The most misunderstood character in comics...Part 1
The Title of the post may be a little misleading or not. In tribute to the current scheduled Guest of Honour for the 2018 edition of Ottawa Comiccon (http://www.ottawacomiccon.com/), I will be writing today about the man that 4 out of 5 dentists think suck...the undersea wonder known as Aquaman.
Despite having Dr, Fate on the cover, the above issue (More Fun Comics 73, Nov. 1941) had two surprising long-lived super-hero debuts inside. The first, currently having a renaissance due to the fact that a very successful TV show is on giving the character some much deserved exposure, was Green Arrow. The second, is our subject; he began as the last feature in an eight-page story titled "The Submarine Strikes." In this story we get a small bit of origin, where the character mentions that his father is a famous oceanographer that gave hos son powers to breathe and survive underwater. Using is power to fight evil, his first nemesis are the Nazis (I think this was a trope in all USA pre-war stories in 1941.)
Created by Paul Norris (although for decades Mort Weisinger tried to claim credit.), Aquaman spent his first years in relative obscurity as the last feature (and one of the smallest) in More Fun Comics for a few years (last issue #107), leaving the feature for Adventure Comics with Superboy and Green Arrow starting with issue.
One piece of trivia: Aquaman did not make a cover appearance until 1960's Brave and the Bold #28, the first appearance of the Justice League of America...now back to our regular story.
The Golden Age Aquaman mostly fought against Nazis and other evil. Retroactively, we discover that he was a member of the Pre-Crisis All-Star Squadron, although he only participated in two issues before the effects of the Crisis erased him from history.
While other super-heroes faded as the Golden Age of Comics waned, Aquaman bucked the trend and continued a monthly appearance in Adventure until issue 280. After a couple of bi-monthly appearances in Adventure, the feature was given his own four issue Showcase chance starting with issue 30 (Jan/Feb 1961). This was after he had made his debut with the JLA a year earlier.
While still in Adventure Comics, Aquaman gained a sidekick, Aqualad (Adventure 269, Feb 1960). He had a octopus companion named Topo, and his origian had been updated. He was also drawn by artist Ramona Fradon, one of the very few women to have a regular creative job in comics at the time. Aquaman also began to show up in other features around this time, such as in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #12 (October 1959). But the toppers were still to come...
After the Flash, Lois Lane and Green Lantern all got their own series after Showcase tryouts, the Underwater King finally go a title of his own. Aquaman #1 made its debut in Jan/Feb 1961. Now drawn by the extremely talented Nick Cardy. This series would last until 1971 through 56 bi-monthly issues. (and be revived later for eight more issues during the DC Explosion of 1977). This series introduced some of the more lasting parts of his mythos including: Ocean Master, Black Manta, and the most enduring of all, his wife Mera.
(I particularly love the Justice League members that are wearing breathing helmets. I also note that this issue was three months after the debut of the Teen Titans, and Robin is there yet Wonder Girl and Kid Flash are not.)
During this part of the Silver Age Aquman was appearing regularly in his own title and Justice League of America (where we had constant reminders of his one-hour out of water time limit. "How's it going, Batman I only have 57 minutes left before I have to go in water again..." I am beginning to see why people say he sucks. Just kidding, that line never appeared in a book.) as well as cross-overs into other titles on occasion. This left him with the only other option for 1960s heroes, a cartoon series.
Making it's debut in September 1967, and paired with new cartoons of Superman in the Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, the cartoon series lasted three years finally making it's last original run show in June of 1970. The series mostly featured Aquaman and Aqualad, with their pal Tusky the Walrus (a name that I have given to my children's walrus bath toy: specifically Tusky Goo goo ga joob). This mainstream recognition actually started to get Aquaman into the public eye.
Next time we will continue the story from the end of the 1960s to the 1980s (or later, depending how ambitious I feel.)
Ottawa notes and news.
As mentioned before, Jason Momoa is scheduled to be the Guest of Honour for Ottawa Comiccon 2018. Also scheduled to appear from a comic book perspective is the legendary Neal Adams, and former wunderkid and Editor-in-Chief from Marvel Comics Jim Shooter. (Yes there are others, I will list them now: James O'Barr, Joel (son of Neal) Adams, and Steve Blum).
