Adventure Comics #454 - Dec. 1977

Comics Weekend We continue following Aqualad in his solo feature in Adventure Comics!

Aqualad got his own solo strip starting with the previous issue of Adventure Comics (which we talked about last Sunday), as he searched for the truth about his past, courtesy writer Paul Kupperberg and artists Carl Potts and Joe Rubenstein.

With this issue, Kupperberg and Potts remained, but the inking chores were taken over by the legendary Dick Giordano!

Last issue ended with Aqualad breaking into the royal chamber of records of the Idyllists to find out the truth about his heritage, only to be discovered by the Idyllists themselves.

Since they refuse to tell him what he wants, he takes off, and that's where we find him now:

Aqualad takes on a hammerhead shark that was making its way toward the old man. He can't understand why the old man isn't even trying to get away, but he impulsively stabs the shark with a sharp piece of coral, killing it.

The old man is not thankful to Aqualad. In fact, he's enraged:

The old man runs into his cave home, asking Aqualad to stop hounding him.

Aqualad thinks he's crazy, but asks him why the old man is so troubled by his presence. He tells him its because he killed Thar, the king of the Idyllists, who looks an awful lot like...Aqualad!

Aqulad is now enraged, believing the Idyllists killed his father. He pounds on the door of the home of one of them, Thoran:

To be continued!


The addition of Dick Giordano to the strip gives it a classic look--Potts solid pencils come off even better than they did in the previous issue, as Kupperberg winds up Aqualad's quest next issue!

Aquaman Shrine Interview with Paul Kupperberg - 2008

As I mentioned last Saturday, I was thrilled to see that the Patron Saint of the Aquaman Shrine, Paul Kupperberg, was the author the three-part Aqualad solo story that ran in Adventure Comics #'s 453-455.

That gave me an excuse to interview Paul a second time for the Shrine, something I've wanted to do for a while. And what better time than during our 3rd year kick-off week?

Aquaman Shrine: How did you end up writing the Aqualad series?

Paul Kupperberg: Boy howdy, I don't remember, more than 30 years later, but seeing as how Paul Levitz was the editor, I would guess, us being friends and me doing other work for him at the time, including the New Doom Patrol, I was probably in the right place at the right time. I attribute much of my career to fortunate proximity.

AMS: Do you know the genesis of the strip? Paul Levitz and David Michelinie started the "Aqualad Searches For His Past" story line in Aquaman's Adventure Comics series, but was it always intended to be wrapped up in a solo Aqualad series?

PK: I read Aquaman, of course. On top of the art by Jim Aparo and Don Newton, it was being written by David, one of my favorite writers at the time. I believe the intention all along had been to do Aqualad's search as a separate story, whether in Adventure or Aquaman's own book. It wouldn't surprise me if David had meant to write the story himself but was too busy to get to it.

At any rate, I was given the set-up: Aqualad goes off to find his past and you need to include the purple eyes, the Idylists of the Hidden Valley (mmm! Ranch dressing!) and that his father was the king in there. Otherwise, do what you want, have fun, and end it with Aqualad having learned his lesson, swimming back to Atlantis to reunite with Aquaman, everything's forgiven.

AMS: You were writing this strip around the same time you were writing the Mera back-ups in Aquaman, then right after this you took over the Aquaman book. Back then at DC, was this how writers got groomed? Was going from the back-ups to the full book seen as a "promotion"?

PK: Not a grooming per se, more like a series of happy accidents capped by a last-minute desperate need for a fill-in or replacement writer. For instance, I was given the Aqualad back-up to write first. Then Paul probably figured, what the hell, I was already playing in that particular sandbox--or, in this case, fishbowl--so I might as well script the Mera series as well. Maybe knowing me and my own dysfunctional family as well as he does, Paul thought I'd be a fit for these characters.

Those were the happy accidents. The last-minute desperation was, David's leaving Aquaman, the book is coughing up blood, but needing someone to take over...you! You've written some Aquamanish stuff recently. Congratulations, the title is yours, you're late.

