Showcase Presents Aquaman

Title: Showcase Presents Aquaman
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication date: 2007
Format: Black and white
ISBN: 978-1-4012-1223-0
Reviewed by: Allen Klingelhoets

I was able to read "How Aquaman Got His Powers!" in Adventures Comics # 260. Aquaman's father was Tim Curry, an ex-sailor, lived a solitary existence as a lighthouse-keeper. One evening, while a hurricane raged over sea and land Tim in lighthouse saw a girl on a raft. The waves could not seperate her from raft. Tim rescued the girl after the raft was put onshore of the island with the lighthouse. She identified herself as Atlanna. They soon fell in love and were married. A year later a son was born. They named him Arthur. When Arthur was about eight his Mother died. On her death bed she told Arthur and Tim that she had come from Atlantis. A continent that had sank into the sea ages ago. The people had to adapt to a watery existence. They gradually became like fish---capable of all under water feats.But she had a constant desire to to visit the upper Earth, one day she was caught trying to escape--- and punishment was swift. The punishment by Atlantis council was permanent exile and never to return to Atlantis. She told her son Arthur that he inherited her ability to live underwater and communicate with sea creatures and perform great underwater feats and become ruler of the oceans. Authur had already shown that he could stay under water for long periods of time. I was able to see how Aquaman grew into adult and learned to communicate with creatures of the oceans and sea. I enjoyed how Aquaman had a pet octopus named Topo. I liked seeing new side kick named Aqualad. I liked seeing many ways villains attempted to defeat Aquaman and Aqualad. I found it interesting in ways team managed to survive when needed to defeat someone when out of water. They could only be out of water at maximum of one hour. The writers always managed to figure way for them to find water to replenish strength. There were even few missions to other galaxies. I really enjoyed reading Showcase Presents Aquaman.

I feel young adult to adult reading level. There are over 500 pages of comic book Aquaman stories. The comic books back than cost ten cents. Most storis in book are about eight pages long. One of my favorite stories in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olson # 55 called "The Monster that Loved Aqua-Jimmy". Jimmy Olson gets to wear helmet which gave him temporary powers of Aquaman. Superman had to take Aquaman to distant watery world and had to have Jimmy fill in for Aquaman in his absence. I loved humor and challenges for Jimmy Olson as Aquaman. He even got to wear clothes like Aquaman. Of course there were obstacles like sea monster which would not respond to telepathic impulses from Jimmy Olson.

I think this book could be found through library or e-bay.

Showcase Presents are cheap forms of reading entertainment. Colored versions would be much more expensive. Aquaman Volume 1 was priced at $16.99 US.

From back cover:
Aquaman volume 1

He is the King of the seven seas!

With his super strength, fantastic ability to breath underwater and communicate telepathically with all sea life, Aquaman battles the forces of evil above and below the waves.

In these classic stories from the 1950's to early 1960's, the King of the sea and his partner, Aqualad, encounter menaces from the deepest depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

With these forty-nine adventures - many never before reprinted - such renowned comic book creators such as Nick Cardy, Ramona Fradon, George Kashdan, Bob Haney and others helped shape the legend of the hero called Aquaman!​

Allen Klingelhoets