Issue Description

On board his yacht, Adventure, billionaire playboy Peter Dudley is a man unfulfilled. Escaping into the ocean, Dudley seeks out exotic specimens for his aquarium. Spying movement, Dudley casts his net, and catches Queen Mera, of Atlantis. Taken with her great beauty, Dudley ascends to the surface, taking Mera with him. Before he can reach his yacht, Dudley is attacked by Aquaman. The Monarch of Atlantis frees his Queen, then turns to strike Dudley again. Dudley pleads his ignorance, stating that he mistook Mera for a fish. Dudley invites them both back to his yacht. Dudley begins to obsess over Mera. His desire growing for her as great as his building jealousy of Aquaman. Once the Atlantean couple depart, Dudley immediately sets out to become a better version of Aquaman, in the hopes of winning Mera's heart. To this end, he hires one Dr. Hans Ludorf. The doctor warns Dudley that his surgical transformation process may kill him, or that the results may not be quite as desired. Dudley dismisses Ludorf's concerns. At first the operation would seem to be a success. Dudley becomes an exact duplicate of Aquaman. Seconds later, however, his features begin to distort. He continues to change, mutating into an monstrous ogre-like creature, though still bearing a passing resemblance to Aquaman. He has become the Aquabeast. Dudley bursts from the cabin of his yacht, dives overboard, and swims for Atlantis. Locating the fabled underwater city, Dudley conceals himself within an ore cart, headed for Aquaman's palace. Once there, he thunderously reveals his presence, inside the throne room.

Dudley has come for Mera. As he lumbers towards her, Aquaman attacks. Dudley barely feels the punch. A fierce battle ensues. Dudley, as the enormously powerful Aquabeast, deals Aquaman a crushing defeat. Aqualad steps in to protect the Queen, but Dudley contemptuously swats the teen hero aside. Mera uses her ability, to control and manipulate water, to encase Dudley in a block of hard water. Dudley smashes free. As the Atlantean guard enter the throne room, Dudley abducts Mera, and flees Atlantis. His destination is an ominous area of the sea, known only as "The Forgotten Place." Recovered from Dudley's attack, Aquaman and Aqualad return to Dudley's yacht, Adventure. There, Aquaman confirms his suspicion that the Aquabeast is, indeed, Peter Dudley. Prior to leaving Atlantis for Adventure, Aquaman had telepathically ordered a school of Sentinel Fish to form a line, pointing out the direction the Aquabeast took Mera. Following this line now leads Aquaman and Aqualad to "The Forgotten Place". Much farther ahead, Dudley and Mera come under assault from the Demonoids, the android guardians of the "Forgotten Place". Dudley is more than a physical match for the machine horde, but falls to their helmet blasters. Just as Mera is grabbed by a Demonoid, Aquaman and Aqualad arrive to rescue her. They, too, fall, however, to the Demonoids' stun weapons. With the Demonoids' attention on Aquaman and Aqualad, Dudley grabs Mera, and steals deeper into the "Forgotten Place."

On the verge of unconsciousness, Aquaman, more by instinct than intent, issues forth a telepathic distress call. It is answered by Kraken, a giant squid. Kraken attacks the Demonoids, buying Aquaman and Aqualad enough time to recover and escape. Meanwhile, Dudley and Mera have ventured even further into the "Forgotten Place", reaching the precincts of Hammuri. Hammuri, a giant, intelligent, aquatic, alien simian, has spent untold years marooned on Earth, in the "Forgotten Place". Hammuri is quick to place value on Mera, as her harvested brain could power his long dead computer system. Hammuri deems Dudley, however, to be a horrific abomination, one that should be destroyed. Dudley charges Hammuri, grappling with the enormous ape. Extra limbs project from the back of Hammuri's adaptive space suit, and pummel Dudley into the sea floor. Dudley recovers quickly and resumes his assault on Hammuri. Again an extra arm emerges from the suit, this time grabbing Dudley with an unbreakable grip. Hammuri's suit then grows wings. The giant flying ape carries Dudley out over a powerful underwater whirlpool, filling a deep chasm. Before Hammuri can drop him, Dudley crushes the suit's wings. Hammuri and Dudley both plummet into the abyss, and are lost forever. Aquaman and Aqualad finally catch up to Mera, and bring her home.

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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