AMS: The Aqualad segments were only six pages each--an incredibly short space to try and craft a story with a beginning, middle, and end. As a writer, did you find this was good training, learning to tell a story in such an abbreviated format?

PK: The best training! I started off by writing 6 and 8 page stories. It was probably close to two years before I got to write anything much longer than 10 pages. That means in anywhere from 5 to 8 pages, you've got to introduce and set up your characters and their situations, introduce the problem, show the problem in action, then resolve it. No "continued next issue" stuff here, forget your "decompressed storytelling." Short stories is manly writing.

To this day, I can whip out a 6-pager like a'ringin' a bell. I've recently written back-ups for Moonstone Comics' upcoming Captain Action title and I was pleased to discover I still had the chops. You learn to write concisely (it takes a lot longer to write short than it does to be verbose; Thomas Jefferson once ended a letter by apologizing to his correspondent that he "hadn't the time to make (the letter) shorter"), you learn to create characters in brief but surprising complex strokes, and, most important, you discover how to keep the story moving by trimming the excess fat, eliminating anything that doesn't directly and immediately serve the story.

It's like Alex Toth used to say: he spent the first half of his career learning what to put on the page and the second half learning what to leave off. Start your on-the-job training with stories that force you to think that way and you're off to a good start.

AMS: The Aqualad strip had superb artwork--pencils by Carl Potts, and (for the last two chapters) inks by the great Dick Giordano. How closely--if at all--did you work with Carl, who was also relatively new to comics at the time?

PK: I knew Carl from around the 'hood and various poker games—he also drew a Nightwing and Flamebird 10-pager for Superman Family that I wrote though I don't recall if that was before or after Aqualad.

In those days, standard operating procedure was the writer wrote a script, handed it to the editor who handed it to the writer and the only interaction between that writer or artist might come six months later when one happened to run into the other.

Carl's a talented artist, writer and teacher. At some point when I was in Licensed Publishing at DC, Carl was supposed to write a DC Comics Guide to Visual Storytelling book for me, but it never got off the ground, having nothing to do with Carl. It's shame. It would have been a valuable addition to the serious writing on the craft.

AMS: Aqualad, on the last page of Aquaman's solo feature in Adventure Comics, is about the biggest, whiniest jerk ever seen in comics--he's giving Aquaman grief about their relationship while poor Arthur is holding his dead son's body! Did you perceive that at the time? Was giving Aqualad a solo strip right after that an attempt to return him to more of a heroic mold?

PK: Again, I think you're ascribing too much intent to events at a time when we just didn't really think that way. There was no "Uh-oh! We had it act like a jerk, we'd better give him another strip to bolster his image!" The whiny jerk aspect was a story gimmick: we need to separate Aquaman from Aqualad and send the latter off a quest. We can use this to break them up.

I guess a lot of the so-called characterization of the day was kind of clunky, especially when it was being handled by a 22-year old writer who still lived at home with his parents, like me. I was learning my way around, but I still hadn't had my storytelling epiphany, the one where I realized that story has to come out of character. Back then, I was still moving characters like chess pieces to have them do what my story needed them to do.

And yet, the Aqualad back-ups are one of those things I did that people, 20, 30 years later come up and tell me or e-mail me that they remember. It seems to have struck a cord with some readers that I've reread the story trying to understand but then, I guess it's a very personal thing.

A woman once approached me at a convention, 20-plus years after it was published, to tell me that it might be overstating it to say that story this saved her life when she was 16, but reading it when it came out gave her enough hope that she too could survive as an outsider, on her own merits, that she stopping thinking of hurting herself. Whatever it was resonated with her experience.

AMS: Was the Aqualad strip always intended to run just the three issues? Would you have wanted to continue it if you could have?

PK: It was designed a 3-part from the start and I don't recall any plans to make it a permanent back-up. I don't know if I would have wanted it to continue. I don't recall having empathy for the character, at least not as a solo entity. He was okay alongside Aquaman, but he just didn't do it for me.

