Super Heroes Vitamins Original Art

Here's Neal Adams' original art that was used for the Super Heroes Chewable Vitamins campaign (currently for sale over on Romitaman). If you look closely, you can see an erased figure right next to Batman, who looks a lot like Aquaman. Based on the final layout of the ad, maybe the Sea King was moved so he wouldn't be so obscured by the harried Mom (who is on her fifth cup of "coffee").

I have never been able to find a bottle of these--open or sealed--on eBay, so I have always been curious as to whether there are little "A" shaped vitamins included. I seem to remember taking these as a kid, but that was so long ago...

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Ilke Hincer)

Neal Adams Evian Water Sketch

Comics legend Neal Adams posted this sketch on Amazon last week, of Aquaman pitching Evian Water. What the what? Did this campaign ever see the light of day?


(h/t: Newest F.O.A.M.er Neal Patterson)

1976 Super DC Calendar

Oh man did I love these DC calendars as a kid, even if Aquaman often got swapped out in favor of Captain Marvel (it's a new year, trying to stay positive...).

That said, it's gratifying to see Aquaman leading--and closing--the month, with double birthdays for him and Mera. The whole calendar is chockablock with fun DC facts, and 2015 seemed the perfect time to run this, since the days line up exactly with 1976. Click the above image to download a full size calendar sheet which you can use for your home or office!

 

Batman: Odyssey #5 - Jan. 2011

Comics Weekend "Batman: Odyssey Part 5" by Neal Adams.

There was another new issue of Neal Adams' Batman: Odyssey mini-series this week, and since #4 ended with Aquaman showing up it behooved the Shrine to follow up with #5!

Last issue ended with the hybrid Ubu-Bat creature guy getting hit in the chest by the stinger from a giant manta ray, on command from Aquaman (the Aquaman on this alternate earth, at least). Batman then jumps into the ocean:

And with the entrance of Talia's ginormous boobs into this issue, Aquaman departs, not to be seen again (not that the two are connected). Will he return? Hard to say, but since this is a 13-issue(!) series, I'd say there's a decent chance the Sea King will, er, surface again.

Batman: Odyssey #4 - Dec. 2010

Comics Weekend "Batman: Odyssey Part 4" by Neal Adams and Scott Williams.

We heard a few months before it debuted that Neal Adams' Batman: Odyssey mini-series would feature a guest appearance by Aquaman and so I was very excited to pick up the series once it debuted.

All that excitement sorta dissipated once I read the first issue, so I decided to simply page through the following issues to see when Aquaman showed up. Well, he finally showed his face in Batman: Odyssey #4, which came out a few weeks ago but I just remembered to pick up.

In this alternative Batman universe (Earth-Adams, or something), Ra's Al Ghul's henchman Ubu has been transformed into Man-Bat. While facing off with Batman, Talia, and some others, a giant manta ray comes flying out of the water, shooting a razor-sharp spike into Ubu-Bat's chest:

Having skipped the second and third issues, I have no idea what's going on here, but of course that's my own fault. I'm happy to see Neal Adams draw Aquaman again, even if it this mulleted, fancy-pants version.

With Batman jumping into the ocean, its a safe bet the Sea King will appear in Batman: Odyssey #5, so I guess I'll be buying that one too!

Happy 4th of July!

I usually like to post something America-ish for the annual 4th of July post, but of course Aquaman has never been one much for posing near flags, American or otherwise.

But there is this--the JLA entry (by the unbeatable team of Neal Adams and Dick Giordano) from the 1976 DC Comics Calendar, which features most of the team off an another adventure with Old Glory in the background (although what's with the magenta stripes?).

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Neal Adams' Aquaman in Batman: Odyssey

Here's another panel from the upcoming Frank Miller/Neal Adams collaboration Batman: Odyssey--Aquaman, Batman, and a giant whale!

You can see a bigger version of it over on Bleeding Cool: Lying in the Gutters, which was pointed out to me F.O.A.M.er Glenn Walker. Thanks Glenn!

Neal Adams Likes Aquaman

F.O.A.M. member Ed Catto caught this interesting mention of Aquaman over on Neal Adams' site. Accompanying the above piece of artwork, this is what the legendary Mr. Adams had to say:

I like Aquaman.

You don’t?

I do.

I did, ever since Ramona Fradon drew it and lights like Alan Davis, John Byrne and others were inspired to love and draw comics.