Shortly I will begin to give short reviews of Ottawa/Gatineau's current comic dealers. If there is anyone in particular you would like to hear about, drop a line in the comments below.
Despite having Dr, Fate on the cover, the above issue (More Fun Comics 73, Nov. 1941) had two surprising long-lived super-hero debuts inside. The first, currently having a renaissance due to the fact that a very successful TV show is on giving the character some much deserved exposure, was Green Arrow. The second, is our subject; he began as the last feature in an eight-page story titled "The Submarine Strikes." In this story we get a small bit of origin, where the character mentions that his father is a famous oceanographer that gave hos son powers to breathe and survive underwater. Using is power to fight evil, his first nemesis are the Nazis (I think this was a trope in all USA pre-war stories in 1941.)
Created by Paul Norris (although for decades Mort Weisinger tried to claim credit.), Aquaman spent his first years in relative obscurity as the last feature (and one of the smallest) in More Fun Comics for a few years (last issue #107), leaving the feature for Adventure Comics with Superboy and Green Arrow starting with issue.
The Golden Age Aquaman mostly fought against Nazis and other evil. Retroactively, we discover that he was a member of the Pre-Crisis All-Star Squadron, although he only participated in two issues before the effects of the Crisis erased him from history.
While other super-heroes faded as the Golden Age of Comics waned, Aquaman bucked the trend and continued a monthly appearance in Adventure until issue 280. After a couple of bi-monthly appearances in Adventure, the feature was given his own four issue Showcase chance starting with issue 30 (Jan/Feb 1961). This was after he had made his debut with the JLA a year earlier.
While still in Adventure Comics, Aquaman gained a sidekick, Aqualad (Adventure 269, Feb 1960). He had a octopus companion named Topo, and his origian had been updated. He was also drawn by artist Ramona Fradon, one of the very few women to have a regular creative job in comics at the time. Aquaman also began to show up in other features around this time, such as in Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #12 (October 1959). But the toppers were still to come...
After the Flash, Lois Lane and Green Lantern all got their own series after Showcase tryouts, the Underwater King finally go a title of his own. Aquaman #1 made its debut in Jan/Feb 1961. Now drawn by the extremely talented Nick Cardy. This series would last until 1971 through 56 bi-monthly issues. (and be revived later for eight more issues during the DC Explosion of 1977). This series introduced some of the more lasting parts of his mythos including: Ocean Master, Black Manta, and the most enduring of all, his wife Mera.
During this part of the Silver Age Aquman was appearing regularly in his own title and Justice League of America (where we had constant reminders of his one-hour out of water time limit. "How's it going, Batman I only have 57 minutes left before I have to go in water again..." I am beginning to see why people say he sucks. Just kidding, that line never appeared in a book.) as well as cross-overs into other titles on occasion. This left him with the only other option for 1960s heroes, a cartoon series.
Making it's debut in September 1967, and paired with new cartoons of Superman in the Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, the cartoon series lasted three years finally making it's last original run show in June of 1970. The series mostly featured Aquaman and Aqualad, with their pal Tusky the Walrus (a name that I have given to my children's walrus bath toy: specifically Tusky Goo goo ga joob). This mainstream recognition actually started to get Aquaman into the public eye.
Next time we will continue the story from the end of the 1960s to the 1980s (or later, depending how ambitious I feel.)
Ottawa notes and news.
As mentioned before, Jason Momoa is scheduled to be the Guest of Honour for Ottawa Comiccon 2018. Also scheduled to appear from a comic book perspective is the legendary Neal Adams, and former wunderkid and Editor-in-Chief from Marvel Comics Jim Shooter. (Yes there are others, I will list them now: James O'Barr, Joel (son of Neal) Adams, and Steve Blum).
Shortly I will begin to give short reviews of Ottawa/Gatineau's current comic dealers. If there is anyone in particular you would like to hear about, drop a line in the comments below.
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