Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 118

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order. After I read each story I will post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #194 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #194 (November 1953) - The Outlaw Navy!

"Admiral" Duko gathers a fleet of surplus war vessels and commits piracy on the high seas in force, until he meets with Aquaman.

The villains have an interesting slant in this story. I can think of a lot of reasons it wouldn't work in the real world... including the pain that would be inflicted on them by regular navies once word of their exploits spread. But in the DCU Aquaman takes care of it really quick.

Lots of downsides to bad guys creating a navy. They have to get the ships, outfit them properly, train men, then drill discipline into thugs. The costs far outweigh the benefits, especially once they are split between the entire fleet.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides his sea cow to the action. An octopus snags a member of the outlaw fleet for Aquaman to question. Aquaman gathers his finny friends into a navy. Whales form the ships of the fleet. Eels send messages. Octopi spread ink which the whales spout into the air to form a smoke screen. Pilot fish re-aim torpedoes back at the outlaw navy. Eels guide sea turtles painted as mines near the outlaws to scare them into giving up.

Quotefile: Ship captain, "Great scott, Aquaman... you can't fight a whole naval force by yourself! What are you going to do?" Aquaman, "I... er... was just asking myself that same question!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?

0 comments: