Friday, January 26, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 067

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 #134 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #134 (November 1948) - Exiled from the Sea!

Aquaman is attacked by all his marine friends after putting out a chemical fire, and is exiled from the ocean for 30 days.

Lots of newspapers in this one, all with headlines that shouldn't be announced to the world when Black Jack is about. The Bulletin says, "Aquaman Exiled From The Sea!" and The Trumpet says, "King of the Sea to Be Landlubber for 30 Days!" and The Star says "Monarch of the Waves "Grounded"!" No surprise that a later headline is "Black Jack Plunders Seven Seas, Unguarded by Aquaman!" Apparently, there weren't any medical privacy laws in 1948, much to the dismay of Black Jack's victims.

Chemical names on the barrels near Aquaman during the fire: Propylene, Ethyl Carbolate, Hexene Dichloride, Methylate, and Carnotite. No, I really don't know what they are, or why they'd all be on one ship next to one another.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman gets seals to help him put out the fire by forming a bucket brigade. When Aquaman enters the water, he's attacked by an octopus, giant turtle, sharks, dolphin, sworfish, and whales. When Black Jack knocks him into the ocean, Aquaman is chased out by sharks. At the end of the tale, we see Aquaman hanging out with all the fishy friends who attacked him except the sharks.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman has to be rescued by a passing ship after he first is attacked. After Black Jack knocks him into the water, he is forced to outswim the sharks.

Quotefile: Doctor, "I'm afraid it will take 30 days for a new growth of skin to replace your stained skin! There is no way of removing those chemicals from your skin!" Aquaman, "You mean--?" Doctor, "Yes, Aquaman! Stay out of the sea for 30 days!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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