All he's ever needed was…hmmm…to be…oh, 6'3". To have the densest muscles of anyone on Earth…to swim like a powerboat with a costume that turns him into a creature OF the sea…and what he's always had…the ability to command any creature of the sea of the sea to "to drive RIGHT UP YOUR…imagination."

Aquaman…rocks.


Wow! You don't get much more of a full-throated endorsement than that!

You can find the original post here, although the way the site is constructed you have to scroll down a bit to find the Dec. 4, 2009 entry.

Adams doesn't mention what the above piece of artwork is from, and I don't recognize it at all. Anyone have any idea if this story (if, indeed, it is an entire story)--featuring an unusual-looking Aquaman--ever saw print anywhere?

Also...I knew that Alan Davis was/is a big Aquaman fan, but John Byrne? I never heard that Byrne was a particular Aqua-fan. Good to know!

Good catch, Ed, and thanks!

Super Heroes Instant Winner Card

This weird little item--sent to me our newest F.O.A.M. member David Norek--presents a mystery.

It's an "Instant Winner Card", for some contest featuring DC superheroes sponsored by Post Cereal. Not being familiar with this particular contest, I can only guess you were supposed to collect stickers featuring different DC heroes' headshots which you were to stick onto this game card, which came pre-printed with an Aquaman stock shot by Neal Adams.

Is anyone familiar with this contest? Anybody know what Post products were involved, or what the prizes might have been? This AquaFan is dying to know!

Thanks David, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!


Update: Re: the comments, this game consisted of cards that you scratched off and had to match to the pre-printed hero at the top, in this case Aquaman.

They even ran TV spots for the contest! Here's the ad, although, sadly, it doesn't feature Aquaman (although he is pictured on the package of puffy stickers that was one of the prizes):


Update 2: Re: Some more of the comments, it appears the above update is incorrect: the scratch-off card and the "Draw a Villain" contest (which the commercial is from) were two separate contests, and weren't related.

Sorry for the mix-up--The Aquaman Shrine hopes to enlighten, not confuse!

Aquaman Pajamas - 1976

This is the top part of a pajama set I've never ever seen before, sent to me by F.O.A.M.er David Marshall. Thanks David!

These PJs feature a beautiful Aquaman piece by Neal Adams, originally produced for the 1976 DC Comics Calendar and used in other places. Interesting treatment of the logo--its the standard Aquaman font, but the letters are put on a flat line instead of their usual curve. I think this is the only time I've ever seen that.

David became a member of F.O.A.M. by sending in an entry for the Aquaman Casting Call Contest, and when he sent me this piece he wanted me to mention his friend Shawn Gwilt, who helped him compile the cast list and is always looking for rare and/or new Aqua-merch to send David's way.

That sounds like a Friend of Aquaman to me, so welcome to F.O.A.M., Shawn, and drop us a line some time yourself, why don't ya?

Power Record Gift Set - 1976

This is a super-cool, hard-to-find Power Records "Gift Set" that includes seven 45" records featuring the biggest stars of Power Records, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, The Flash, Metamorpho, Plastic Man, the crew of Star Trek, and of course Aquaman, all rendered by the man, Neal Adams.

I had heard of this set, but had never seen it (even on eBay), until my pal and F.O.A.M. member George Rears handed it to me over lunch a few weeks ago (that's right, ladies--a Power Records Gift Set), which was, as usual with him, extraordinarily generous.

There isn't anything in this set that Power Records hadn't released before (they were the king of re-purposing long before Kenner), but its still a fun little set, and it was nice to see the Aquaman record get included, as opposed to other Power Records' stars, like Wonder Woman, the Hulk, or Conan, by Crom.

Thanks George!

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #115 - Oct. 1968

Comics Weekend How could any kid--or adult for that matter--turn down a comic book with a cover like this?

To me, this is what comics are all about--a gripping image, superbly rendered (in the penciling and inking by Neal Adams, and also the coloring, which is equally superb), tantalizing the reader, daring you not to pick the book up. "Yeah, kid, go ahead--go buy one of those lousy Marvels. Then you'll never know the awesome story behind this cover!"

When I saw this comic (I think online a few months ago, perhaps over at the fun DC Comics 40 Years Ago blog) I absolutely knew I had to have it. A few short eBay clicks later, I did.

I also knew that no story, but no story, would ever live up to this cover. There could be a heretofore unreleased chapter of Watchmen in between these covers and it still wouldn't be enough.

Have I said enough about the cover?