AMS: What are you working on now?

PK: All sorts of stuff. My humor book Jew-Jitsu: The Hebrew Hands of Fury is being published at the end of October 2008 by Citadel Books. Then there are those Captain Action back-ups I mentioned, from Moonstone, coming by the end of the year.

I'm also writing some Simpsons stories for Bongo Comics, Cartoon Network stories for DC Comics, some Superman young reader storybooks for Stone Arch Books, non-fiction books for young adult readers--just finished one about the Alaska Highway and I'm about to start on one about Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang--a bi-weekly column on comic book novels for Bookgasm.com, and various other projects.

And I've just finished a mystery novel, set in the world of 1951 comic book publishing that's currently seeking a publisher. If anyone's interested, they can see what I'm up to and read excerpts from works old and in-progress at Kupperberg.blogspot.com.

By the way, I just note that for all my association with Aquaman, I don't swim, hate the water, and I also hate seafood. Just more of life's little ironies.


As usual, Paul was very generous with his time doing this interview for the Shrine--after all, we're talking about all of 18 pages he wrote 31 years ago. Yet he delivers all kinds of cool back story, the kind of stuff I've been so interested in all these years.

At the top of the post, I called Paul "The Patron Saint of the Aquaman Shrine", and it really is an apropos title--he has helped me and the Shrine tremendously, both in front of and behind the scenes, and this place wouldn't be nearly as interesting without his help.

Thanks again Paul!

Brave and The Bold #73 Ad - 1967

Usually I pair up an ad for a comic and the comic itself, but somewhere along the line I goofed, forgetting to post this ad back when I (and my Tiny Titan pal Damian "The Disappearing Man" Maffei) wrote about this comic back in January. So here's the ad--better late than never!

This is yet another example of the brilliance of DC's then-in-house designer, Ira Schnapp. There's so much text crammed into a tiny, tiny space, and yet Schnapp found a way to work it all in, plus each character's logo, plus a visual motif representing the story itself.

As a graphic designer myself, I am humbled by the man's sheer talent--I don't think I could design something this cool, and I have the benefit of modern tools. Schnapp did all this by hand, an xacto knife, some glue, and a stat camera.

Super Friends Subscription Ad - 1979

One of my favorite Super Friends ads--I loved any ad where you had the heroes palling around, like Superman and Batman used to do back on those old World's Finest covers in the 40s.

And of course, the carny running the game wouldn't dare cheat the Wonder Twins, not with Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman standing there.

Nicely drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger!

AquaSketch by Joe Staton - 2008

The 2008 New York Comic Con was an especially good place to pick up new sketches in my Aquaman Sketchbook--case in point, this beauty of a piece by the legendary Joe Staton!

I've been a fan of Staton's work ever since I was a kid, and I was thrilled when I got to meet him at the 2007 NY con and even more thrilled when he agreed to do an interview with me for TreasuryComics.com.

Since then, I've become friends with Joe, and we've helped each other out on various occasions. So when I saw him at the 2008 con, I made a beeline for his table and handed him my book.

And as you can see, he delivered. Thanks Joe!

Aquaman Shrine's 2nd Anniversary

Welcome to The Aquaman Shrine's 2nd Anniversary!

If anyone had told me, when I started this blog mostly on a whim on a quiet October night that I would still be doing it two years later I wouldn't have believed them.

At the same time, I feel like in some weird way, this blog is my life's work, to the point where I can't imagine not doing it.

Last year, I celebrated the Shrine's anniversary by finally obtaining one of my Aquaman Holy Grails--the Ben Cooper Aquaman Halloween costume.

But this year, between rough financial times (have you seen the stock market?), and there being fewer and fewer "Holy Grails" to get, I decided to do something different.

No, this year, we'll be looking back at what I call "Aquaman Shrine Pre-History" as well as how some of you choose to worship the Sea King, thanks to photos generously submitted by some of the regular Shrine readers.


When I say "Aquaman Shrine Pre-History" I mean at what the Shrine looked like before it existed as a blog.

