Friday, November 10, 2006

Ripples Through Time - 010

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.

More Fun #81 Aquaman Splash Page
More Fun #81 (July 1942) - Champ of the Waves

After another man claims to have saved a woman that Aquaman just rescued, Aquaman starts to give swimming lessons.

The opening text box is yet another telling of his origin, complete with explanation of Aquaman's headquarters:
Greatest wonder of the Deep -- Aquaman!

His scientist-father trained and taught him from childhood to live and rule in the ocean, great source of life and strength -- Today, he is ruler of the waves and of the depths beneath them where he can live indefinitely, outswimming the fleetest of fishes and outfighting the fiercest monsters of the water -- human or animal! His headquarters is a temple of the drowned city of Atlantis from which he fares forth to keep the seven seas free of oppression and danger!
Aquaman cheats to help George Riggs win the Semi-Finals and thus make it to the big race. Apparently Riggs wins the final by himself... Humber is in league with a bunch of gamblers and must win the final, which makes it very strange that he suggests the Riggs should enter the marathon after he finds out Riggs can swim after all... All this trouble was to impress Riggs' girl Dotty... Roder tries to kill Aquaman by holding him underwater, as he reasons that Aquaman will drown since he doesn't have a mask. Apparently the tale of who Aquaman is hasn't reached this area yet... the fish that notifies Aquaman of drownings manages to look nervous when it reports the second one. Too much excitement for the little fish?

Finny Friends Report: A fish reports to Aquaman when it sees a woman drowning, and leads Aquaman to the victim. Later, apparently the same fish leads Aquaman to the drowning Riggs. A swordfish helps Aquaman open the trunk that Riggs was stuffed into.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman isn't captured or knocked out in this story!

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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