Showcase #32 is an issue of the series Showcase (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1961.
Synopsis for Aquaman: "The Creature King of the Sea"
When bringing specimens for a museum to the surface, Aquaman and Aqualad come across a diver trapped under some rocks, and summon a manta-ray to help save him. On the surface, the man introduces himself as Jed Coombs and asks Aquaman to help him locate an ancient wizard's treasure chest that is reported to be lost at sea. Agreeing to help Jed find the treasure, Aquaman and Aqualad have to swim through a number of undersea traps in order to retrieve the treasure chest. Returning it to the surface, Aquaman realizes that Jed is sweating everywhere but his face, and realizes the man he's speaking to is disguised. "Jed" explains that the contents inside the treasure chest that contains two magic potions. He explains that long ago an ancient wizard created the potion, and its antidote for his king, that would enable whoever drank it to change into a giant creature and ward off attackers. Afterward the wizard had the potion and its antidote dropped into the ocean so that it may never be used for ill. After his explanation "Jed" takes the potion and becomes a giant creature and attacks Aquaman.
The creature then causes terror across the ocean, determined to rule the seven seas and loot and pillage as he sees fit. Aquaman and Aqualad summon various undersea animals to aid in their counter attack against the creature, however each attack fails until finally the creature manages to grab Aquaman and Aqualad.
Explaining that he is aware of Aquaman and Aqualad's weakness, he drags the two out of the ocean and leaves them far enough from the ocean to dry out within an hour and die. Leaving the two, and taking his loot (a large supply of gold), the creature takes the antidote potion to revert back into his human form, so that he can make a getaway with his gold. Upon getting out to sea, he is stopped by various sea life until Aquaman and Aqualad arrive alive and well. Explaining that they revitalized themselves by ordering seagulls to drop sea sponges on them, they quickly command their undersea friends to subdue the crook, whom Aquaman then promptly delivers to the authorities.
Appearing in Aquaman: "The Creature King of the Sea"
Featured Characters:
Antagonists:
Notes
- Aquaman appears next in Detective Comics #293