Back around 2001, I was still messing around with the format of my pro illustration site, namtab.com, in that I had sections of it devoted to my hobbies and personal stories, as if that was appropriate.

I went so far as to have an "Aquaman Shrine" section of the site, and here's what some of those pages looked like (please don't laugh):

...poorly laid out, ugly to look at...basically a mess. And completely inappropriate to have on my professional illustration site, when I was desperately trying to establish a name for myself a reliable professional illustrator.

This point was underlined to me when I almost lost a potential job from a client when, through a third party, I was told that they wanted to hire me, but then looked at my site, and asked "What's with this Aquaman stuff?"

That question left me "Scared Straight", as it were, and within a few days I had all the Aquaman stuff pulled down, as if it was never there. I was convinced this whole Aquaman-collection-on-line thing would just never really work out.

But...I had forgotten that, even with my half-assed effort, it had, incredibly, managed to attract a fan or two.

One of those fans was Shag Matthews, who at the time sent me emails commiserating over our mutual hero worship. When Shag "re-surfaced" on the web a little while ago, he emailed me again (we hadn't talked in years), telling me how glad he was to see I repurposed the Shrine in this way.

Shag had even managed to keep some of those emails from way back in 2001(!), so here are some of my thoughts at the time about what I wanted the Shrine to eventually become:

"Speaking of, I've been lucky enough to get sketches of Aquaman in a book I have from some comics pros, including Fradon and Nick Cardy. I hear that Aparo, when does do cons, doesn't do sketches, which kills my dream of having a triumverate of the three most famous Aquaman artists in my book.

I want to expand the shrine to being all about Aquaman, not just the stuff I own--a history, lots of covers, etc, plus all my doodads. But just keeping the site fresh to try and attract potential illustration work is hard enough, let alone spending hours on those bright-orange pages. It'll have to be a gradual process."

...not only was I amazed Shag kept six-year-old emails around, but that I had the general scope of the Shrine already in mind, this early on. I just simply lacked the right format to implement it (thanks Blogger!)

Here's what I wrote the day I created the blog, and was talking about it on my very first blog, which was (and I guess still is) a hodge-podge of random thoughts:

I'm also glad that I did manage to get a sketch from the late, great Jim Aparo, as well as making friends with many of the pros whose work I grew up admiring via the Shrine. So this whole Shrine thing was a long wait, but it was worth it!


Ok, enough about the past! Let's talk about now, for Neptune's Sake--like, let's see some of the other Shrines out there!

This the Shrine of F.O.A.M. member Andy Luckett:

...nice collection, Andy!

Since all my Aqua-Stuff is in storage, I get wistful when I see a whole bunch of it all together like that. Bonus points to Andy for having his F.O.A.M. certificate in there (right behind the First Appearance DC Direct figure), and I like all the framed comic covers--gives it a sort of museum feel.

Next up are photos from F.O.A.M. member Chuck "D.C." Dill:

Another well-stocked collection, so big its gone from its original home on the shelves and has started to taking over the wall (I've been there). Chuck even has some stuff I don't have--I see an Aquaman party favor (third picture) that I must have had as a kid and now I really want again!

And that custom King Arthur-ish Aquaman figure perched on the pedestal is also really sweet. Nice job, Chuck!

Next is the collection of F.O.A.M.er Joe Mello:

Framed on the wall is an page of an original art that Joe says "my wife gave me as a gift several years ago, signed by Calafiore and McKenna." Sweet!

Joe's collection also features something mine does--that limited edition Aquaman statue (next to the Mac and Cheese box) that is really nice, but I have yet to cough up the money for. Like I said, sweet! Thanks Joe!

Next up is the collection of F.O.A.M.er W.T. Raschendorfer:

Awesome collection, W.T.!

Not only is it a nice Shrine to the Sea King, its, according to W.T. "This is about half of what I have. Lots in storage still..."

I know that pain, W.T.

