Issue Description

On the hunt for missing ships, Aquaman and Aqualad are astonished to see an immense hand, comprised of ocean water, dragging a cargo ship beneath the waves. Diving down after the ship, they find it has vanished. Suddenly, they themselves are caught in the fluid fist and feel themselves being transported away. They find themselves in a strange underwater world, imprisoned in glass capsules. Breaking free, they set about exploring this new world. Almost immediately, Aqualad steps into a trap. With his legs immobilized, Aqualad finds that the giant clam shell he is within is slowly closing about him. Aquaman stops the shell from sealing shut around Aqualad, then sets the boy free. Warning Aqualad to keep a sharp eye out for traps, the pair soon discover the missing ships, their crews also encased in glass capsules. Aqualad races to free them, but Aquaman stops him. The capsules are full of air. If the men are released from their prisons, they will quickly drown. A rescue plan cannot be formulated until they can learn more about their surroundings. Continuing their explorations, the pair are ambushed by two men in anachronistic attire. Aquaman and Aqualad easily defeat the dastardly pair, only to find themselves assailed by a third man, whose weapon fires a beam that pins the duo against the rocks. Despite being at a disadvantage, Aquaman begins furiously questioning this new foe. The old bearded man has quite a tale to tell.

Turning his weapon on the crews of the missing ships, Aquaman is astonished to see them begin to grow. As they expand in size, they begin to fade from view. Now, Aquaman understands the nature of this place. They are in a microscopic world. By returning the ship's crews to their normal size, they have been released back into their world. The old man explains that the fantastic world Aquaman and Aqualad find themselves trapped in, exists in a single drop of water. One of the other men managed to construct a device that allowed them to bring others into their world. The old man identifies himself as Baron Dubois. He, and his men, were imprisoned in the water droplet by an evil sorcerer, called Merder, then cast into the sea. As their new world falls into the ocean, Merder offers Baron Dubois a solution to his dilemma. There is a vial of elixir, deep beneath the sea, sealed inside Red Coral Mountain. Consuming it will transform Baron Dubois, and his men, back into air breathers. Aquaman offers to retrieve the vial for Baron Dubois. He and Aqualad are released back into their world, where they find the crews of the missing ships, bobbing about in the ocean. Summoning a pod of sperm whales, Aquaman commands them to carry the men back to shore. Aquaman and Aqualad make their way to Red Coral Mountain. Following ocean currents, the pair find the secret entrance into the mountain. The passage is ringed with sharp coral spikes, which begin to close, as Aquaman & Aqualad proceed down the tunnel. Swimming as fast as they can, they barely escape a horrible death by impaling. The passageway, however, is now completely blocked off behind them. They are trapped in the chamber which holds the vial of elixir. Aquaman summons a group of octopi to the mouth of the tunnel. The octopi feed an anchor chain to Aquaman, using the strong current to carry it down to the trapped heroes. Aquaman secures the anchor chain to two giant clam shells, which the octopi then drag back up, shattering the coral spines as it ascends. Vial in hand, Aquaman and Aqualad are brought back into the water droplet prison world of Baron Dubois. It is only after Baron Dubois takes possession of the elixir from Aquaman that he reveals that he is, in fact, the evil wizard, Merder, imprisoned centuries ago by a heroic mage.

Intending to maroon Aquaman and Aqualad in the water droplet world, Merder sets about growing his men out of the microscopic prison. Aquaman and Aqualad quickly dive into the expansion beam, though, before Merder can stop them, gaining access back to their world. Merder is right behind them, though. Through the power of his magical thundering rod, Merder usurps Aquaman's command of sea life, sending a pair of killer whales after Aquaman and Aqualad. The pair evade the orcas, only to find themselves assailed by octopi. Using makeshift vines made of seaweed, Aquaman binds the octopi. He's barely had time to immobilize the octopi, though, before a school of swordfish are bearing down upon him. Gathering planks of floating driftwood, Aquaman and Aqualad block the piercing attacks of the swordfish. Summoning a torpedo ray, Aquaman instructs it to shock one of the swordfish, opening up a gap in the school, that allows Aquaman and Aqualad to race to a nearby islet. Out of the ocean, the pair are safe from the swordfish, however, the swordfish are quick to surround the small landmass, leaving Aquaman & Aqualad with no egress back into the ocean. Aquaman notices that one swordfish no longer seems to be following Merder's commands. It is the one that was stung by the torpedo ray. The shock apparently freed it from Merder's control. Summoning a school of torpedo rays, Aquaman orders them to shock the swordfish, releasing them from Merder's sway. Aquaman and Aqualad are able to easily evade the stunned swordfish, returning to the ocean. Merder spies a ship on the horizon. His men urge him to attack it. Turning his magic on a passing whale shark, Merder orders it to ram the vessel. Instead it opens it's great maw, and out spring Aquaman and Aqualad. Surprised, Merder is too slow to react to the assault. Aquaman grabs the thundering rod, snapping it in two. Merder, and his men flee into the sea. In their haste, the device that allows them passage back and forth to their microscopic prison is activated, returning them to the world inside the water droplet. Without the elixir to restore their ability to breathe oxygen, Merder has no choice but maintain his imprisonment, eventually, one day, to die of old age.

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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