Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Shipping This Week
And today, Previews will tell us what Aquaman related books are out this week:
- AUG100219 BATMAN THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #22 $2.99
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ripples Through Time - 207
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.
Showcase #32 (May 1961) - The Creature King of the Sea!
Aquaman and Aqualad inadvertently assist a criminal to turn into a dangerous creature that steals gold.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad, Topo
Aqua-Exclamations: Great Sea Horses! Suffering Starfish! Great Guppies! Leaping Lizardfish! Suffering Swordfish! Great Waves! Suffering Sardines!
Captured/Knocked Out report: The creature traps a whale in the smokestack funnel of a wrecked ship, and the pair are captured when they go to help it.
Quotefile: Jed, during the rescue, "Imagine... me at the ocean bottom, breathing fresh air!"
Finny Friends Report: A giant devil ray brings a pocket of air from the surface to the trapped diver. Giant clams protect Aquaman and Aqualad from the barrage of coral. A lion fish and some hatchet fish cut the roots that attack the pair. A group of jellyfish attack the creature to allow Aquaman and Aqualad to escape. Pilot fish, lantern fish, and midshipman fish gather Aquaman's armies. Whale sharks attack first and are deflected by the creature. Swordfish try a sneak attack and are trapped in deck planks. Whales hold up the ship the creature attacks and take it back to port. A legion of octopi steal back the gold and place it on the backs of sea turtles who take it inland. A lantern fish lets Aquaman know the stealback is done. After the fish turns back into a human, fish follow him. Flying fish knock the gun out of his hand when he prepares to fire on the whales surrounding him. Sea gulls rescued Aquaman and Aqualad from the desert using blowfishes and sponges. Topo deflects the grenades, then wraps up the criminal until the Coast Guard arrives. Aqualad rides dolphins at the end of the story.
I kind of like the set up of this one, in which Aquaman's urge to help backfires. On the other hand, the whole thing about the potions belonging to the guy looking for them is bunk. Aquaman should have been a little more cautious about the whole thing. Helping people is well and good, but he's a freaking super hero, he should at least check out the guy's story first!
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Aquaman and Aqualad inadvertently assist a criminal to turn into a dangerous creature that steals gold.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad, Topo
Aqua-Exclamations: Great Sea Horses! Suffering Starfish! Great Guppies! Leaping Lizardfish! Suffering Swordfish! Great Waves! Suffering Sardines!
Captured/Knocked Out report: The creature traps a whale in the smokestack funnel of a wrecked ship, and the pair are captured when they go to help it.
Quotefile: Jed, during the rescue, "Imagine... me at the ocean bottom, breathing fresh air!"
Finny Friends Report: A giant devil ray brings a pocket of air from the surface to the trapped diver. Giant clams protect Aquaman and Aqualad from the barrage of coral. A lion fish and some hatchet fish cut the roots that attack the pair. A group of jellyfish attack the creature to allow Aquaman and Aqualad to escape. Pilot fish, lantern fish, and midshipman fish gather Aquaman's armies. Whale sharks attack first and are deflected by the creature. Swordfish try a sneak attack and are trapped in deck planks. Whales hold up the ship the creature attacks and take it back to port. A legion of octopi steal back the gold and place it on the backs of sea turtles who take it inland. A lantern fish lets Aquaman know the stealback is done. After the fish turns back into a human, fish follow him. Flying fish knock the gun out of his hand when he prepares to fire on the whales surrounding him. Sea gulls rescued Aquaman and Aqualad from the desert using blowfishes and sponges. Topo deflects the grenades, then wraps up the criminal until the Coast Guard arrives. Aqualad rides dolphins at the end of the story.
I kind of like the set up of this one, in which Aquaman's urge to help backfires. On the other hand, the whole thing about the potions belonging to the guy looking for them is bunk. Aquaman should have been a little more cautious about the whole thing. Helping people is well and good, but he's a freaking super hero, he should at least check out the guy's story first!
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Shipping This Week
Previews tells us what Aquaman related books are out this week:
- AUG100113 BRIGHTEST DAY #12 $2.99
- AUG100217 TINY TITANS #33 $2.99
Monday, October 18, 2010
Previews Updated!
Previews for books shipping in January have been released, and there's a couple of Aquaman related books in there.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Ripples Through Time - 206
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 #282 (Mar 1961) - One Hour To Doom!
An ongoing effort to capture a smuggler turns into a lesson for Aqualad on how to survive on land with the one-hour limit.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad, Topo
Aqua-Exclamations: Leaping Lantern Fish! Great Guppies! Holy Mackerel!
