New "Facts Page" for this issue

SUMMARY:

Aquaman finds a message in a bottle warning sailors away from the Sargasso Sea, so naturally he goes there to find out what is happening.

OVERVIEW:

Traveling out of the regular shipping lanes, Aquaman finds a bottle with a message warning all sailors away from the Sargasso Sea. Aquaman takes it as an invitation, and heads for the South Atlantic. When he gets near, he sees a ship headed into the thick seaweed, and tries to warn them, but the crew is frozen. After being attacked by two masked men and gassed, Aquaman falls overboard and into the depths. The pressure snaps him out of it, and he trails the ship into the seaweed.

In the middle of the Sargasso is an island of seaweed ruled by a pirate king, Master Sargasso. Aquaman recruits a pirate helper and uses the deep-sea pressure to wake up the gassed prisoners. The prisoners revolt against the pirates. The pirates try to send a burning ship filled with explosives among their former prisoners, but Aquaman sends it back to the pirates, who are killed when it explodes.

COMMENTS:

The splash page has Aquaman, carrying a sea-shell shield, fighting against the masked henchmen of Master Sargasso. The bad guys are wearing red scuba gear that covers their faces, red briefs, green shoes, and little else. They are carrying swords, and a few of them also have guns.

We never learn who sent the warning message in the bottle. That's the only flaw in this story, I think.

Master Sargasso is so upset that Aquaman was gassed and fell overboard that he gasses the henchman who did it, and throws him into the water. That guy becomes Aquaman's helper once Aquaman saves him. The former henchman explains the gas to Aquaman, and the way they get onto ships to gass the crews. He also lists Master Sargasso's crimes: piracy, mutiny, and murder. Sargasso looks too old to be such a criminal, but maybe he's been hanging about the Sea for too long.

At the end fo the story, Aquaman is offered command of the fleet of freed ships. He declines (with a speech) and swims off into the open waves.

The art is strong, as usual. Dynamic and interesting, any modern artist could learn a thing or two from Norris. Particularly good bits (in my opinion) include Aquaman's opening pose on the splash page, his leap aboard a ship on the second page, virtually the whole fight on the third page (clean and easy to follow), most of the rest of the pages (...) and the fifth panel on the last page of the story, in which Aquaman is about to leap into the water. You may get the idea that I really like Norris' art. You'd be right.

Master Sargasso is apparently the strange new enemy mentioned in the last issue of More Fun Comics. This story's next issue box says "Black Jack Next!!" Too bad I haven't got a copy of that issue.

There was an article in the November 1998 Smithsonian about the Sargasso Sea that explains a few things that are left unsaid in this story. For the most part, though, all you need to know is that the Sargasso Sea is a place where the ocean currents seem to stop and the seaweed grows thick.

This review was made possible by the Microcolour microfiche reprint of this issue.

This story's title was taken from the opening text box.

Other notables about this issue: Superman's Secret Message (Code Saturn No 5) IJKJSI DTZW HTZSYWD GD GZDNSL IJKJSXJ XYFRUX!, a short text story "Strange Acquaintance" by Norman Goss, a half-page Shorty cartoon, a half-page Private Pete cartoon, a one page Clancy the Cop cartoon and a one-page Chief Hot Foot cartoon all by Henry Boltinoff, a cookie recipe made with Baby Ruth candy bars.

CONCLUSION:

A strong story.