Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Ripples Through Time - 170

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 #247 Aquaman Splash Page
Adventure #247 (April 1958) - Aquaman's Super Sea-Squad

A nuclear projectile designed to explode in outer space lands in the ocean, and Aquaman must deliver it to the Army before the timer runs out.

Glove Color: Green.

Regular Supporting Cast: Topo.

Quotefile: Aquaman, losing hope, "It... It's a losing battle! Unless I find some way to cover the last few miles faster than I or any creature can swim! I won't get there in time! I -- I must think!"

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman rides on Topo. A group of octopi carry the missile off the ocean floor. Two whales tow the missile for many miles. Electric eels build up a charge and create a channel for Aquaman. Giant lobsters carry the missile over miles. Swordfish carry the missile on a platform. Whales tow it again with phosphorescent fish indicating the whales' place in the fog. A giant clam squeezes green pigment over the missile to disguise it. The sea monster carries the missile to its nesting grounds. Octopi lift the missile onto an ancient catapult in the Sargasso Sea. A whale prevents the missile from being jolted when it lands.

I love discoveries like this: Aquaman describes the Maracot Deep as a bottomless pit that descends from the ocean floor. He knows that a sea monster lives in the pit. But over here in the real world, The Maracot Deep is a novel by Arthur Conan Doyle written in 1929... about the discovery of Atlantis!

Aquaman has to go through an area with "a terrible whirlpool on the right... and to the left, a strong backwash that would smash us into those rocks!" In other words, the Scylla and Charybdis. Well, sort of. Eh, I was amused at least.

There's something really pleasant about three Army soldiers terrified to see a nuclear missile that they launched headed right toward them. I almost expected Aquaman to chew them out for letting such a dangerous bomb land in the ocean. Instead he simply talks about how wonderful his sea friends were for coming through and getting the projectile safely to the Army base so it can be disarmed.

Have you read this story? What do you think?

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