Anyway, a few weeks ago, the book arrived, and I set down to reading. As good as the cover is (ok, I'll stop) it does have an intriguing splash page, just as crazy, in its own way, as the cover:

The story opens with cub reporter Jimmy Olsen covering the maiden voyage of a new atomic sub, the U.S.S. Mako (named after famed character actor Mako, he of Conan The Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer).

While there, Jimmy meets an old sea captain, named Bane(!), who builds model ships. Jimmy marvels at how good they are, none more so than the ones inside glass cases. Captain Bane tells him those are his masterpieces, and are not for sale.

After Jimmy leaves, a wicked grin comes across Bane's face, and he talks of completing his newest masterpiece. He picks up a wooden replica of a sub, and suddenly, the Mako is caught in a whirpool, spinning madly out of control!

As the sailors try and take control of their sub, Jimmy jumps into the water, signaling Superman in the process. He sees that the sub has sunk to the bottom of the sea, but...suddenly, a school of eels show up, and turn themselves into a quasi "ladder" the sailors use to climb to the surface! Who could've dreamt up this plan?

Why, it's Aquaman, of course:

Aquaman then commands a school of pufferfish to get beneath the sub, inflate, and rise it to the surface!

Captain Bane watches from the shore, mad as all heck. He then hatches a plan to "get rid of that meddling Aquaman", and he'll use Superman to do it!

He goes to the edge of the shore, and waves his arms, seemingly making a giant whale attack Jimmy, who is floating in his rubber raft!

Jimmy does the old Pinocchio bit, and it swallowed whole. While inside, he turns on his lantern and sees a stone with several inscriptions on it. But before Jimmy can read them, the whale shoots him out its mouth.

Jimmy then sees that he can breathe underwater, and swim at tremendous speeds! He's just like Aquaman! On to Mera!

No, wait...Jimmy arrives on shore, and starts using his newfound powers to do some good, like helping an aircraft carrier caught in some sea junk. Superman arrives, and he and Aquaman take notice of Jimmy's powers:

...Superman takes a cheap shot about Aquaman's missing wife, and for some reason Aquaman agrees to compete against Jimmy to test each of their powers.

He takes them to the desert (cue the cover!) and leaves them alone for 55 minutes, seeing which one outlasts the other. Jeez, is this an Imaginary Tale? Why is Superman being such a jerk?

(Pause)

I looked all over, no indication this is an Imaginary Tale. Nope, this is canon.

Anyway, Jimmy ends up drinking the moisture left from Superman's boot prints in the sand to give him enough strength to survive...thereby besting Aquaman!

Aquaman, though, appears to be dead, and he is given a sea-faring funeral, complete with giant sea-shell coffin. Jimmy swears to try and replace Aquaman, and Superman mocks him, calling him a "puny mortal."

Its only this--and not everything leading up to it--that tips Jimmy off, and "Superman" reveals himself to the shape-shifting Captain Bane, who, you have to admit, has some pretty amazing powers.

Turns out Bane is actually Proteus, the Old Man of the Sea, who explains he has been using his magic powers for years to create all kinds of sea-going trouble. When Jimmy tries to use his powers to command the creatures of the sea, Bane removes them!

Then, an ocean liner called the Seagull approaches, and Bane creates a reef for it to smash into! Just then:

The real Superman has finally arrived! Now things are gonna really get interesting!

So, next:

Wait a minute...what? Is this story continued on later pages, like those maddening articles in Rolling Stone?

Nope--I've just realized my copy of this book is missing the middle four pages--the centerfold--something the eBay seller either forgot to mention, or went out their way to not to (probably the former, they've been really solid other than this).

So...I have no idea how this story ends! Oh, cruel fate! Anyone have their own copy of this book, and can let me know how it ends?

Even with the missing pages, I'm still glad I got this book--its a fun, crazy story, written by Leo Dorfman and drawn by Pete Costanza, totally entertaining and has Aquaman doing lots of Aqua-stuff.

Before we sign off, let's look at the cover again, this time as big as possible:

Power Record Back Cover - 1975

I just recently shuttered my Power Records Blog, having pretty much done everything with it I had planned to do (and then some).

Having now scoured every inch of (almost) every Power Record ever made, I got very familiar with all the different pieces of art they used, and re-used, and re-re-used, and...

This snappy back cover was run a few times on the back of some 45" DC Book and Record sets, featuring Neal Adams doing what he does best--exciting heroic action poses, with Aquaman looking quite smashing, I'd say.

