Ripples Through Time - 085
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 #152 (May 1950) - Don't Go Near The Water!
Just as he's about to embark on a coast-to-coast swim across America, Aquaman is doused with a chemical that makes it impossible for him to touch water.
Another story in which Aquaman cannot touch water for over 48 hours! We last saw this theme in Adventure #107, when exposure to radiation made Aquaman unable to touch water.
In order to swim across the country without touching water, Aquaman first dives into a giant glass of champagne, then various vats of dye (blue, red, green), then caustic soda and sulphuric acid, then orange juice (freshly squeezed... er, crushed), then milk (which he churns into butter), then mercury (!!), then cactus juice, then crude oil. As he leaves the oil pipe, he stops some thieves and dives into water after them, much to the astonishment of the camera crew following his every move. Aquaman explains that the oil sealed him from the water.
Finny Friends Report: The splash page has a cute image of Aquaman on a rock surrounded by confused finny friends, and on the final page Aquaman is talking to a fish about his adventure.
Quotefile: Camera crew, as Aquaman dives into vats of dye, "Great stuff, Aquaman! You're graceful as a porpoise!" Aquaman, diving into red dye, "If you're calling me a poor fish, notice how read my face is about to turn!"
With the next issue of Adventure Comics, DC decided to try out alternating Aquaman with The Shining Knight. As it worked out, Aquaman and the Shining Knight alternated in issues of Adventures Comics until Aquaman's 10th Anniversary in Adventure Comics #170. Aquaman was meant to appear in the even-numbered issues, and did so except for Adventure Comics #166, which featured a second Shining Knight story in a row. The Aquaman story possibly meant for 166 was published in 167... with new Aquaman artist Ramona Fradon. Make of that what you will.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Just as he's about to embark on a coast-to-coast swim across America, Aquaman is doused with a chemical that makes it impossible for him to touch water.
Another story in which Aquaman cannot touch water for over 48 hours! We last saw this theme in Adventure #107, when exposure to radiation made Aquaman unable to touch water.
In order to swim across the country without touching water, Aquaman first dives into a giant glass of champagne, then various vats of dye (blue, red, green), then caustic soda and sulphuric acid, then orange juice (freshly squeezed... er, crushed), then milk (which he churns into butter), then mercury (!!), then cactus juice, then crude oil. As he leaves the oil pipe, he stops some thieves and dives into water after them, much to the astonishment of the camera crew following his every move. Aquaman explains that the oil sealed him from the water.
Finny Friends Report: The splash page has a cute image of Aquaman on a rock surrounded by confused finny friends, and on the final page Aquaman is talking to a fish about his adventure.
Quotefile: Camera crew, as Aquaman dives into vats of dye, "Great stuff, Aquaman! You're graceful as a porpoise!" Aquaman, diving into red dye, "If you're calling me a poor fish, notice how read my face is about to turn!"
With the next issue of Adventure Comics, DC decided to try out alternating Aquaman with The Shining Knight. As it worked out, Aquaman and the Shining Knight alternated in issues of Adventures Comics until Aquaman's 10th Anniversary in Adventure Comics #170. Aquaman was meant to appear in the even-numbered issues, and did so except for Adventure Comics #166, which featured a second Shining Knight story in a row. The Aquaman story possibly meant for 166 was published in 167... with new Aquaman artist Ramona Fradon. Make of that what you will.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
Labels: Ripples Through Time
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