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman and Aqualad are repeatedly trapped in areas with little water, and eventually are captured and tied up by the smuggler.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "This will be an important experience for you, Aqualad! Whenever we're ashore, we're almost like fish out of water! So let's see how good you are at finding water in unlikely places!"
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman and Aqualad are riding an octopus (probably Topo) and dolphin. A porpoise holds marine scientists' mail for them until they surface in their diving bell. Swordfish shred the sails of the smugglers' boat. Topo and other octopi secure the smugglers. Whales form a landing strip for the airliner in distress. Dolphins pull the sea ambulance for the injured manta ray. Topo bandages the ray, then finger-squid interns set the broken fin. Aqualad rides a dolphin and witnesses the swordfish's accident. Topo sharpens the swordfish's sword. Flying fish return garbage to littering boaters. A swordfish punctures a speeder's gas tank. Electric eels shock fishermen trolling restricted waters. Fish report on the location of the stolen sub. Octopi divert and disarm the torpedoes. A legion of sea turtles act like magnetic mines to scare the sub to shore. Whales trap one of Rowe's smuggling ships.
Ancient typo, the word "thought" lost its final "t" in the last panel on page 3.
I'm not a fan of the one hour limit. In its first appearance, it kind of made sense. After an hour out of water, Aquaman began to lose strength, but he was still alive. His powers, derived from the sea, left him as he became dehydrated. In this story, Aquaman indicates that Atlanteans will drop dead after an hour with no water. Silly and stupid. In addition they repeatedly make it clear that just physical contact with a tiny amount of water can reset the clock. It's magical and it doesn't make any sense at all except as a crutch for lazy writers.
The one-hour limit has been mentioned several times since its debut, but this is one of the first times the rules of the limit are defined. Which isn't a surprise, as the entire story is about making those rules clear to the reader by making them clear to Aqualad. If the start of the one hour limit is Adventure Comics #256, this story is the one that writes it into stone for the rest of the Silver Age.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
An ongoing effort to capture a smuggler turns into a lesson for Aqualad on how to survive on land with the one-hour limit.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad, Topo
Aqua-Exclamations: Leaping Lantern Fish! Great Guppies! Holy Mackerel!
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman and Aqualad are repeatedly trapped in areas with little water, and eventually are captured and tied up by the smuggler.
Quotefile: Aquaman, "This will be an important experience for you, Aqualad! Whenever we're ashore, we're almost like fish out of water! So let's see how good you are at finding water in unlikely places!"
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman and Aqualad are riding an octopus (probably Topo) and dolphin. A porpoise holds marine scientists' mail for them until they surface in their diving bell. Swordfish shred the sails of the smugglers' boat. Topo and other octopi secure the smugglers. Whales form a landing strip for the airliner in distress. Dolphins pull the sea ambulance for the injured manta ray. Topo bandages the ray, then finger-squid interns set the broken fin. Aqualad rides a dolphin and witnesses the swordfish's accident. Topo sharpens the swordfish's sword. Flying fish return garbage to littering boaters. A swordfish punctures a speeder's gas tank. Electric eels shock fishermen trolling restricted waters. Fish report on the location of the stolen sub. Octopi divert and disarm the torpedoes. A legion of sea turtles act like magnetic mines to scare the sub to shore. Whales trap one of Rowe's smuggling ships.
Ancient typo, the word "thought" lost its final "t" in the last panel on page 3.
I'm not a fan of the one hour limit. In its first appearance, it kind of made sense. After an hour out of water, Aquaman began to lose strength, but he was still alive. His powers, derived from the sea, left him as he became dehydrated. In this story, Aquaman indicates that Atlanteans will drop dead after an hour with no water. Silly and stupid. In addition they repeatedly make it clear that just physical contact with a tiny amount of water can reset the clock. It's magical and it doesn't make any sense at all except as a crutch for lazy writers.
The one-hour limit has been mentioned several times since its debut, but this is one of the first times the rules of the limit are defined. Which isn't a surprise, as the entire story is about making those rules clear to the reader by making them clear to Aqualad. If the start of the one hour limit is Adventure Comics #256, this story is the one that writes it into stone for the rest of the Silver Age.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Shipping This Week
And today, Previews will tell us what Aquaman related books are out this week:
- AUG100216 TINY TITANS LITTLE ARCHIE #1 (OF 3) $2.99
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Ripples Through Time - 205
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.
Showcase #31 (Mar 1961) - The Sea Beasts from One Billion B.C.