World's Greatest Super-Heroes! - 1971

This is probably the most "famous" issue of DC's omnibus reprint title 100-Page Super Spectacular, due almost entirely to its startling cover by Neal Adams.

This cover is so unusual because it does exactly the opposite of what was thought at the time made an exciting comic book cover--Action! Danger! Drama! Instead, its just a bunch of heroes standing there.

But somehow it works, and the extra spotlight on "the Big Three" (although that's the Earth-2 Wonder Woman) makes it seem like the heroes of the DCU are taking their bows from a stage.

Sadly, Aquaman is mostly obscured by the logo, but at least he's close to the center of the cover, just a Batarang's throw away from the others, as it should be.

Also sadly, Aquaman doesn't get any solo stories reprinted in this issue, filled as it is with stories starring the JLA, The Spectre, Wildcat, The Vigilante, Johnny Quick, and Hawkman.

And even when Aquaman does get mentioned, like in this space-filling checklist, he's gets dissed:

...no, Aquaman first appeared in More Fun #73, not #70, and where's the Arthur's coloring? He looks like the Avenger, for Neptune's sake!

Sheesh.


Update: Two F.O.A.M. members--Craig Wichman and Robby Reed (of Dial "B" For Blog--excuse me, The Brilliant Dial "B" For Blog) point out in the comments something I never knew about the above cover.

Namely, that it is in fact an homage/tribute by Neal Adams to this cover by Frank Harry, which ran on All-Star Comics #16 in 1943.

This cover is Americana at its finest; and what I imagine a comic book cover by Norman Rockwell might have looked like.

I always love learning something new. Thanks Robby and Craig!

Aquaman (Vol. 1) #50 - Apr. 1970

Comics Weekend I thought it might be nice to have a post script to our Dick Giordano Week by talking about some of the issues of Aquaman by the SAG team that we have yet to talk about here on the Shrine.

I picked this issue when I was reminded about it by AquaFan Shag Matthews (aka The Irredeemable Shag) because of a particular panel inside, which we'll get to in a moment.

Anyway, this is the fiftieth issue of Aquaman, featuring the first of three Deadman back-ups, written and drawn by Neal Adams, no less! Apparently this was to give Aquaman artist Jim Aparo a chance to get caught up on his deadlines (after all, Aparo was penciling and inking the book) by shortening his page count for a few months.

But these weren't any old back-ups: no, editor Dick Giordano had these Deadman stories tie into the main Aquaman story, so you felt like you were getting a complete, book-length story, even though both stories could stand on their own, as well. Neat!

After the spiffy cover by Nick Cardy, we have this boffo splash page by Aparo:

Aquaman wakes up, having been knocked unconscious last issue from a mysterious weapon wielded by some aliens. He wakes up in some weird fantasy world, filled with odd shapes and colors, and tries to recall what happened leading up to this...

He and Aqualad were coming home to Atlantis to see his old foe and half-brother, Ocean Master, talking to his wife Mera!

Orm tells Arthur he's not there to fight, and that he now knows that he is Arthur's half-brother. But he didn't know that when he contacted...them!

Them? Aquaman wonders. But before Orm can answer, "they" have arrived--two aliens who shoot Aquaman with the aforementioned weapon!

Aquaman encounters a weird, amoeba-like creature, which is fought off by a beautiful woman who he can't seem to communicate with. But before he can even try, Aquaman receives some sort of telepathic signal, which he heads off to investigate.

Turns out its coming from a futuristic city inside this weird dimension, and he follows the mental trail to inside a building.

On his way there is the "famous" panel where Aparo decided to work in the names of a few dozen comics pros, including himself, writer Steve Skeates, and editor Dick Giordano:

...see if you can name 'em all!

Aquaman finally makes it into the building (but not before fighting off an armed guard, who shoots him with a weapon that fires the green bubbles we see on the front cover), and its here where he and this mysterious woman can talk.

Aquaman tries to find out "where" this place is, but the woman doesn't offer any help other than they are in "the city." Aquaman wonders if there's anyone else here that can help him.

Yes, there is--the feared Brother Warnn, who arrives and demands to know who this stranger is! To be continued!

Meanwhile, over in the Deadman story, titled "Deadman Rides Again", Deadman tells Rama Kushna he wants to head out and confront the evil in the world (oh, is that all?) and Rama directs him towards a mysterious craft making its way through the ocean.

