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Aquaman
DC Comics // February 1962 - April 1971
Issue count: 63
A relatively minor DC character from the Golden-Age, AQUAMAN became widely adored when he was revived for the Silver-Age! See what key issues to look for in Quality's online price guide! Click the title link above!
Aquaman made his less than spectacular debut in More Fun Comics #73 as a backup story where he shares his origin with us via flashback monologue:
"The story must start with my father, a famous undersea explorer, if I spoke his name, you would recognize it. My mother died when I was a baby, and he turned to his work of solving the ocean's secrets. His greatest discovery was an ancient city, in the depths where no other diver had ever penetrated. My father believed it was the lost kingdom of Atlantis. He made himself a water-tight home in one of the palaces and lived there, studying the records and devices of the race's marvelous wisdom. From the books and records, he learned ways of teaching me to live under the ocean, drawing oxygen from the water and using all the power of the sea to make me wonderfully strong and swift. By training and a hundred scientific secrets, I became what you see, a human being who lives and thrives under the water."
Aquaman's "powers" were pretty much exactly what you would expect as indicated by his name. For the Golden Age appearances, initially he was able to breathe underwater and control fish and other underwater creatures for a short period of time. He was originally shown to be able to speak to sea creatures "in their own language" rather than telepathically and only in close proximity. His adventures would take him around the globe but always he returned to his underwater base, a wrecked fishing boat in the murky depths.
He gained some small amount of popularity during the wartime issues as he regularly contended with German u-boats and the like. The late 40's and the early 50's would find his sea based crime fighting taking him up against all too familiar foes and he would soon be moved to different books to try and freshen the character, unfortunately to no avail.
Aquaman's last appearance in More Fun Comics was in issue #106, before being moved along with Superboy and Green Arrow to Adventure Comics, starting with issue #103 in 1946.
When DC re-launched the character in the 50's, and as a part of the successful Justice League of America, his status finally rose to the point where the company decided it was time for him to have his own title.
Beginning in 1962, Jack Miller and Bob Haney wrote, and journeyman DC mainstay Nick Cardy was given the art chores. The title sold well enough to keep this team on board for several years.
However, AQUAMAN really began to distinguish itself in the late 60's when Dick Giordano, fresh from creating the obscure but beloved "Action Heroes" line for Charlton Comics, came on as editor at DC and brought young lions Steve Skeats and Jim Aparo along with him. Assigned to Aquaman, this fresh writer/artist team brought a whole new contemporary sensibility to the character, making these issues in particular fan-favorites, and very collectible!
Grab 'em while they are still rising in value!
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Issue #1
What's Aquaman #1 worth in 2024?
Aquaman (1962) #1 has a top price of $38,400 for an untouched 9.6 rated copy sold in August 2019. A mid rated 6.0 was sold for $1,092 as of Februray 2023 which is an increase from its $795 price tag in June 2021. Today, you might be able to get a readable 2.0 rated copy for $300-$350 which is quite fair considering the significance of this issue.
Why is this comic book valuable?
Aquaman (1962) #1 is titled as The Invasion of the Fire Trolls. The script of this issue was written by Jack Miller with a cover date of February 1962. It was penciled and inked by Nick Cardy.
Key Facts About the Comic
This issue features an artwork of Aquaman along with his sidekick swimming and dodging over the firetrolls in order to put an end to the invasion.
Story Synopsis
Aquaman and his sidekick Aqualad help Quisp fight against the Fire Trolls from an Underwater Volcano.
Price Guide Report
| GD 2.0 | VG 4.0 | FN 6.0 | VF 8.0 | NM 9.4 | RECORD SALE! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | $500 | $1,092 | $3,250 | $21,600 | $38,400 |
Issue #11
What's Aquaman #11 worth in 2024?
Aquaman (1962) #11 achieved its peak value of $26,400 in August 2019. This sum was paid for a CGC rated 9.4 for a Pacific Coast Pedigree. If you want to buy a mid graded issue, you might have to spend at least $400- $500 depending on the condition of that copy. A readable low grade issue which was a 2.0 rated copy, it went for $124 in June 2022.
Why is this comic book valuable?
Aquaman (1962) #11 was published by DC Comics in October 1963. This issue was written by Jack Miller. It was penciled and inked by Nick Cardy. This issue featured the first appearances of Mera also known as Aquaman's love interest. It also featured the first appearance of Leron and Xebel.
Key Facts About the Comic
The cover art of this issue shows Aquaman alongside Aqualad and Mera stuck in an Endless Whirlpool.
Story Synopsis
Aquaman and his side kick Aqualad run into Mera who is a former queen on a world known as "Dimension Aqua". A criminal named as Leron ousts Mera from her throne. Mera flees from her dimension to Earth and ask help from Aquaman and Aqualad.
Price Guide Report
| GD 2.0 | VG 4.0 | FN 6.0 | VF 8.0 | NM 9.4 | RECORD SALE! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $124 | $235 | $450 | $1,313 | $8,250 | $26,400 |
Issue #18
What's Aquaman #18 worth in 2024?
