Aquaman (Vol.1) #56 - April 1970

Comics Weekend "The Creature That Devoured Detroit!" by Steve Skeates, Jim Aparo, and Dick Giordano.

The Shrine covered this issue of Aquaman previously, way back in 2007, but it was long before I thought to give the proper spotlight on the art contained in any given comic, so the recaps were very abbreviated affairs (what can I say? I was new at this). So since there's new issue of Aquaman or Justice League to talk about this week, I thought why not give this story--and its unique place in comics history--its proper due. It's a doozy, in more ways than one!

Aquaman #56 opens, not with Aquaman or any members of the Aqua-Family, but with a married couple not quite overwhelmed in marital bliss:

But Aquaman isn't the only costumed superhero in Detroit! Across town, another vigilante is on patrol:

The Crusader gets into a nasty, bare-knuckle brawl with the gang of crooks, while Aquaman's search for his friend is halted when he talks with a policeman about the creeping algae. Aquaman is told that they are spraying nearly-frozen water onto the algae, which seems to halt it's growth...temporarily.

Aquaman asks about his friend Don Powers, and is told Powers run a big-time private investigation firm downtown. The Sea King is directed to the building, and is impressed by the scale of it. When he enters, Powers recognizes his old friend, and is given a tour of the place.

Powers reveals that the satellite that has been creating all the forced daylight in Detroit is his doing! Thanks to the permanent daylight, crime is down a whopping 38%, which is music to Powers' ears! Aquaman tries to reason with him, telling him what ecological damage the satellite is doing. But Powers doesn't care, concerned only with the crime rate.

Their argument becomes heated, and some of Powers' men try to restrain Aquaman when he lunges for the satellite control room:

We follow Powers, and see him change into the costume of The Crusader!

As he suits up, we learn that Powers' eyesight has been deteriorating, and the constant daylight has been helping him with his superhero duties. He goes out on patrol:

Meantime, Aquaman wakes up on a nearby beach, in time to see a young girl about to be swallowed up by a wave of the green goop. When it crashes down upon her, Aquaman steps in:

Aquaman heads back town, and sees the police huddled around a dead body...the body of The Crusader!

Apparently, while on patrol, The Crusader missed the building he was aiming for, tripped, and fell to his death. When he is unmasked, Aquaman immediately recognizes him as his friend Don!

Aquaman heads back for Powers' lab, and punches his way into the satellite's control room:

...The End!

Man, there is so much to say about this story I'm going to have to fight to get it all in. First off, you have to appreciate the sheer impish rule breaking going on here, courtesy Steve Skeates (and editor Dick Giordano)--Skeates makes all this effort to introduce a new superhero, even giving him his own logo (which I assume was the work of artist/letterer Jim Aparo, doing his usual tremendous job), only to kill him off a few pages later. And not only does The Crusader die, but he dies because of his lousy eyesight, a mordant gag if I ever saw one.

If this story seems to end a little abruptly, that's because...well, it does. One of the reasons for that is Aquaman was unceremoniously cancelled by then-DC head honcho Carmine Infantino, partly due to in-house squabbling with editor Dick Giordano. This turned out to be the last issue of the series, until it was briefly resurrected seven years later.

To rub salt in the wound, this issue features one of those "Statement of Ownership" thingies that comics used to run all the time, and we can see for ourselves just how well Aquaman was selling:

So, at the time, Aquaman was selling about 160,000 copies per issue. Certainly not a best-seller by 1970's standards, but it's funny to compare those numbers to today. If the current Aquaman series was selling 160,000 copies an issue, it would be--by far--DC's #1 title.

As I mentioned above (and you can see with your own, hopefully-better-than-The-Crusader's eyes), Jim Aparo does a superb job on the art on this issue. Of course, he did that for every issue, but Aparo excelled at gritty crime comics, and here Skeates' script gives him all kinds of fun film noir stuff to work with, even though there's not a single scene at night! This comic manages to mix urban grit and goofy sci-fi, all in twenty or so pages, an amazing feat (also--I want that shot of Aquaman punching the algae monster as a t-shirt).

In any case, Skeates did have a second part of this story in mind, and didn't let a little thing like cancellation stop him! He did write a Part Two, which appeared in...well, for those of you who don't know, I don't want to spoil the surprise. Come back at Noon today to find out!

Aquaman #22 - Aug. 1965

Comics Weekend "The Trap of the Sinister Sea Nymphs" by Bob Haney* and Nick Cardy.

This issue of Aquaman opens with the Sea King and his bride in a playful moment--but a big surprise is awaiting our hero:

Kandor realizes that Mera is not Hila, and is angry at her betrayal. But first, he turns his attention toward Aquaman, demanding to know where the home of the Seven Golden Eels are. Aquaman of course refuses, so Kandor responds by putting the Sea King into a series of death traps to get him to talk.