A stolen invention allows a crook to control giant devolved fish that terrorize the oceans.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad
Locations: The Aqua-cave
Aqua-Exclamations: Great Whirlpools! Shades of Davy Jones! Shiver my Timbers! Great Catfish! Well, I'll be a Starfish! Great Waves! Leaping Sea Lions! Great Sea Shells! Suffering Sea Snails! Great Guppies!
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is driven out of Cook's hiding place by fish controlled by Cook. Then Aquaman's whole army turns on him when Cook devolves them. In fact, Aquaman spends a lot of time rescuing people instead of fighting the bad guy.
Quotefile: "Shades of Davy Jones! I've been sailing the oceans for nigh on 30 years -- and this is the first time I've ever seen 'em!" Officer on a cargo ship, referring to Aquaman and Aqualad.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman and Aqualad are riding porpoises. Aquaman uses whales' spouts to board the cargo ship, and octopi act as extra propellers to get the ship away from the sea monster. Aquaman has the fish search for John Cook, and a "pop-eyed porgy" finds his hideout. Aquaman has an army of fish attack the hideout, but Cook devolves them and sets them to attack Aquaman and Aqualad. During Cook's reign of terror, Aquaman rescues people with whales, sea turtles, and dolphins. Luminous fish help obscure Cook's attack light, allowing Aquaman and Aqualad to reach him. Manta rays and dolphins help survivors of the future fish attacks. Aquaman draws off the future fish with a flock of sea gulls, getting them in range of the military guns. Aquaman and many other fish then disrupt the aim of those guns.
Another solid long story in Aquaman's tryout issues of Showcase. There is no story decompression in this one, just a lot of different actions leading into each other one after another. Each part of the story had its own cliffhanger, and they all fit together. I loved the designs of the "prehistoric" as well as the future fish. The blowfish managed to be cute even as a giant monster threatening everyone.
And again, we get the notion that an assistant to a scientist in the DC Universe is a good gig to get if you want to turn criminal and make a lot of money before getting nailed by the super-heroes. You would think they would just focus on being scientists instead, since they must have some serious skills to be a trusted assistant on some of those projects.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
A stolen invention allows a crook to control giant devolved fish that terrorize the oceans.
Regular Supporting Cast: Aquaman, Aqualad
Locations: The Aqua-cave
Aqua-Exclamations: Great Whirlpools! Shades of Davy Jones! Shiver my Timbers! Great Catfish! Well, I'll be a Starfish! Great Waves! Leaping Sea Lions! Great Sea Shells! Suffering Sea Snails! Great Guppies!
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is driven out of Cook's hiding place by fish controlled by Cook. Then Aquaman's whole army turns on him when Cook devolves them. In fact, Aquaman spends a lot of time rescuing people instead of fighting the bad guy.
Quotefile: "Shades of Davy Jones! I've been sailing the oceans for nigh on 30 years -- and this is the first time I've ever seen 'em!" Officer on a cargo ship, referring to Aquaman and Aqualad.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman and Aqualad are riding porpoises. Aquaman uses whales' spouts to board the cargo ship, and octopi act as extra propellers to get the ship away from the sea monster. Aquaman has the fish search for John Cook, and a "pop-eyed porgy" finds his hideout. Aquaman has an army of fish attack the hideout, but Cook devolves them and sets them to attack Aquaman and Aqualad. During Cook's reign of terror, Aquaman rescues people with whales, sea turtles, and dolphins. Luminous fish help obscure Cook's attack light, allowing Aquaman and Aqualad to reach him. Manta rays and dolphins help survivors of the future fish attacks. Aquaman draws off the future fish with a flock of sea gulls, getting them in range of the military guns. Aquaman and many other fish then disrupt the aim of those guns.
Another solid long story in Aquaman's tryout issues of Showcase. There is no story decompression in this one, just a lot of different actions leading into each other one after another. Each part of the story had its own cliffhanger, and they all fit together. I loved the designs of the "prehistoric" as well as the future fish. The blowfish managed to be cute even as a giant monster threatening everyone.
And again, we get the notion that an assistant to a scientist in the DC Universe is a good gig to get if you want to turn criminal and make a lot of money before getting nailed by the super-heroes. You would think they would just focus on being scientists instead, since they must have some serious skills to be a trusted assistant on some of those projects.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Shipping This Week
And today, Previews will tell us what Aquaman related books are out this week:
- AUG100111 BRIGHTEST DAY #11 $2.99
- AUG100148 BATMAN ODYSSEY #4 (OF 13) $3.99
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