Aquaman. Arthur Curry. (Not many people remember that.) The King Of The Seven Seas. (Not many people remember that, either.) Why, oh why does the hero whose battleground is potentially 3/4ths of the planet treated so poorly by that group of fans who need every hero to be overpowered (the allegation against Superman) without being overpowered (in Batman’s case) and can’t seem to realize Aquaman is actually pretty cool.
“Because he just talks to fish”.
Don’t knock it. It works. He has a literal ocean of soldiers. Do you know how many kings would have killed for that? Or would-be kings? Why do you think his half-brother Ocean Man is so jealous? And yet, because we can’t leave good enough alone because our gods must be literal (tell that to Neptune), writer Jeremy Adams has decided to make Aquaman powerful enough to take a punch from Superman to prove he’s a “real man” or some crap. Of course he also killed off Mera and gay black Aqualad because you aren’t allowed to have a happy backstory in the DC universe anymore so everybody can be Batman broody. Can you see why I don’t read modern DC Comics? DiDio’s Darker DC lives on even with DiDio no longer there to keep the necromancy going.
How fitting that I learn this just when I’m ready to do another Free Comic Inside article, and thanks to the rotation and inability to find another of the Superman/Kellogg’s Sugar Smacks minicomics it’s time to return to Kenner’s Super Powers Collection, and it just happens to be Aquaman’s turn at bat? Kenner released Aquaman as part of their first series of figures, and why wouldn’t they? He was one of the first Superfriends, and had his own Filmation cartoon segment back in the 1960s. Contrary to what the “cooler than you” adults say now, as I kid I thought Aquaman was actually pretty cool. Yes, even his ability to command sea life to help save ships and capture baddies. He’s also the only one who didn’t need a helmet to go underwater while even Superman couldn’t hold his breath that long. (Hanna-Barbera seemed to think there was air in space but everyone still had to wear a fishbowl with no air tanks attached except for Superman and Green Lantern.) He was also smart, resourceful, and could hold his own when the story needed him to. His only restrictions came from Saturday morning rules and a terrible first season that still saw some great ocean rescues.
Penguins around the world are disappointed in Oswald’s fishing skills.
Super Powers: Aquaman
DC Comics/Kenner (1984)
It’s still disappointing that these comics don’t have credits. We don’t know who wrote or drew them, which is a a shame. These have been pretty good for the short time they have. The Super Powers stories usually see heroes teaming up, with the toy featured still taking center stage, and whatever random villain with a figure in the line they could grab. Well, except for the villain figures where they just got beat by a hero.
Aquaman’s figure had a “Power Sea Action Kick” feature that made him swim (most likely through the air pretending to be underwater for kids) and his trident. Will either play a part in this story? I mean, he will be swimming. He’s Aquaman and the story takes place in the water.
Specifically, we open in the new seaside aquarium in Central City. I didn’t even know Central City, home of the Flash, was on the coast. In fact the DC Fandom wiki puts it in Missouri, across the river from Keystone City in Kansas. And Superman went all the way to Metropolis to become a superhero. Then again, Central City has apparently also been in Ohio. Never heard of a city going on tour unless it came from Cybertron, but there you go. If it sounds like I’m getting off track, remember that we’re looking at a 13 page comic (not counting covers) that’s so small it’s lucky to get three panels. Padding this into a full article feels necessary. Still, don’t want to turn into Op-Center, so let’s move on.
The Penguin shows up to steal the penguins. I think Oswald is letting his gimmick get to him. These aren’t even diamond statues or something. They’re just ordinary penguins and you already had to go far from Gotham to get them. Just go to Antarctica. The place is full of them, and given that this is an offshoot of the Super Friends universe it shouldn’t be hard going there. Yes, they’re emperor penguins, supposedly rare, but they’re still penguins. I don’t see the market for them unless he’s going to ransom them to the aquarium…because of course a new aquarium just recently opened for business has a ton of money? Sorry, still not seeing it.
This being Central City, of course the Flash shows up to stop them. Aquaman’s city is Atlantis, and you’d think this would be about him protecting his home, but instead we get Central City and the Flash. Penguin uses a series of self-flying exploding umbrellas to distract the hero, and he and his minions (one of whom is named Storky–poor schmuck) make their escape on a boat. Sure, it wouldn’t be the first time Flash ran on water, but even he knows when to call in an expert, and so calls in Aquaman.
You would never convince child me or anyone who has been to an aquarium show that this isn’t cool.
And Aquaman comes riding in on top of dolphins and catching up to the speedboat. Your argument is invalid!
If you don’t think that’s cool, you’re one of those people who tried to shut down aquariums and performing animal shows. Could you get a dolphin to do this? By the way, dolphins are not fish. Aquaman’s power besides breathing underwater is to command sea life (or just talk to them if the writer is an animal lover or can get a gag out of it). If someone were chasing me on dolphins with a large trident I would not be casual about it. I am not the Penguin, though. I also don’t have an umbrella that shoots little umbrellas. I wouldn’t want one, but again, I’m not the Penguin.
It’s okay. Aquaman has read 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, so he sends a giant octopus to grab the boat. As you do. While Nemo’s nightmare grabs Storky and his unnamed friend (probably Gull or something), Penguin tries to use the distraction to escape. I’m guessing the penguins are in the hold because we never see them until the end of the story. They may want to put on their little seatbelts.
First Nemo, now Moby Dick. Oswald needs to read more.
So Aquaman blocks his path with a whale! Take that, Team Four Star!!!! WHALES!
I’m just Saiyan, they may not stop space invaders, but they can stop Colin Ferrell. Oh sure, he tries to use his flying umbrella to at least get himself away…
In hindsight I should have saved this for Four Color Combat.
…but apparently he hasn’t seen Flipper, either. Sing along, now:
He and Flash also take time to add further insult back at the aquarium, where Penguin, Storky, and Whoknows get to be part of the seal and octopus act…as the beach balls. Which you had your toy’s giant mallet not I bet, Pengy. Yeah, so please don’t tell me Aquaman isn’t a good hero. He might have others doing the hard work, but he just attacked villains with Flipper, the Kraken, and Moby Dick. Anytime you can embarrass the supervillain back into prison is a good day to be Aquaman.
Next time we complete another series with the Atari “quest” comics. Don’t put your swimsuit away just yet, because we’re going to Waterworld in our Swordquest.
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