New "Facts Page" for this issue

SUMMARY:

Aquaman runs across a ship whaling in restricted waters, and learns that the captain is totally clueless.

OVERVIEW:

Horace Nelson has always wanted to go to sea, but he had to stay home to help his mother run the store, while his friend Peter Reeks lived his dream. Years later, Reeks returned to Cactus Gulch and convinced Nelson to buy a whaling ship and act as Captain, with Reeks as first officer. But it's really a scheme to allow Reeks and his crew to indulge in illegal whaling, with the blame landing on Nelson. Aquaman figures it out, and reveals Reeks' treachery to Nelson, who decides to learn about the sea the proper way, as a student and not Captain.

COMMENTS:

Aquaman is playing tag with whales when Nelson's whaling ship tries to score one. Later, Aquaman gets the whales to bring a patrol ship quickly to the whaler.

Aquaman suddenly has "Mysterious Magic" that allows him to summon aid from the fish. This is different from previous stories I've reviewed, where he can talk to fish, but not summon them to him.

There are a couple of nice panels of Aquaman standing on flying fish and leaping onto the ship with the fishes' help.

Because Nelson can't go to sea, he reads a lot of books about the sea. The result is an imperfect knowledge that tips off Aquaman when he gives silly commands like "Ho there ye Lubbers! Luff yer rudder hard a-port to sta'board!"

CONCLUSION:

A fun little tale, with a subtle moral about believing everything you read.