The World's Greatest Superheroes paperback reprints the first story arc from the same-titled newspaper strip, written by Martin Pasko and drawn by George Tuska and Vince Colletta. It featured Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, and Aquaman squaring off against Vandal Savage:
As you can see from the above pages, Aquaman doesn't come off all too well in this strip. He's mostly left behind to twiddle his thumbs up at the JLA Satellite, and at times writer Pasko almost seemed to be writing a parody, the Sea King is so bluntly dismissed by his fellow JLAers.
But, after laying unconscious for several strips, Aquaman awakens to deliver the final blow and save the day:
But, after laying unconscious for several strips, Aquaman awakens to deliver the final blow and save the day:
...yay Aquaman!
At the time I got this book, I'm sure I had no idea that this was originally a newspaper strip; I probably just figured it was a weird comic book. I loved comics in different forms (treasuries, digests, paperbacks) so seeing a JLA adventure in this way was a real kick--I distinctly remember sitting at the edge of a fountain, ripping through every page of this book as my parents wandered through the other stores.
And, not to put too much Significance on this one purchase, but I have to think it was stories like this cemented my love of Aquaman. I've generally always rooted for the underdog, and seeing Arthur treated so shabbily--only to deliver a decisive karate chop to Savage's neck--probably only put me on his side even more. Sadly, after this storyline, the strip focused almost entirely on Superman, which the paperback's cover was almost desperate to highlight.
If you're interested in seeing the entire WGSH storyline, click here--last year the Shrine ran the whole arc from beginning to end, in daily installments (and make sure you read the comments; they're almost better than the strip itself!)
At the time I got this book, I'm sure I had no idea that this was originally a newspaper strip; I probably just figured it was a weird comic book. I loved comics in different forms (treasuries, digests, paperbacks) so seeing a JLA adventure in this way was a real kick--I distinctly remember sitting at the edge of a fountain, ripping through every page of this book as my parents wandered through the other stores.
And, not to put too much Significance on this one purchase, but I have to think it was stories like this cemented my love of Aquaman. I've generally always rooted for the underdog, and seeing Arthur treated so shabbily--only to deliver a decisive karate chop to Savage's neck--probably only put me on his side even more. Sadly, after this storyline, the strip focused almost entirely on Superman, which the paperback's cover was almost desperate to highlight.
If you're interested in seeing the entire WGSH storyline, click here--last year the Shrine ran the whole arc from beginning to end, in daily installments (and make sure you read the comments; they're almost better than the strip itself!)
