Issue Description

Aquaman teams up with Batman in order to retrieve the cargo Kobra has stolen from the Bellerophon. When more help is needed, Green Lantern answers the call!

Aquaman and Batman are ensnared in a titanium steel mesh net, as Kobra's followers close in on them with spear guns. Batman pulls a small laser from his utility belt to facilitate their escape. The two heroes engage Kobra's men in combat. Aquaman ensnares Kobra's agents in the net, then telepathically commands electric eels to electrocute the men into unconsciousness. Flashing back to the Justice League satellite, orbiting 22, 300 miles above the Earth, finds Aquaman explaining the case details to his fellow League member, Batman and Green Lantern. Kobra had looted a cargo of poisonous chlorinated hydrocarbons from the sunken vessel, Bellerophon. The Justice League had traced Kobra's whereabouts to Portugal. Green Lantern discovered Kobra's invisible ark hovering over a church in LIsbon, at which point, Aquaman and Batman made their approach from the sea, running afoul of Kobra's followers.

Within the church, Kobra, still holding General Horgan and several U.N. delegates hostage, makes ready to release the deadly gas over Portugal. Green Lantern steps up his assault on Kobra's invisible, flying arc. Kobra abandons the hostages to deal with Green Lantern's threat to his ship. With Kobra out of the room, Aquaman and Batman burst in and take out all of Kobra's men. While Aquaman sets about to freeing the hostages, Batman prepares to destroy Kobra's launch mechanism. Green Lantern's distraction, however, has failed to buy the heroes enough time to complete their mission. Kobra has already returned. Simply turning his ship's force field projectors to emit the color yellow, neutralized any threat from the Green Lantern. Batman and Kobra square off in mortal combat. Deeming the fight personal, Aquaman stands by and merely watches. Kobra gasses Batman, then launches the deadly gas capsules over Portugal. Green Lantern moves in to intercept the lethal pellets. They prove to be too numerous for the Green Lantern to catch them all, however, before they reach an elevation of 500 feet and release their deadly payload. Aquaman sends a telepathic command to all sea life in the vicinity, ordering them to destroy Kobra's undersea gas pellet projector. Kobra, however, has anticipated Aquaman's attack and set up defenses accordingly. The fish are slaughtered before they can get anywhere near Kobra's projector. Aquaman and Batman dive into the sea, to take out the projector's defenses.

While Batman takes out Kobra's guards, Aquaman shuts down the laser defense system protecting the gas pellet projector. With the defenses down. Aquaman's fish army are able to move in and take out the projector. His scheme thwarted, Kobra collects his hostages, boards his arc and makes his escape. General Horgan manages to slip his bonds, and hurls a wrench into the arc's control panel. The arc's vertical stabilizer has been damaged as well, causing Kobra's vessel to plummet into the ocean. Kobra leaves the hostages to drown aboard the arc, while the villain exits into the sea. Aquaman, however, is ready and waiting for Kobra. A pitched battle ensues between the Sea King and the Deadliest Man Alive, with Aquaman winning handily over his adversary. Leaving two octopi to guard Kobra, Aquaman rescues the hostages. Kobra releases a concussive charge that takes out the octopi, then disappears into the ink black depths. Aquaman gets the hostages aboard a NATO rescue ship. Batman is infuriated that Aquaman allowed Kobra to escape. In no mood to be chastised by his teammate, Aquaman dives back into the sea. At long last, he is returning home to Atlantis.

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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