Ripples Through Time

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 Comics (April 1, 1953) - Terror Valley of the Depths!

Aquaman battles a variety of sea monsters while exploring a remote part of the ocean.

This one is a bit of an unusual tale, featuring some fantastic artwork by Fradon. The monsters are particularly creative. This one is also unusual in that Aquaman is the only human character to show up in the story. Aquaman's normal fishy friends seem much better at handling the valley than Aquaman himself, right up to the end of the story, in which the sea monsters seem to acknowledge that he's king of the sea, including the giant monster squid apparently bowing to him.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman follows a fish that he doesn't recognize into the valley. He attempts to communicate with the sea monsters, but fails. He has an octopus create an ink-screen to avoid the giant eel/turtle monster. He shocks the whale/clam monster with a group of electric eels. A porpoise pulls him away when he gets hit. The manta ray gives him the clue he needs to finally understand the sea monsters.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is hit by the tail of the whale/clam monster and knocked out for a few minutes.

Quotefile: Aquaman, "In all my time in the seven seas, I've never seen a more grotesque creature! I-I don't know if I can escape this time!" Giant Monster Squid, "UUUURRRRGGGG!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?