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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Aquaman Shrine/Firestorm Fan Team-Up!

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Today is a very special post for The Aquaman Shrine, as its a crossover with one of our sister blogs, Shag Matthews' excellent Firestorm Fan. So what's the occasion?

Well, looking back over my old Justice League of America comics (which I am wont to do) I suddenly noticed what seemed like a connection between two random events that both involved Aquaman and Firestorm.

Here's where it starts, in Justice League of America #193. T.O. Morrow has stolen Red Tornado, and the JLA spreads out to look for him. Aquaman is one the who finds them, and when Morrow talks of dismantling Tornado, the Sea King makes his move:
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Unfortunately Morrow's blast leaves Aquaman encased in some sort of crystalline prison. Morrow gets away, and before the JLA can pick up the trail they have to bring Aquaman back to the JLA Satellite and try and save him.

Wonder Woman takes on the meticulous, dangerous job as the rest of the JLA watches. Firestorm, being inexperienced as the superhero bit, shoots his mouth off:
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The Flash then proceeds to give Firestorm a stern talking to (in a sequence so good I'm not going to post it here; I'd rather you go find the issue and read it for yourself). Firestorm tries to argue that it looks pretty bad for Aquaman, but The Flash dismisses that and sets him straight.

Of course, Wonder Woman manages to free Aquaman, and he survives to fight another day.

Cut to: ten issues later, in Justice League of America #203, and Aquaman and Firestorm are off on a training mission together:
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It all looks like fun and games, at least until Aquaman decides to pull one over on the Nuclear Man:

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...yes, Aquaman decides to take down Firestorm, The Nuclear Man with a bunch of flying fish.

Clearly, the only conclusion that can be reached when looking at these two events together is: Aquaman can hold a grudge for a very long time. He may act like your friend, but somewhere in the back of his mind he's looking for a chance to get even.

In other words: do not, ever, get on Aquaman's bad side.


I asked Firestorm Fan Numero Uno, Shag Matthews, for his thoughts on this very important topic, so head on over to
Firestorm Fan to read how all this drama looks from the perspective of, well, a Firestorm fan!

5 comments:

The Irredeemable Shag said...

Oh wow, you've totally got this all turned around. Aquaman didn't surprise Firestorm, what actually happened... well, I guess I'll let the readers find that for themselves over at FIRESTORM FAN.com. ;)

Great post, Rob! Thanks for suggesting this crossover! I had a blast!

The Irredeemable Shag
http://firestormfan.com

russell said...

I think part of the reason I never took a liking to Firestorm after he joined the JLA (besides the fact that keeping his identity secret from his fellow members was a big no-no) was the arrogance Firestorm showed in #193. If I wasn't too gung-ho on him before that, he fell to rock bottom after that.

Aaron said...

I seem to remember Firestorm once called Commissioner Gordon Gramps or something, which kind of alienated me to him, though I like that Ron Raymond was like an opposite Peter Parker, ie he was a jock who feared the nerds.

Every time I see that sequence of Aquaman crashing through the window I hear Inna Gadda Da Vida in my head, a la Manhunter.

Joe Slab said...

The scene where George Perez draws Aquaman, almost as if on film, has always been a favorite of mine.

George Perez has always made Aquaman look amazing, especially on land.

Wings1295 said...

Love this post! Things like this are what make the Shrine so wonderful.

Thanks!