Deadman finds it to be manned by...Ocean Master! He doesn't know who this guy is, but follows and watches him as Orm makes a deal with the two aliens, who promise to kill Aquaman!

Deadman doesn't like the sound of that, so he takes over Ocean Master's body to find out what Orm's part of this deal with the aliens is. There's a part of Orm's brain Deadman can't pierce, so he tries a little harder:

...this makes Orm realize he is Aquaman's brother, and he immediately regrets the "hit" he put out on his brother. Deadman then goes to take over one of the aliens, but the other one seems to know something's up, and lets a small rat-like creature loose which is able to attack Deadman! To be continued!


I thought this was a really neat idea, having a back-up tie into the main story, to give it more context. And any comic with art by Jim Aparo and Neal Adams, with a Nick Cardy cover, is a pretty darn good comic book. We have editor Giordano to thank for putting together such a solid string of issues, this one being a particularly fine example.

According to the Statement of Ownership, at this time Aquaman had a print run of about 300,000 copies, selling around 156,000 for a sell-through of just over 50%, which wasn't too bad. Not Batman or Spider-Man numbers, but I think about three times what the last Aquaman comic sold.

*sigh*

Super-Hero Stand-Ups - 1977

I had this cool Aquaman cardboard stand-up (drawn by Neal Adams, no less) for a while, but had yet to post it, when my pal and F.O.A.M. member Damian "Tiny Titan" Maffei generously sent me the whole complete set of 'em! Thanks Damian!

These stands-ups(made by the same company that made the Super-Hero Stickers put up here a few weeks ago) each measure around 6" high, and use some classic stock art to represent the characters. We've got a Neal Adams Aquaman, Flash, and Captain Marvel, plus a Curt Swan Superman and a Dick Giordano Wonder Woman. But no Batman, oddly enough.

Neat as they are, I never could understand what the appeal of these were, exactly. Even back in the mid 1990s, when I was working in an art studio designing products for Comic Images and we actually made Marvel character stand-ups, I didn't see why anyone would buy them, at least in the quantities we were producing them. After you pull out the little perpendicular base support, there you were. Put in on a shelf and don't touch it.

That said, these are still pretty nifty, so maybe you should just ignore the previous paragraph.
_________________________________________________________

Coming Tomorrow: Our first-ever AquaShrine Contest! The contest will involve identifying the artist whose work is shown, and the first person to submit the correct answer will receive any one of the Super-Hero Stand-Ups shown today. (I presume you'd want Aquaman, but you can pick any of 'em!)

Be advised Tuesday's post will go up around 12:15am Tuesday. Good luck!

Songs & Stories About the Justice League LP - 1975

This piece is such a prominent part of my Aquaman obsession over the years I can't believe it took me this long to get to it--Power Records' Songs and Stories About the Justice League of America, with smashing sleeve art by Neal Adams, Aquaman front and center!

It wasn't until just a few years ago that I learned this record's contents are taken from the 1968 Tilton record of the same name; that record also featured theme songs for Flash and Aquaman, which were omitted here(for running time?). I don't have a personal copy of that record(yet), but once I do you can be sure it'll show up here, as well(and of course the Aquaman and Flash stories were separately released on a Power Records 45").

As a kid, I must have listened to this record a thousand times--the songs are catchy yet totally goofy; and the stories are well done and yet very idiosyncratic, with little touches that still surprise me were included. This thing could've been seen as just a kid's record and made as dull as dishwater; instead we get very specific characterizations for each hero. Plus the Aquaman story features Mera!

I'm currently featuring the entire record's contents over at my Power Records blog today, but here we'll just feature Aquaman in..."The Defeat of the Dehydrator!":

Brave and The Bold #82 - March 1969

It's Comic Friday again, and I thought it'd be fun to talk about another of three Batman/Aquaman team-ups from The Brave and The Bold. Last time I reviewed the team-up in issue #114 so for today I thought I'd go back to the very first time the Sea King got to co-star with the Dark Knight Detective.

The story, "The Sleepwalker From The Sea!" is by Bob Haney and Neal Adams, with the beautiful cover also by Adams, of course. Batman is attempting to apprehend a crook when he is stopped by a "grip like a king crab's bite"(!). Just then, he is shot by said crook and falls into the water, rescued by some helpful sea life. Hmm...

Later on, millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne goes on a date with "Model of the Year" Ailsa DuBois. It doesn't go well, so much so that it ends with Ailsa throwing Bruce off a balcony(haven't we all had dates like that? no?). Bruce of course finds this a tad suspicious, so he follows Ailsa back to an apartment, where she meets a mysterious man named "Marius" whom turns out to be...The Ocean Master!