Next up is the amazing collection of F.O.A.M.er Cindy Healy:

This is how Cindy describes it:

"Here's photos of my humble fan setup The Library/Shrine. It resides in the fourth bedroom of our home. I keep all my comics on heavy-duty shelving in here. (Over 18,000 at last count.) Most of the books in the Healy household are also in this room. Most of my action figures are on display in the bookcase and in a display case from IKEA. Framed original art is on the walls along with commissioned art and collector plates.

I've already run out of wall space to display art; there's a bunch on top of the shelves I haven't gotten framed yet. The closet holds my t-shirt collection and some of the hard to display pieces like the Superfriends sleeping bag. So here's to many more years of blogging at The Aquaman Shrine."

Thanks, Cindy! That's an amazing collection--the glass case makes for a classy touch.


I was really thrilled to get all these photos and see how some of you out there choose to show your love of the King of the Seven Seas. As I've said before, Aquaman fans may not be as legion as Superman or Batman ones, but they are extremely devoted.

So starting tomorrow, we kick off Year Three of the Aquaman Shrine. As usual, I've got lots of fun and unusual stuff planned, and, if all the stars align, maybe even some really exciting news. We'll see.

Until then, I again thank everyone who stops by the Shrine (and there's more and more of you, if Google Analytics is right) and takes the time to check out what I'm doing here. And thanks to all the members of F.O.A.M., which now outnumbers The Legion of Super-Heroes I believe.

I also want to thank people like Paul Kupperberg, J.M. De Matteis, Shaun McLaughlin, and Tim Schlattmann, who are always willing to deal with my crazy, random emails asking for various forms of help and have been instrumental in helping me make the Shrine as cool(?) as it is.

And of course, thanks to Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, without whom this would be The Sub-Mariner Shrine.

Just kidding.
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To bring this full circle, today I'm announcing the start of another addition to what I call the Rob Kelly Family of Blogs--Rob Kelly Illustration, which will focus solely on my illustration work (er, hence the title).

My lives as an illustrator and my work as a blogger have always been very separate--I didn't plan that, it just sort of turned out that way. But starting this blogs offers me the flexibility to put up newer work faster, talk about recent art-related events, etc., that the four-times-a-year update schedule I maintain on Namtab.com kept me from.

I'll still be keeping Namtab.com of course, but now there'll be a place I can blog about art every day. So please go check it out...when you're done here, of course.

Adventure Comics #453 - Oct. 1977

Comics Weekend Aqualad stars in a solo feature in Adventure Comics!

During Aquaman's successful run in Adventure Comics #s 441-452, writers Paul Levitz and David Micheinie had introduced a sub-plot where Aqualad meets someone who can answer the lifelong questions he's had about his past.

But since there was only a limited amount of space in each issue, Aqualad's storyline never developed all that far. So when Aquaman was "promoted" to returning to his solo book, DC took the innovative step of spinning Aqualad (and his unresolved storyline) into his own strip, staying in Adventure Comics.

I had never read these stories, and over time I completely forgot about that there even was an Aqualad solo strip.

So imagine my delight when, after picking up the three issues that feature Aqualad, I saw that they were written by our pal Paul Kupperberg! Cool-o!

So for today and next weekend, we'll be talking about Aqualad's search for his past and see what happened. The first chapter opens up this way:

Aqualad demands to know whatever the Idylists know about his past, and why they are keeping the information from him.

They deny they are hiding anything, which causes Aqualad to storm off. While he swims away, he reflects on the events of the last couple of days:

...as well see here, Carl Potts (and inker Joe Rubenstein) render an effective Aquaman. Not every artist was great at giving Aquaman dynamic, realistic poses while he was underwater, but I like Potts' take on Arthur here.

But of course, this story isn't about Aquaman! As Aqualad ponders his fate, he decides to try and get info another way. He waits until when most of the Idylists are asleep, and breaks into their hall of records! He then enters a private chamber, and is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material in front of him.

But he doesn't get the chance, because he is surprised by a gang of the Idylists, who demand that he leave, they've told him all they know!

Aqualad isn't buying it:

To be continued!


