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Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 076

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 #143 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #143 (August 1949) - The Second Robinson Crusoe!

Phineas Pike is stranded while out testing his new boat, but his deserted island turns out to be a hideout for Black Jack.

Strange splash page... it shows Robinson Crusoe stunned as he finds the footprint, but Black Jack is behind a rock aiming a gun at him while Aquaman leaps at Black Jack from above (not from the water). To finish off the level of surreal, the Sea Sleuth is watching the whole thing from a handy spot on a cliff. Crusoe himself never actually appears in the story, as Phineas takes that role.

Finny Friends Report: Phineas uses the beak of a dead swordfish as a saw, gets a turtle to haul logs for him, and somehow gets seals to assist in building a log cabin. He takes a shower by standing in a spot that a bull-whale like to "blow off steam" at. Aquaman has fish crowd around Black Jack's boat to stop it from moving, but is foiled when Black Jack's crew pours tar on him. Sharks chase off his fish. Later, on the island, he throws fish at Black Jack and his crew to attract sea gulls, then throws sea gull eggs at the crew. He has a walrus and giant sea turtle sit in Black Jack's rowboat to prevent escape.

Captured/Knocked Out report: None in this story, unless you count Phineas crashing his boat and saying "Glub!" a couple of times.

Quotefile: Opening text box, summing up the entire story, "Who can forget the thrilling saga of Robinson Crusoe, stranded on a deserted island, valiantly battling against all odds to survive? But his feat is now duplicated by none other than the Sea Sleuth, Mastermind of the Marine, Sherlock Holmes of the Sea! And as a crowning touch, he aids Aquaman, King of the Waves, in foiling notorious Black Jack! All this and more results when the Sea Sleuth becomes... The Second Robinson Crusoe!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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posted by Tegan at 9:51 PM - permalink - 0 comments

Monday, February 05, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 074

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #141 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #141 (June 1949) - Return of the Sea Sleuth!

Aquaman starts to teach Phineas Pike how to swim when he notices a stray fishing boat and goes to warn them, only to fall into a trap.

The opening splash page has nothing to do with the rest of the story, except that it shows all three principal characters. Aquaman is tied up and being guarded by two thugs, while Black Jack stalks Phineas Pike, who is studying footprints in sand.

Nice bit of wordplay between Aquaman and Phineas at the start of the story, as Aquaman comments on Phineas' sign ("Sleuth of the Sea/Marine Mastermind/Wizard of the Waves/Phineas Pike/Cases Solved--/Cheap") then tells Phineas he's going to learn how to swim. Aquaman starts to teach him to swim, and says, "Elementary, isn't it, my dear Phineas?" Apparently not, as Phineas still is unable to swim at the end of the tale.

Aquaman follows Black Jack and the phony Aquaman to a water carnival, where Aquaman (the double) is presented with a small box of pearls in honor of the work he does for all seafaring folk. The double was to bring the pearls back to Black Jack, but he's interrupted by the real Aquaman. Phineas figures out that Black Jack wouldn't bother with a disguise for his ship at the water carnival, since a pirate ship would only be expected at a carnival like that.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman sends a fish to find Phineas, as his sea friends apparently can't open the box he's in. Phineas rides his giant sea turtle, which he calls "Myrtle" in this tale, out to Aquaman's location. Aquaman rides a dolphin as he follows Black Jack's trail. Aquaman puts a lobster in the pearl box which pinches Black Jack when he opens it.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is captured in a fishing net when he goes to warn the stray boat that the fishing in the local waters is very poor. Black Jack shows Aquaman his double, then locks him in a steel fish-proof box, which he dumps into Black Bay.

Quotefile: Phineas, looking at a fish that just bit him, "But this is a corealis porcel, native only to Black Bay! Why did it come here, to strange waters? It must have been sent! Deduction -- Aquaman sent it!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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posted by Tegan at 9:45 PM - permalink - 0 comments

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 073

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #140 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #140 (May 1949) - The Sleuth of the Sea!

Phineas Pike, a master detective who knows everything there is to know about the sea, is unemployed and looking for a job.

The introduction of a new repeating character happens in this story, as we meet Phineas Pike, the Sea Sleuth, for the first time. Phineas is a Sherlock Holmes wannabe, even down to wearing a deerstalker, who uses small clues to figure out details. Like figuring out where a ship docks based on the barnacles on its hull. He also knows how to ride a giant turtle by using a fish as a lure to keep it moving forward. He can tell the age of a fish by looking at its teeth. And figures out where a message in a bottle came from using a map of currents. Aquaman takes advantage of Phineas' skills, and they apparently work well together as a team.

Phineas likes using the Latin names for fish species. He refers to a salvelinus fontinalis, a coralima equatis, and the chelonia major he uses as a steed. He also inadvertantly reveals to Aquaman that he cannot swim.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman is visiting the Aquarium to deliver a rare fish from Madagascar. He has a clam squirt a thug in the face, then when they try to escape to a boat, he has two sharks stop them. Phineas rides a giant turtle, not under Aquaman's command, to stay with the action. Aquaman has an octopus throw him aboard the ship he's attacking. Then he has his fish friends weave a net, which he throws over the bad guys after electric eels shock the guns out of their hands. When Phineas falls off his giant turtle, Aquaman has an octopus rescue him.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Not in this story.

Quotefile: Aquaman, "The Sleuth of the Sea! The Wizard of the Waves! The Marine Mastermind! But he can't swim!?!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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posted by Tegan at 9:56 PM - permalink - 0 comments