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.
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