Saturday, December 23, 2006

Ripples Through Time - 043

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.

Adventure #109 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #109 (October 1946) - The Waters of the World!

Doctor Roamer's Aquatic Museum has genuine water from oceans and lakes around the world, while a writer has a theory about an underwater gold mine, and then Aquaman gets involved.

Aquaman rescues a drowning man, who turns out to be a chemist and oceanologist. The man was writing a book about the oceans, and had reached a chapter where he theorized that all the gold in seawater came from one single immense gold mine. If you had samples of water from around the world, you might be able to locate the mine. In a fun coincidence, Doctor Roamer's Aquatic Museum, which has genuine water from around the world, sails into port. Aquaman sets up a trap to get the man's manuscript back from the thieves by becoming part of Roamer's aquarium and letting the thugs know that he's also looking for the gold mine. It works. And, incidently, Aquaman figures out where the gold mine would be... five miles underwater.

Another reference to Aquaman's abilities, this time using the word "telepathical": "The man who has swum the seven seas speaks in the strange telepathical language of the fish." Is this the first time it's referred to as telepathy?

Finny Friends Report: A flying fish knocks the gun out of a thug's hand as he's about to shoot Aquaman.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman tips over the thugs boat, and as it is tipping an "unexpected wave" brings the boat down on Aquaman's head and knocks him out. Yes, he managed to knock himself out.

Quotefile: Doctor Roamer, "*sigh* I'd need only one more exhibit to make my aquarium complete -- Aquaman! *sigh* However, I'm afraid that will never be!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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