First is the Test of the Thousand-And-One Harpoons, which is just what it sounds like: a phalanx of razor-tipped harpoons are fired at Aquaman all at once, but thanks to his superior speed and skill, he uses a snagged harpoon to bat the rest of them away. Next is a Pulverizing Pendulum, followed by an Army of Armadillo Warriors (Kandor likes his alliteration).

Aquaman comes out the winner in all three challenges, so Kandor takes matters into his own hands:

Aquaman finds Kandor a more difficult foe, and is assisted by Hila, who steps in having seemingly changed sides once again.

Mera regains her powers and joins the fray, just in time for Kandor to spray Hila with a cloud of mind-controlling gas, flipping her back yet again! Kandor then sics Hila on Mera, and the two engage in a fight to the death!

It looks as though Mera has defeated Hila, and she has, but we learn that it was Mera who Kandor accidentally gassed, turning her against her husband (confused yet?)! To make things even worse, the Armadillo Army goes rogue, and turns against Kandor by unleashing a machine known as the Juggernaut against all of them:

...The End!

This is another important moment in Aqua-History, since it features the debut of Hila, Mera's sister. Of course, Geoff Johns has said that the new villain Siren is *not* Hila, but I don't think it's unfair to surmise the latter inspired the former.

Incredibly, Hila did not return, which seems amazing to me--having a twin Mera show up seems like such an instant plot device that I can't believe no later Aquaman writer ever decided to use it.

The Shrine probably does not compliment Nick Cardy's work enough--partly because we generally don't cover his era on Aquaman as much as some others, partly because his work is so consistently excellent that it's almost easy to take it for granted. But in this issue, Cardy's skill at body language really shines through--which only makes sense, since he had two identical Mera's to keep straight throughout the book. In particular, I love this panel:

Comics of the time could only get a way with so much, but Cardy adds just a hint of sauciness to Hila's face and body language that suggests this is not the woman we--and Aquaman--think it is. The book is full of little details like this, making this issue one of Nick Cardy's finest Aquaman efforts. And that's saying something.

I put an asterisk next to Bob Haney's name up above, because there is no proof he wrote this. But I use the same reasoning here that I did last week, for the same reasons.

One last thing about this comic--this:

I could make this one hell of a Random Panel of the Day, but I'm not gonna. Get your minds out of the gutter.

Aquaman #23 - Oct. 1965

Comics Weekend "The Birth of Aquababy" by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy.

We continue Mera Month with a look back at yet another huge--and in some ways unprecedented--moment in Aquaman and Mera's superheroic career: the day they became parents!

Aquaman and Aqulad encounter a trio of sirens, whose alluring--but deadly--call entices the Sea King, so much so he covers his eats to prevent himself from hearing them. Aqualad is confused, because to him they "look like old sea-hags"!

Aquaman has Garth lash him to his seahorse to keep him from listening to the sirens, and they manage to move on. Suddenly, their steeds grow frightened, and dump Arthur and Garth off them, where they fall into a pit of quicksand coral!

Aquaman sends out a command to a nearby giant squid...but will it arrive in time?

Aquaman faces the creature, which has the ability to change shapes: it goes from sea snake to sea urchin to a giant poison anemome, all within seconds!

It chases our heroes, and Aquaman has them hide inside a hunk of coral. The anemome sees Aquaman's hand sticking out of the hole, and stings him repeatedly. This would probably kill the Sea King, except...Aquaman's shirt and glove are empty! He took his tunic off (!), causing the creature to use up all its poison!

Aquaman then hauls off and hits the anemome, and it changes back to its original form, a harmless old man named Sinquo. Aquaman knows who Sinquo is: a criminal exiled from Atlantis years ago. Despite this, Sinquo offers his foe the serum Aquaman came for, honoring the fact he was bested in combat.

Aquaman and Aqualad make a speedy turn back to Atlantis, but the trouble isn't over! An undersea volcano erupts, sending them smashing into a reef. Aquaman, too weak to move and partly covered in debris, calls his finny friends to grab the serum and carry it, bit by bit, creature by creature, across the sea all the way to Atlantis!

Unfortunately, just as it nears Atlantis, a pilot whale carrying the serum is so exhausted from the long journey it drops the vital liquid down a crevice in the ocean floor! Now what?

Suddenly a deadly, monstrous sea creature comes to life, thanks to the powers of Arthur Jr.! Aquaman surmises Sinquo put something in the serum to give their son his amazing--and uncontrollable--powers!

After he accidentally destroys a building, some citizens of Atlantis declare AquaBaby a menace, and demand he be exiled! Aquaman and Mera, of course, reject such a notion, and leave as a family--along with Aqualad.

They find a place to rest many miles away, and Aquaman leaves the three to find food. While they sleep, Aquababy wanders away, into the path of a band of giant ape-like creatures:

...The Beginning!


As a story, this isn't really one of Mera's finest moments--she doesn't get that much to do, but I guess you can't expect much superheroing from someone in the midst of childbirth.

