Ripples Through Time - 204

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 #280 (Jan 1961) - The Lost Ocean

Aquaman and Aqualad take the place of two striken TV stars in the popular series Sea Chase.

Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad

Quotefile: Lighthouse keeper, "I know you're the king of the sea, Aquaman, but you'd have to go some to match Jim Flood's skill!"

Finny Friends Report: Electric eels short out the damaged sea monster prop that goes after Aqualad. Aquaman orders fish to swim in a circle to create a vortex that sucks the real giant egg to the surface. A school of octopi hold down the sea-centipede to make it look like it got entangled in seaweed.

I love the framing sequence with Aquaman and Aqualad sitting down to watch TV with a lighthouse keeper. I guess Aquaman would be quite comfortable with lighthouses.

Jim and Ted Flood got the bends from diving too deeply, according to the story, and are stuck in iron lungs until they recover. As far as I can determine, though, an iron lung is the wrong tool to help people with the bends, as it only helps to breathe.

I was amused that the director told Aquaman and Aqualad they didn't have to change outfits, that the special effects man would "retouch" the film to make it look like they were Jim and Ted. But considering the time and cost involved, you think they'd put on the outfits anyway.

So typical of a DC tale that they are filming a story based on The Lost World they would run across real "prehistoric" creatures on the ocean floor.

Aquaman shows his usual modesty when the lighthouse keeper raves about Jim and Ted Flood, but he and Aqualad share a wink behind the keeper's back.

Have you read this story? What do you think?