. Tula, too, is aghast at what she's done. The shock breaks Dr. Dorsal's hypnotic hold over the two teens. They immediately set off for Dr. Dorsal's discotheque, to avenge Aquaman's death. Without the two heroes protecting them, the "Aqua Kids" are easily rounded up by Navy divers. Wielding a spear, Aqualad makes short work of the eel, then goes after Dr. Dorsal. Dr. Dorsal flees through a dimensional gate, back to his home world. Aquaman arrives, revealing that he was only stunned by the exploding mines. Aqualad and Tula are beside themselves with guilt for what they've done. Aquaman understands that their criminal acts were conducted while under the eel's spell, and, largely, forgives them. He informs them that the "Aqua Kids" will be remanded back into their respective parent's custody. Aqualad and Tula are to accompany Aquaman back to Atlantis.

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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