Luckily, author Paul Kupperberg manages to "man up" Garth a bit, getting him away from the whiny jerk he was the last page of Aquaman's story in Adventure Comics #452--complaining about his and his mentor's relationship as Arthur is holding his dead infant son in his hands.

With only six pages to work with, not a whole lot happens here, but the story moves fast (I've read some six page comic book stories that read like The Congressional Record) and Carl Potts' work is here is effective and solid, making for a good little tale. Be here next weekend to see where Aqualad's search for his past takes him!

DC Challenge #7 - May 1986

Comics Weekend Ok, so we're back to the DC Challenge!

I thought that Aquaman's appearances in the 12-issue long series were limited to #s 3, 4, and 12, but after doing some research I saw he made an appearance in this issue, as well.

This issue's story is titled "Don't Bogart That Grape...Hand Me The Gas Pump!", and is written by our pal Paul Kupperberg, with art by the great Joe Staton, and inks by Steve Mitchell.

When we last left Aquaman, he was still(!) stranded in the desert, this time with his fellow JLAer Zatanna, after watching the Martian Manhunter get kidnapped by a group of malevolent aliens.

So this issue opens with The Joker as our narrator, and we see where we stand:

After much comings and goings featuring Adam Strange, Jimmy Olsen, Batman, Plastic Man, (plus an ancient, dessicated Hitler!) we rejoin a really thirsty Aquaman and Zatanna and we see they get help from an unexpected source:

...wow, Mr.Mxyzptlk saves the day!

So we end with Aquaman and Zatanna still in the desert...hey, wait a minute! They're still in the desert??

Now I have go buy DC Challenge #8!

Aqualad Adventure Comics Ad - 1977

Jim Aparo is so well known as the artist for a handful of characters--Aquaman, Batman, The Phantom Stranger--that when you see him draw someone he didn't do much, it seems like such a treat. In this case, we get Superboy by Jim Aparo!

I had seen this ad a thousand times over the years, but it never occurred to me until F.O.A.M. member Ilke Hincer asked me for a scan of it that--hey, it features Aqualad, promoting a solo series that kept running after Aquaman has "graduated" to his own title again! Man, am I dumb sometimes...

Anyway, I quickly bought the issues that feature Aqualad as back-up (Adventure Comics #s 453-455), never having read them before. So starting on Sunday, we'll be talking about that series!

Aquaman Trading Card

This is one of those items that's in my "to post" folder, yet I have no information on what it is, or where I got it.

It's a trading card of some kind, but since I don't have it in my personal collection I only have this front scan--someone must have sent it to me, but for the life of me I can't remember who or when.

That said, it's a nice looking card, well drawn and well colored.

Anyone have any clue?

AquaFamily, Munny Style

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a picture of an Aquaman "Munny" figurine by F.O.A.M. member Kristen Livingston.

Well, these Munny figures must be pretty popular, because just a few days ago I got this shot of the entire Aquaman Family done as Munnies(?) by F.O.A.M. member Mac Schafer. Wow!

They're all very cute and well-detailed, but I think my favorite is Mera, because she's so adorable. Or maybe Ocean Master, for his super-frumpy face...ah, they're all good!

Nice job, Mac, and thanks!

DC Superheroes Activity Book Page - 2006

Another page from the phone book-thick DC Superheroes Activity Book, this time though it's a fun maze! Help Aquaman find Ocean Master!

As a kid, I loved mazes, and if I ever saw one in a comic book I thought nothing of marring my comic with an inky scrawl through it. (I manage to control myself with current issues of DC Super Friends)

Fun Fact: As has been stated before, this book was edited by Aquaman writer (and Shrine Patron Saint) Paul Kupperberg, giving the book a nice--if inadvertent--connection to the Sea King's past.

Fun Fact 2: Most of the AquaFans who have kids have told me they have this book, too. But for those of you who don't, click the image to go to a full-size, printable version. Perfect to give your kids something to do for a few minutes!


