New "Facts Page" for this issue

SUMMARY:

Steve Sender wants to become like Aquaman, and Aquaman offers to make him able to breathe underwater, but he wouldn't be amphibious.

OVERVIEW:

After seeing Aquaman perform at a charity Aquacade, Steve Sender decided to devote his life to becoming more like Aquaman. After rescuing two men from a crashed airplane, he thinks he's ready. But he inadvertantly puts himself in danger trying to help Aquaman with a submarine. But not long after he rescues Aquaman, and becomes over-confident. Aquaman decides to teach him a lesson.

Aquaman tells Steve that an operation can make him a water-breather, but not amphibious. But before Aquaman will allow the operation to take place, Steve must pass three tests. Steve takes him up on the offer, but fails. Aquaman suggests he become a Life Guard, instead.

COMMENTS:

The splash page has nothing to do with the story. Aquaman, riding a whale, is going past a beach of surprised people who watch as his fishy friends frolic.

The stunt that impressed Steve so much was a dive into a flaming pool. Aquaman stayed under for over five minutes, a goal that Steve constantly tried to attain. Steve practices constantly for years, trying to become amphibious. After he rescues the men from the crashed plane, he makes friends with newspapermen who follow Aquaman around, so he can prove himself to Aquaman.

Aquaman says "The operation my father performed on me is known only to one living surgeon!" This makes it clear that the Golden Age Aquaman is not Atlantean. He's an American who can live underwater and somehow communicates with fish.

CONCLUSION:

A lot of story packed into seven pages.