Bruce interrupts all this nefarious goings-on, and Orm then calls in a hypnotized Aquaman to take care of the millionaire playboy. Just as it seems that Aquaman is going to throw Bruce into the ocean, he tells him that he's been faking all this time in an attempt to learn Orm's master plan! Batman doesn't believe him(king crab bite and all), but he changes his mind when Aquaman reveals that Ocean Master is...his brother!

We then get a brief rundown of their relationship, and about how Aquaman has tried over and over to get Orm to reform(hey, that's rhymes!) but he would refuse. When it seems that Aquaman has inadvertantly almost killed an innocent man underwater, Orm uses that to convince Arthur that the "streak of evil" resides in them both, and its only a matter of time until Aquaman kills for good!

This sends poor Arthur into fits of delirium, but Batman enlists Mera and the help of a psychologist to really hypnotize Arthur and bring him out of it! Whew! And that's only in the first sixteen pages!

Anyway, Aquaman and Batman, with help from Aquaman's finny friends, go after Ocean Master and thwart his plan. While Orm is attempting escape, Gotham Police aim a bazooka(!!) at him, but Aquaman stops it and chases after Orm himself. Commissioner Gordon in understandably cheesed off(he's gotta close some cases once in a while), Batman explains to him that he made a deal with Aquaman that he would let him bring Orm to justice since "there are different laws underwater."

Gordon accept this and Batman runs off, ready to have another adventure!

As you can tell from my breathless description, a lot happens in this issue, at a breakneck pace, all drawn in high style by Adams. Adams' Aquaman is classically heroic and regal looking, and he always gave him that lithe but powerful-looking swimmer's body that I've always thought made sense for Aquaman.

And Haney, of course, didn't mind throwing in everything but the kitchen sink in these B&B stories, and it was here where he developed his apparent formula for Aquaman/Batman team-ups: namely, have Aquaman seemingly turn rogue and fight Batman. It happened here, it happened in #114, and as we'll see on the next Comic Friday, it happened one more time in B&B #142, the final Aquaman/Batman pairing.

Hey, if it ain't broke...

DC Special Series #1 - 1977

It's Comic Friday again! Today we examine a comic book I sought solely for its cover--DC Special Series #1, by Neal Adams, of course. All superhero covers should look this exciting!

Inside the book consists of five separate stories: "How to Prevent A Flash" by Cary Bates and Irv Novick; Green Lantern in "He Who Slaughters" by Denny O'Neil and Joe Staton; Aquaman in "A King Without A Sea" by Gerry Conway and Dick Dillin; The Atom in "The Telephone Tangle" by our pal Paul Kupperberg and Steve Stiles(?), and Batman in "The Dead-On-Arrival Conspiracy" by Martin Pasko and Mike Nasser. The uncredited editorial mentions that the Batman tale was originally scheduled for Kobra #8 before the book was cancelled; so I'm betting the rest of these stories were inventory, as well.

The Aquaman story is unusual in that its drawn by Dick Dillin, who of course drew Arthur for years in his astonishingly-long run on Justice League of America, but to my knowledge this is the first and only time he drew a solo Aquaman tale. It was inked by Jack Abel, someone you didn't see paired up with Dillin much, as well. The story takes place during Aquaman's solo title revival, and the only mention of recent events are on the first page via word balloons and in one caption later on. I have a hunch this indeed was an inventory tale, re-lettered on the splash page to help tie it into current events.

He takes on an abruptly-conceived villain named Sunburst and gets really, really mad at him when he fries some fish. I always liked that about Aquaman--he cares about all living things!

DC Comics 1976 Calendar

It's January 29! Did you know that today is Aquaman's birthday? No, neither did I!

That's according to the 1976 Super DC Comics Calendar, an item that I've wanted to get for a while but have yet to acquire.

After seeing my now-infamous photo in Entertainment Weekly, F.O.A.M. member Russell Burbage generously emailed me some images from the calendar, including Aquaman's solo shot (with awesome art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano) plus the dates for January, which lists Arthur's big day as the 29th, and Mera's as the 31st!

That of course makes him an Aquarius, which I guess is appropriate, though Pisces mighta been better...

To celebrate, everybody read an Aquaman comic today (one of the good ones)! And many thanks to Russell for the timely scans!