Ripples Through Time - 054

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.

Adventure #121 (October 1947) - Shades of John Paul Jones!

A strange whirlpool throws Aquaman back in time, where he saves the Bon Homme Richard before it can be sunk by the Serapis.

A history lesson for the kiddies, with a distinctly American slant, of course. Aquaman gets caught in a whirlpool and is apparently sent back to the Revolutionary war where he witnesses and participates in the battle between John Paul Jones' ship Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis. During his time travel, Aquaman rescues John Paul Jones himself and patches up his ship long enough for him to defeat the Serapis.

This story evokes The Phantom Fleet, in which Aquaman witnesses a battle between two old ships, only to discover that it's a pageant. In this tale, however, we never learn if Aquaman actually traveled in time or just dreamed he did. The way Aquaman's Golden Age powers worked, it would be slightly strange that the fish of the past so readily obeyed him, so I'm inclined to say it was a dream. You, however, may have your own opinion on it.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman gets his finny friends to patch up the Bon Homme Richard before it sinks. Octopus gather seaweed cut by swordfish as electric eels light the scene, then fish carry the seaweed to the surface where it is packed into the holes by hammerhead sharks.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Not in this tale.

Quotefile: Aquaman sums up his experience, "Was it real? Or was it a dream? Did I journey backward through time? Did I, Aquaman, actually help win one of the greatest battles of all time?"

Have you read this story? What do you think?