Issue Description

Aquaman is injured after encountering a race of slow-moving giants. Meanwhile, Aqualad recovers from his own wounds and goes in search for his mentor, starting at the sight of the Sorcerers' city!

Aquagirl, concerned over the rising tyranny of Atlantis' substitute ruler, Narkran, looks to Aqualad for advice. At the Atlantean hospital, where Aqualad has been recovering from his injuries, Aquagirl discovers that Aquaman's young partner has checked himself out, much to the surprise of his doctors. Suffering from memory loss, Aqualad has departed Atlantis, intent on aiding Aquaman, in recovering Mera, from the shimmering village of the sea sorcerers. Upon arrival at the site, Aqualad can find no trace of the medieval village. Pondering his options, he is unaware that he is being watched by a trio of lavender-scaled fish men. They surround and attack the young hero. Though Aqualad fights back valiantly, he is overwhelmed, netted, and dragged away. Meanwhile, Aquaman, suffering badly from an injury sustained in a recent battle with the Black Manta, continues the search for his missing wife, Mera. Spying the same churning water phenomena that beset him just prior to Mera's abduction, Aquaman investigates. Entering a large cavern, Aquaman discovers a hidden Greco-Roman colony of immobile giants. He is not alone in his discovery. A deep sea diver is also on the scene. The purpose of his presence unknown, Aquaman warily approaches the man from the surface.

Aquaman succumbs to the severity of his injury. When he recovers, he finds himself onboard a submarine. His wound has been tended to by the deep sea diver. He identifies himself as Phil Darson, an amateur undersea explorer. Darson reveals that the giants are not actually paralyzed, but are, in actuality, just moving at an incredibly slow rate. Darson has been studying the colony for some time. During the course of their conversation, Darson reveals that surface scientists have worked out a method for creating the churning water effect that led to Aquaman's investigation of the colony. Aquaman considers the possibility that Mera's abductors came from the surface world. Meanwhile, Aqualad has been carried to the decaying underwater city of Eldfur. Free of the net, Aqualad attempts to flee his captors, but is once more overpowered. He is left in a cell to recover, then dragged into a crumbling arena. The Eldfur leader gestures, and a large, blade wielding Eldfur warrior steps into the arena. He immediately charges Aqualad, with weapon raised.

Aqualad is in the fight of his life. The Eldfur warrior is bigger, stronger, and far quicker than his size would suggest. The gladiatorial combat rages for long moments. Aqualad takes a defensive stance for much of the fight. Suddenly, Aqualad strikes back. Aqualad begins hammering away at his adversary. To his surprise, the Eldfur spectators begin to applaud and cheer him on. Taking a blow to the head clears Aqualad's memory loss. He recalls that the shimmering village had turned out to be a dead end in the search for Mera, and that Aquaman had left there, for the Maarzon colony, weeks ago. Lost in his reverie, Aqualad, nonetheless, never stops battering his opponent. Finally, the Eldfur warrior collapses under the fury of Aqualad's blows. Thunderous applause fills the stadium. Aqualad is baffled by the response to his victory. His captors enter the arena, and, once again, beat Aqualad into submission. At that same moment, in Atlantis, a massive seismic upheaval assails the city. The panicked populace looks to their chief scientist, Vulko, for information. Vulko fears the worst. Atlantis may be on the verge of destruction. Back in Eldfur, Aqualad's unconscious body is carried into a dungeon cell. The Eldfur leader is pleased by what he has seen. Aqualad has defeated Eldfur's mightiest warrior. It is the Eldfur leader's hope that Aqualad is the champion the dying village has been seeking. Their race has long been assailed by an oceanic leviathan, known as "The Bugala". Over the years, Eldfur's armies have dwindled in repelling the creature. Outside help is their only hope now. If Aqualad cannot defeat the Bugala, once and for all, it will be the end of the Eldfur society.

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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