Ripples Through Time - 022

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

More Fun #93 (September 1943) - Convoy to Murmansk!

Aquaman goes to help a convoy, and discovers that a Russian ship, the Neva, is crewed entirely by women.

I grew up in the 70's and 80's, and to me the Russians were always the bad guys. They were the ones who hated us and wanted to kill us. It's very strange to read a story in which they are our allies. As usual with the allies, they are portrayed as noble and strong, while the Nazis are weak cowards.

Very interesting opening text box, talking about a woman's place in war (the hospitals, a sniper's perch, a pilot, and even on a ship's deck)... Aquaman is stunned to learn that the Russian ship is crewed by women, and even more stunned once he learns it's a munitions ship, and they are fighting to save the ship despite the danger of it blowing up... Once they save the ship, the captain refuses to try to rejoin the convoy, explaining that they would slow it down and put more lives in danger. Aquaman then decides to provide his own escort... The Nazis have thick accents, the Russians speak perfect English... The women save the sailors from the ship Aquaman's whale sinks... They also "save" the Nazi spies, who claim their ship was destroyed by Nazis. The spies release the other prisoners, but the readers are left hanging for awhile while Aquaman has his adventure with a Nazi submarine... When Aquaman leaves the Nazi sub, he puts a silhouette of a ship on their periscope so they will chase something that doesn't exist... The women of the Neva have no problem dealing with their escaped prisoners, which again surprises Aquaman... When Aquaman goes to say good-bye to the captain of the Neva, he finds her at a dance. He stammers a bit and asks for the next dance.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman calls on a group of whales to act as escort to the ship. One of the whales sinks a Nazi ship to protect the Neva. Later, a whale uses his water spout as a weapon to knock a bomber out of the sky.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is injured when a mine goes off near where he's swimming, while he's unconscious a Nazi sub picks him up.

Quotefile: Nazi Captain: "Whales! Der whole vorld is against our fuehrer, even whales! Va are der only vuns dot love him!" Thought balloon from a crew member: "Who says ve love him?"

Have you read this story? What do you think?