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Wednesday, August 22, 2007


Ripples of Note

I just wanted to point out that I'm well over a quarter of the way through Aquaman's stories, and the stupid "one-hour out of water" weakness still has not come up. Reading ahead a little, I think I might have found the start... but I'll have to see for sure once I get there. Keep reading. But I can say with absolute certainty that the Golden Age Aquaman had NO one-hour limit. He could live on land indefinitely.

On another topic, you can argue that the Silver Age started when Martian Manhunter, the first uniquely Silver Age character, was introduced in Detective #225 (November 1955). Or you can argue that it started with the appearance of the Silver Age Flash in Showcase #4 (October 1956). As for me, I judge that every character's Silver Age started in different places, and agree with Mike's well-reasoned theory that Aquaman's Silver Age started in Adventure #229 (October 1956) with the first appearance of Topo, Aquaman's trusted Octopus pal. All the important Silver Age events in Aquaman's life started after this story, including his accumulation of supporting cast and recurring locations.

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Saturday, August 11, 2007


Gloves Through Time

I think I needed that two month hiatus on my Ripples Through Time posts. I just noticed that I forgot to mention when Aquaman's gloves turned green for the first time! That was just before I took my break.

I've gone back and added that information to those entries, and I'll continue to report on the glove color until it stabilizes as green (in 1960). But for now I'll catch everyone up.

From More Fun #73 until Adventure Comics #210, Aquaman's gloves were always colored yellow. They matched his belt and hair, and for a long time the fins on his legs. Aquaman's fins went green much earlier, in part because of shadowing issues in the artwork. Around Adventure #145 the fins go green with only a few retro moments after that. I think maybe I'll cover that in a later post.

Back to the gloves, in Adventure #211, the gloves turned green for the first time. The color varied from story to story until Adventure #270. Starting with Adventure #271, green became the permanent color. Here's a handy-dandy list of what color the gloves were in each issue.
  • Green: Adventure #211, 213, 215, 218, 220-222, 224-226, 228-232, 234-237, 239-240, 242-245, 247, 249-257, 264-265, 267, 271 on

  • Yellow: More Fun #73-Adventure #210, 212, 214, 216-217, 219, 223, 227, 233, 238, 241, 246, 248, 258-263, 266, 268-270

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Monday, August 06, 2007


Ripples Through Time - Update

I haven't done a Ripples Through Time post in a couple of months, mostly because I messed up some links and needed to fix them, and being a lazy sort of webmistress I put it off for entirely too long. I was also getting a bit burned out trying to do one a day. I know, I know... I don't have to do one every day. But I was trying.

I got through 135 stories so far, out of over 500 (Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #57 will be 514 by my count). I'm only counting Aquaman's solo adventures, not his guest appearances in other books or his role in the Justice League. Those adventures will come later, after I've finished my survey of the solo stories.

In the stories I've read I've learned that Aquaman is a friend to all honest sailors, that he doesn't much care about his reputation as long as he can do good, that he will always help the US Navy, that Aquaman fills many roles on the ocean including fire-fighter, doctor, jailer, banker, and movie consultant. Aquaman is a buddy to most sea life, but some sea life doesn't know him. Aquaman is actively involved in conservation efforts, but doesn't mind humans fishing or whaling as long as they do it responsibly. Aquaman doesn't have any limits to his out of water time, but he is weakened by intense heat and lack of moisture. Aquaman has extraordinary strength, but usually uses his brain to solve problems (which is why the Sea Sleuth didn't catch on, as Aquaman was already smart and didn't need him). Aquaman's first recurring partner was Ark the Sea Lion (or seal, depending on the story) and his first recurring villain was Black Jack the Modern Pirate.

One of the links I set up is the archive of Ripples Through Time. I have a link for the first 100 Ripples, and the second 100 Ripples will eventually have their space, too.

And so... tomorrow... Ripples Through Time will continue!

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