Update, 2 Minutes Later: Ok, I couldn't resist:

Kraft Mac And Cheese - 1998

I remember seeing this on the shelf back in the late 90s, but never felt quite compelled enough to pick them up, Aquaman's involvement notwithstanding.

Luckily F.O.A.M. member Shag Matthews did, and generously sent me a scan of all the various boxes (there were three different designs). Thanks Shag!

As I've said before, I never really warmed up to the hook-for-a-hand version of Aquaman, but the Animated Series-style version is the one most attractive to me. Plus you could eat macaroni in the shape of Aquaman's "A" symbol!


Post Script: No mention of these DC Superhero Mac and Cheese sets would be complete without Evan Dorkin's...unique take on them, via his Eltingville Comics Club characters in the brilliant comic book Dork!

So please click here to read the relevant passage, but be warned--it gets rough.
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Reminder: You have until this Sunday, 10/12, to get in your "Aquaman Shrine" pictures so I can post them on the Shrine's 2nd anniversary, October 13th!

It can be as many or as few items as you like--however it is that you choose to honor the King of the Seven Seas!

Super Friends #6 - Aug. 1977

Comics Weekend Smashing out of your TV screen--The Super Friends!

I haven't talked about the Super Friends series too much, and I should change that, since as a kid I loved the Super Friends comic.

Even though I was concurrently reading the more "adult" comics, I always thoroughly enjoyed the simple, straightforward stories by E.Nelson Bridwell...and of course the top-notch art of Ramona Fradon, here inked by Bob Smith.

This issue takes the legendary Juilus Schwartz's maxim that Gorillas On A Cover Sold Comics and does it one better--here, we've got an angry, drooling gorilla!* That 35 cent sale is guaranteed!

This issue's story is "The Menace of the Menagerie Man", featuring the debut of the title one, of the most goofily dressed bad guys in all comics. And a handlebar mustache, too boot!

Anyway, at a Gotham City basketball game, The Menagerie Man bursts in and, using a throng of angry, threatening animals, demands the crowd's money!

They comply, but one of the attendees--Junior Super Friend Wendy, is there, and calls for help:

...I love that bracelet with all the symbols. Someone should've actually made that.

As called, Batman arrives, only for The Menagerie Man--and his animals--to vanish into thin air. They all head back to the Hall of Justice, where they are met by the other Super Friends, and one special guest:

...The Atom!

Now, if you'll pause for a moment and take a look at the above panel--it works as a great visual metaphor for Aquaman's participation in this story.

Aquaman had a hard enough time, being on a team with heavy-hitters like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Add another superhero into the mix and Aquaman frequently finds himself fighting even harder for attention--although, as we'll see, Aquaman does get a nice moment or two further along in this story.

The Super Friends figure out where The Menagerie Man will show up next, and The Atom is there to meet him.

While fighting him, The Atom figures out that MM isn't teleporting away, he's using the same Dwarf Star material that The Atom uses to shrink himself and his animals to appear to be disappearing!

MM gets away, but now that The Atom has told the Super Friends what the truth is, they devise a plan to stop him. They wait at the next likely place for The Menagerie Man to strike--a local museum.

MM does arrive, but when he uses some of his animals again, he's met with a rude surprise:

...having been temporarily thwarted, The Menagerie Man tries using a herd of elephants and hippos to wreck the place. But of course they are no match for the Super Friends!

Superman and Wonder Woman take out the elephants, and Aquaman and Batman and Robin subdue the hippos. But there is some tension:

"...Our Batropes are as strong as you, Aquaman!"? Hey, Bruce, keep your loudmouth pet quiet!

The Atom takes out The Menagerie Man with a solid left hook, causing MM's mustache to flap in the breeze before he loses consciousness.

Later, at The Hall of Justice, we learn that The Atom has joined his friends to tell Wendy and Marvin that they are ready to "graduate" from being Junior Super Friends, since they have proved so helpful in this and previous cases.

But that's for another issue...


*ok, they're chimpanzees, not gorillas. I think my point still stands.