The highest ever an Aquaman (1962) #18 ever sold was a 9.8 rated pedigree from the Pacific Coast in March 2010. This issue was sold in an auction for $1,850. In December, A Very Fine VF 8.0 rated copy was sold for $375 in December 2022 which is an increase from its $200 price tag of 2018. A 6.0 rated copy was sold for $85 in March 2023. The lowest rated copy 4.0 went for $66 in September 2021.
Why is this comic book valuable?
Aquaman (1962) #18 was publsihed by DC Comics in December 1964. This issue was written by Jack Miller while the artwork was done by Nick Cardy.
Key Facts About the Comic
The cover art of this issue is titled as "The Wedding of Aquaman". Nick Cardy portrays the wedding sermon between Aquaman and Mera. The cover art also features the Justice League attending the wedding.
Story Synopsis
Aquaman is the Crowned king of Atlantis. According to the Atlantean custom, Aquaman must marry an Atlantean woman and make her this queen of all Atlantis. However, Aquaman falls Mera but she is not eligible to be the queen because she is not an Atlantean.
Price Guide Report
| GD 2.0 | VG 4.0 | FN 6.0 | VF 8.0 | NM 9.4 | RECORD SALE! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $50 | $85 | $375 | $920 | $1,850 |
Issue #29
What's Aquaman #29 worth in 2024?
Aquaman (1962) #29 has a top price of 9.8 rated CGC which went for $4,080 in August 2019. An 8.5 rated CGC copy went for $549 in January 2023 which is higher than its $400 price tag of 2020. A mid grade 5.5 rated copy went fo $250 in October 2022 while a 3.0 recently went for $110 in March 2023.
Why is this comic book valuable?
Aquaman Volume 1 issue 29 titled “Coward-king of Seas” was published in October 1966. Nick Cardy did the cover art, penciling and inking. It was written by Bob Haney and edited by George Kashdan.
Key Facts About the Comic
The vibrant and colorful cover art shows the Ocean Master with a spear raised to attack Aquaman. Aqualad and a swordfish are offering help, but surprisingly Aquaman is gesturing to them to stop.
Story Synopsis
A booby-trapped whale wreaks havoc to all ships, and the Ocean Master is behind it.
Aquaman and Aqualad are called upon. But, Aquaman refuses to fight the Ocean Master.
Aquaman reveals that the Ocean Master is his half-brother Orm Marius. After his mother died, his father remarried, and Orm was born.
Orm grew up as a jealous kid because he had no powers like his older sibling. As a result, he got into trouble with the law often.
Orm suffered a blow to his head, which caused him amnesia. After that, he became the Ocean Master.
The comic ends on a quizzical note after the Ocean Master gets away. Aquaman wonders what his action might lead to after that.
Price Guide Report
| GD 2.0 | VG 4.0 | FN 6.0 | VF 8.0 | NM 9.4 | RECORD SALE! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $55 | $118 | $152 | $450 | $1,225 | $4,080 |
Issue #35
What's Aquaman #35 worth in 2024?
Aquaman (1962) #35 was sold for a heafty price tag of $9,000 in June 2019. This price was achieved for a 9.6 rated Pacific Coast pedigree. A CGC rated 8.0 was sold for $760 in March 2023 which is an increase from its $526 price tag of 2015. A 2.5 rated CGC was sold for $103 in March 2023 which is lower than its $199 price tag of 2022 but an overall increase from its $45 price tag in 2017.
Why is this comic book valuable?
Aquaman volume 1 issue 35 is titled “Between Two Dooms” with the cover date of August 1967. Written by Bob Haney, cover art, penciling and inking done by Nick Cardy, it was published in June 1967.
Key Facts About the Comic
This comic features Aquaman’s old foe, Black Manta, and the Ocean Master.
The cover art shows a dynamic scene from the comic. It shows Aquaman overpowered by Black Manta and the Ocean Master. Both are seen carrying spears, trying to attack Aquaman.
Story Synopsis
A strange submarine descends upon Atlantis. Aquaman ventures alone to investigate and gets stuck in the bio-magnetic hull. The hull belongs to his foe Black Manta.
Black Manta releases a chemical into the doom, protecting Atlantis. Mera uses her hard-water powers to lead evacuations and to protect her son.
Aquaman frees himself and flushes out the poisoned water from Atlantis. Since the Atlanteans cannot breathe oxygen for more than an hour, Aquaman asks Vulko to initiate Project-X.
Project-X is a serum that turns the Atlanteans into air-breathers. However, Aquaman, Mera, Aqualad, and Aquababy do not take the serum. They stay behind to defend Atlantis.
When Black Manta kidnaps Aquababy, the Ocean Master returns to avenge Aquaman. Aquaman is demanded to surrender. But shockingly, the Ocean Master saves Aquababy.
The two villains fight each other while Aquaman is caught between the two. When the fight gets intense, Aquaman and Aquababy get to safety. In the end, the Ocean Master escapes, but the fate of Black Manta is not known.
Price Guide Report
| GD 2.0 | VG 4.0 | FN 6.0 | VF 8.0 | NM 9.4 | RECORD SALE! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $70 | $129 | $378 | $760 | $3,120 | $9,000 |