OVERVIEW:

Aquaman is being rushed to a hospital, with Mera looking on. She thinks back to how she was captured, in the whirlpool by exiled thieves from Atlantis who knew to hold her hands so she couldn't use her powers. She was taken in a surfacer submarine, as her captors talked about getting paid by their boss, Narkran.

Once on the surface, they put her in a water-filled cell and warned her no to try anything, or they would pump out the water. The surfacers planned to use their artificial whirlpool and Mera's powers to capture ships.

To get her to help them, they claimed to have Aquaman, so she agreed. Days later she was freed from her cell (by Aquaman, when he was battling the big boss), and she tried to find Aquaman. She got to the water, only to see Aquaman caught in the whirlpool... when the explosion hit, she managed to catch Aquaman in a hardwater bubble, then dragged him to the surface. And now they were on the way to a surfacer hospital that had been given special instructions on how to deal with Aquaman.

Back in Atlantis, Vulko thinks that the earthquakes are volcanic in origin, and are pushing the city toward the surface. Narkran claims that this will fulfil the prophecy that the city will rise to the surface and take its place among the kingdoms of the surface world. Vulko recognizes the madness in Narkran, and like Tula wishes that Aquaman were around to stop it.

Tula, in another part of the city, uncovers a group of Atlanteans who intend to do just that. Mupo, the leader of the revolutionaries, tells her they can wait for Aquaman no longer, the tyrant must be overthrown!

Later, getting out of the hospital, Aquaman and Mera hurry to the city to deal with Narkran.

COMMENTS:

A cover that has absolutely nothing to do with what actually happens in the story (else Mera should be carrying Aquaman). And the horns are silly.

This is Mera's story, not Aquaman's. Too bad we once again abandon Aqualad to his fight, with only one panel devoted to that event.

Vulko is becoming more important to the storyline, slowly but surely.

Just read through the letter page to remind yourself how inconsequential single fans are. Vote with your dollars.

This story is reprinted in Adventure Comics #497 (Mar 1983).

CONCLUSION:

Rating: 9

Everything is resolved... or is it? What about Narkran? And poor Aqualad?