Amazingly, no one seems to know who wrote this comic! Even the second volume DC's Showcase: Aquaman book lists the writer as "unknown." My hunch it's the work of Bob Haney, who is credited with starting on the book as of #26. Considering Haney's penchant for gleefully throwing a monkey wrench into established continuity (introducing long lost brothers, nephews, and other assorted family members), I'd say this was his work.

Another hint that he wrote this is page five, where we get to hear the internal monologues of both Aquaman and Aqualad:

Before this, superheroes (DC ones, at least) still really didn't ever show fear or apprehension or even really have any sort inner thoughts other than ones dealing with whatever foe was in front of them. Here, Aqualad is worried he's going to be the odd man out in the new family dynamic.

I don't mean to overstate this moment--it's hardly the groundbreaking sturm und drang that was going on across the street at Marvel--but this whole issue feels like a giant step in a new direction of superhero comics writing, so the Shrine is going use its well-earned reputation as an authority on All Things Aquaman to state that this is the work of Bob Haney. Unless we're wrong.

Of course, Nick Cardy was doing excellent work on Aquaman in every single issue, but there are some extraordinary moments here. Aquaman's final battle with the Morrkas is almost Alex Toth-like in its direct simplicity and elegance of movement:

As we mentioned on the Top 10 Memorable Mera Moments list, this story forever altered Aquaman's core concept, the changes of which are still felt to this day. So while Mera didn't get all that much to do, of course none of this would have been possible without her!

One final note--I had to chuckle at this panel:

Given Aquaman and Mera's...healthy sexual relationship (as seen in Brightest Day and Aquaman), it made me laugh to see Arthur determined to go get a lifetime's supply of serum. Which, with these two, is probably a lot more than most of us would ever need.

Aquaman (Vol.1) #11 - Oct. 1963

Comics Weekend "The Doom From Dimension Aqua" by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy.

Since February is Mera Month on the Shrine, it was only appropriate to go back and check out the Sea Queen's very first appearance, way back in 1963:

...talk about a Meet-Cute!

The beautiful stranger tells our heroes she is Mera, queen from another dimension. But when Mera was threatened by a violent coup, she was sent via a multi-dimensional portal for her safety.

Aquaman tries to comfort Mera by promising to look after her. But before they can decide what to do next, a fleet of submarines come flying through the air, landing all around our trio. Who could be responsible for this?

Turns out it's the work of Leron, the very man who tried to usurp Mera's throne! Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad try to swim away, but Leron turns the water around them into hard steel, freezing them in place. Leron makes one demand: turn Mera over to him!

Mera is relieved to know that Aquaman was never considering giving Mera up, but just stalling for time. Leron is overwhelmed by all the fish, vowing to come back and find Mera no matter what.

Shortly thereafter, Leron does return, which a small army of his friends in tow. They spot our heroes, and Leron opens up a whirlpool under the sea, which sucks Aquaman and the rest in--but Aquaman manages to free himself and Mera and Aqualad, making a beeline for Leron afterward.

Aquaman threatens Leron with his hard water powers (huh?), and when Leron doesn't back down, the Sea King does just that, creating hard water projectiles! How is this happening?

The answer is...Quisp, that magical imp who first appeared in Aquaman #1! Aquaman called Quisp in for help, and it was he(?) who created the illusion that Aquaman had such powers. Unfortunately, Leron has changed form into a shark, and has been spying on them all. He follows Quisp, and:

Leron fires some sort of weapon at the trio, trapping them in some sort of giant bag. He then has his men drag them back through the portal, back to their home dimension. Leron them locks them all in a coral cage, dragging the scientist who created the portal in front of her. They demand to know how he created the portal, and threaten to kill Mera if he does not confess!

As he is dragged off, Aquaman calls his finny friends from across the portal, which grab the coral cage and smash it open. Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad go back home, with Leron back in pursuit.

All this time, Mera's hard water powers have been gone, and she cannot understand why. But Aquaman gets a hunch about the cause when he wipes some oil off of Mera's arm, and her powers return, allowing her to use them to capture a couple of Leron's men. He enacts a plan:

...so what about it, dear reader? Would you like to see Mera return! We bet Aquaman would!


With this issue, Aquaman as a series took a giant leap in the right direction--not only was it the first appearance of Mera, but it was the last appearance of Quisp. As you can see here, the little imp was already becoming a bit of story crutch--Aquaman calls him (again, ?) in to do something amazing, he does it, then he is dispatched a few panels later. Of course, inter-dimensional imps were all the rage in DC superhero comics of the 50s and 60s (see: Bat-Mite, Mr. Mxyzptlk, etc.), but to me a little of them went a long way. So swapping out Quisp for Mera is the definition of trading up.

Despite the final blurb asking readers what they thought about Mera, writer Jack Miller (and editor George Kashdan) clearly had plans to bring her back--she would pop up again just two issues later, in Aquaman #13!