Issue Description

After getting rescued from an artificial whirlpool, Aquaman wakens to find Mera by his side. Meanwhile, under the sea, Aqualad continues battling Bugala and Aquagirl gets in with a group of Atlantean rebels! NOTE: This issue has been reprinted in black and white.

Due to severe injuries suffered during an explosion, Aquaman is rushed to a local hospital. While en route, Mera reflects on the past events that have brought them to this point. The Atlantean royal family had been enveloped in a mysterious whirlpool. Mera found herself cut off from her family. In shot order, Mera was abducted by Atlantean thieves, long ago exiled from the underwater city. Though she cried out to her husband for rescue, Aquaman was laid low, by a blow from one of her abductors. Mera's captors released her to a group of surface men, who took the Queen of Atlantis onboard their submarine. To Mera's astonishment, Narkran, the leader of Atlantis in the Royal family's absence, was revealed to have aided in her abduction. The long submarine journey to the surface left Mera in a weakened state, due to water deprivation. Arriving at an underwater fortress, Mera was deposited in a flooded cell and left to contemplate her fate for several hours. Within the fortress, the syndicate leader outlined his plan. Mera's ability to create hard water constructs coupled with the syndicate's artificial whirlpool generator would make any cargo vessel vulnerable to their pirating operation. To coerce Mera's cooperation, the syndicate boss led Mera to believe that her husband, Aquaman, was also a prisoner of the syndicate. She was given an ultimatum. Comply with the syndicate's demands or else Aquaman would suffer a slow, agonizing death.

Though Mera doubted that Aquaman was truly being held by the syndicate, she, nonetheless, agreed to their demands, not willing to risk her husband's life on a hunch. Days passed. Then, Mera became aware of a strange electronic sound, which was followed by her cell door sliding open. Stepping out into the corridor, Mera was surprised to find her captors nowhere in sight. Unbeknownst to Mera, Aquaman's struggle with the syndicate's goons had briefly shorted out the main electrical system, thus, inadvertently, freeing her. Mera raced through the cavernous fortress, searching for the submarine berth, and a way back to the sea. Encountering two syndicate thugs, Mera struck hard and fast, beating them quickly into submission, lest they bar her way to freedom. Finally, she located the moored submarine, and exited into the ocean. No sooner had Mera escaped into the sea then Aquaman came crashing out a fortress window, into the ocean, propelled by an explosion. Before Mera could reach him, Aquaman was enveloped in a rapidly forming whirlpool. Mera's efforts to extricate the Sea King from the vortex proved fruitless. A second, much greater explosion followed, dissipating the whirlpool, but sending the monarchs of Atlantis hurtling through the sea, at an extreme velocity.

Aquaman had been quickly rendered unconscious. Only by forming a hard water bubble around herself, had Mera been spared the same state. Mera extended her shield around Aquaman. Once they had ridden out the shock wave, Mera tended to her husband's injuries. Determining that his injuries were more severe than she was equipped to deal with, Mera carried Aquaman to the surface, and garnered medical assistance. Thus bringing her back to the present. Meanwhile, in Atlantis, a great unrest had befallen the underwater city. A recent sea quake had unsettled the populace. Making matters worse, Narkran's rule had descended into tyranny and madness. Aquagirl, at a loss for how to best deal with Narkran's despotism, finds herself investigating the shady movements of some of the Atlantean youth. Her investigation leads her straight into the middle of a brewing revolution, led by a young Atlantean named Mupo. Mupo has been slowly building his forces, and very soon, he plans to strike and overthrow the tyrant, Narkran. Aquagirl pleads with Mupo to consider the lives that will be lost during an insurrection, but Mupo will not be swayed. Soon enough, the revolution will come to Atlantis. Back on the surface, Aquaman has recovered from his injuries and relates tales of his search for her to Mera. Returning to the sea, Aquaman and Mera begin the long journey back to Atlantis. Aquaman intends to bring Narkran to justice, for his role in Mera's abduction. Despite the serious business that lay ahead of them, the monarchs of Atlantis are also looking forward to being reunited with their infant son, as well as Aqualad and Aquagirl. What they don't know is that, at that very moment, Aqualad is away from Atlantis, in the fight of his life against the oceanic leviathan known only as "The Bugala."

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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