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.
While chasing smugglers, Aquaman is shrunk to the size of a doll.
Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides the octopus (still not named) at the beginning of the tale.
Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is shrunk by the boss of the smugglers and nearly stepped on. The remainder of the story is about his efforts to get to normal size by reaching the shrink ray equipment.
Aqua-Exclamations: "Great Catfish!"
Glove Color: Green.
Regular Supporting Cast: Topo
Quotefile: Aquaman, thinking, "...I'll have to find liquids on the way, since I can't live out of water too long!"
This is the first ever story that makes the claim that Aquaman cannot live out of the ocean for very long. That statement is contradicted many times before in the Golden Age, with Aquaman even visiting a desert to get away from water in one story. This is just another data point that strengthens the argument that this is the Silver Age Aquaman, instead of the Golden Age version.
Please note that there is no actual amount of time indicated, but Aquaman goes from one liquid to another as quickly as possible so as to stay immersed as much as possible. His travels take him from a tropical fish tank, to the drinks in a mobile hot dog stand, to the milk a milkman is carrying, into a blast from a water hose, then up the gutters of the house in the rain.
This is the second time Aquaman is shrunk, as we saw that theme before in Adventure #212. In that story he thought he might have been dreaming. In this story he's not only well aware what happened, but he even knows about the shrinking ray having been stolen. And he demonstrates it for the coast guard officers who arrive to help him by making the ship full size in a suburban backyard. It obviously wasn't a secret shrinking ray.
Have you read this story? What do you think?
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