Issue Description

When a mysterious stranger abducts Mera, Aquaman and Aqualad begin a quest to find the missing Queen. They stumble upon a group of magicians whose own Queen looks exactly like Aquaman's missing wife!

En route to Atlantis, the Atlantean royal family is suddenly beset by rapidly churning seas and swirling eddies. Despite the lack of visibility, the quartet pushes onward. A sudden malaise washes over Aquaman and Aqualad. Lost in the whirling miasma of sand and sea, Aquaman is on the verge of unconsciousness when he hears the cries of his wife, Mera. Shaking his head clear, Aquaman can just make out three shadowy figures making off with his wife. Before he can act, he is powerfully struck down. Alarmed at Aquaman's absence from important Atlantean functions, Aquagirl sets off in search of the royal family. Soon enough, she locates Aqualad, Arthur, Jr., and a still unconscious Aquaman. Upon reviving, Aquaman informs the others of Mera's abduction. All Aquaman can recall is that his attacker clearly had super-human strength, and wore a ring with a five-sided stone. They return to Atlantis. Once Aquaman gets his infant son settled, he leaves Arthur, Jr. in Aquagirl's care. Aquaman and Aqualad set off in search of Mera. Traveling out for more than a day, the two discover a strange, walled medieval village, that shimmers and wavers like a mirage. Investigating, Aquaman and Aqualad are stunned to find Mera leading a procession through the center of town. The inhabitants bow to her as she passes, as if she is their queen.

Aquaman is revealed as an outsider, when he fails to show the proper respect as the queen passes. The village's entire populace raise arms against him, and a fierce battle ensues. When Aqualad attempts to aid his mentor, he, too, becomes a target for the mob. While Aquaman is able to, easily, hold his own, Aqualad doesn't fare as well. The young hero suffers a serious stab wound. The cruelty of the attack enrages Aquaman, but moments later he is, finally, brought down. Aquaman recovers to find himself, and Aqualad, imprisoned in a dungeon. Aqualad bravely down plays his injury, but Aquaman is concerned with how pale the boy looks. Suddenly, all the water is pumped out of the cell. Aquaman determines that, with such a severe wound, Aqualad won't last half an hour without water. Aquaman telepathically summons a giant bull whale, which crashes through the village wall, before demolishing the entire building housing the dungeon. In the ensuing chaos, Aquaman and Aqualad slip away. Succumbing to his massive blood loss, Aqualad slips into unconsciousness. Aquaman races his young partner back to Atlantis. Once Aqualad has been tended to, Aquaman departs Atlantis to return to the strange shimmering village. Fatigue gets the better of him, though. Just outside the village, Aquaman pauses to rest. Asleep, he is oblivious to the sinister shadow that falls over him.

Aquaman awakes to a terrifying scaled horror looming over him. Aquaman immediately puts some distance between himself and the creature. Noticing that, like the village, the creature, too, shimmers like a mirage, Aquaman ascertains that it's some kind of guard. Aquaman leaps to attack the creature, which fades away as Aquaman passes through it. It truly was a mirage. Aquaman re-enters the village, and quickly determines the location of the queen's palace. Outside the queen's bedchambers, Aquaman is stopped by the village sorcerer. The mage pins Aquaman against the wall in a nimbus of mystic force. Marshaling all his strength, Aquaman begins pushing against the pressure holding him back, inexorably moving forward, inch by inch, step by step. At last he reaches the sea sorcerer and beats him into unconsciousness. Entering the queen's bedchamber, Aquaman confronts the queen. It is here that Aquaman notices that the queen's eyes are a different color than Mera's. The queen is a dead ringer for Mera, but it isn't her. Aquaman has hit a dead end in his search for his wife. She isn't in the strange shimmering village. Departing the village, Aquaman resumes the trail of the ring.

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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