Thursday, January 04, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 048

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 #114 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #114 (March 1947) - Skyscraper Aquarium!

Aquaman is helping a twelve story Aquarium raise funds, but Black Jack plans to use the opportunity to deal with Aquaman once and for all.

The new Aquarium is twelve stories high and "built of solid glass". Lots of problems with this, from the weight of the water in the aquarium to the effect of sunlight on the sea creatures in the building. And they make a point of saying that the animals are "deep sea creatures" that would be most likely hurt by light.

The next amusing problem is that Aquaman (and the staff of the Aquarium) checked the tanks to make sure none of the fish were missing, but none of them noticed that the octopus was a robot, the jelly fish an electric trap, and that the "Killer Shark" was actually a guy named Spike with a rifle.

Yes... this is the story with the single best ever panel in Aquaman history.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman doesn't actually get help from the fish in this story, but he spends a few panels describing them to interested crowds.

Captured/Knocked Out report: He's slowed down, but never captured or knocked out.

Quotefile: Guards, "But I tell you, Aquaman, we were attacked last night!" Aquaman, "Hmm.. But none of my fish friends are missing! We've checked every tank..."

Have you read this story? What do you think?

0 comments: