Ripples Through Time - 087

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #156 (September 1950) - Aquaman Versus The Sea!

Aquaman agrees to set a record for crossing the English Channel for charity, but learns that he's being used in a nasty swindle.

The new representative of the European Seamen's Charities convinces Aquaman to swim the English Channel for charity, and gets Aquaman to sign an agreement that also requires him to keep silent about his participation. When Aquaman learns that several young hopefuls trying to set the Channel Record are going to be in the same race, he confronts Hartwick and learns that the whole thing is a set-up, as Hartwick is betting that none of the favorites will win... since no one knows that Aquaman will be in the race. Hartwick reminds Aquaman that he signed the contracts, so Aquaman must compete and attempt to win the race. He does so, but alerts his finny friends to the fact that he doesn't want to win the race, so they stop Aquaman from winning.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman walks across a line of dolphins to get to Hartwick's yacht. Once Aquaman learns about the swindle, he tells his problem to a 200 year old turtle and a 100 year old whale, along with other fishy friends, and encourages them to help him without breaking the contract. During the race, an octopus drags Aquaman down and a whale forces him into the grip of a giant clam. After Aquaman frees himself, he gets swordfish to free Pierre from Hartwick's net. After Hartwick attacks Kathie, Aquaman decides the contract is broken and attacks with the help of swordfish and dolphins. At the end of the story he thanks his finny friends for helping him lose the race.

Quotefile: Text box, "Returning to his undersea palace, on a sunken island, he consults his friends of the deep..." Yes, another appearance of the pre-Silver Age Aquacave.

Have you read this story? What do you think?