Aquaman #1
Aquaman #1 (February 1962) marks the moment DC's perennial backup feature finally graduated to headliner status, giving Arthur Curry his first-ever self-titled ongoing series after more than two decades of supporting roles in anthology titles. The issue introduces Quisp, a mischievous water sprite who functions as Aquaman's answer to Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk — a recurring, magically powered wildcard who would appear on covers and reshape early storylines before bowing out the moment Mera joined the cast. As the launch point of a 56-issue Silver Age run that would eventually deliver Aquaman's marriage, fatherhood, and his ascension to the throne of Atlantis, this issue set in motion one of the most consequential character-building arcs in DC's Silver Age, with Nick Cardy's fluid undersea visuals directly inspiring the look of the 1967–68 Filmation animated series.
In "The Invasion of the Fire Trolls," Aquaman and Aqualad find themselves shrunk to the size of insects after a surprise assault by the fiery creatures. Now tiny and vulnerable, they must survive a sudden onslaught from a scorpion, a lizard, and a pelican—all while navigating a world that’s suddenly become dangerously large. Written by Jack Miller and brought to life with dynamic art by Nick Cardy, this 1962 DC classic features a cover by Nick Cardy that captures the perilous scale of the heroes’ plight.
In "Chapter 2: One Hour to Doom," Aquaman and Aqualad are unexpectedly shrunk by a Quisp mishap after a clash with the Fire Trolls, leaving them vulnerable to the dangers of their suddenly enormous underwater world—where a scorpion, a lizard, and a pelican now loom as towering threats.
In "Chapter 3: The Sinister Secret of the Fire Trolls," Aquaman and Aqualad join forces with the mysterious Quisp to confront the fiery threat of the Fire Trolls, racing to contain their volcanic rampage before the underwater realm is consumed. With the spell that shrank them now broken, the trio must act fast to freeze the creatures and seal their lair—before the volcano erupts again.
ComicBooks.com Value
Show all 22 grades ▾
Find on ebay
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The series was a direct product of the positive reader response to Aquaman's four-issue tryout in Showcase (#30–33, 1961) — the first time the character had ever appeared on a comic cover. Associate editor Murray Boltinoff, impressed by Nick Cardy's work starting with Showcase #31, tapped him as the ongoing series artist, while writer Jack Miller, who had scripted much of the Showcase run, continued as the primary storyteller. The cover was painted by Howard Purcell, and the issue was published under the National Periodical Publications imprint, with Jack Schiff serving as editor of record. Notably, the issue number appears only in the interior indicia and not on the cover itself — a quirk documented in multiple sources.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First issue of Aquaman's debut solo ongoing series (Volume 1), cover-dated February 1962, on sale approximately November 1961 — the payoff of a two-decade publishing history that began in More Fun Comics #73 (1941).
- First appearance of Quisp, a water sprite from a 'secret sea beneath the ocean,' created by writer Jack Miller and artist Nick Cardy; he became a recurring supporting character through the early run before being later reimagined as the Fifth-Dimensional villain Qwsp by Grant Morrison in JLA #28 (1999).
- Lead story: 'The Invasion of the Fire-Trolls,' written by Jack Miller with interior art by Nick Cardy and a cover by Howard Purcell; editor Jack Schiff oversaw the book.
- Nick Cardy drew the interior pages of the first 39 issues and continued providing covers through the series' final issue (#56, April 1971), establishing the definitive Silver Age visual identity for Aquaman.
- Topo the octopus appears in the issue, shown tidying the Aqua Cave — a background cameo confirming the supporting cast carried over from the Adventure Comics and Detective Comics backup era.
- The issue also contains a short public-service humor strip featuring the funny-animal characters Peter Porkchops, Mervin Mouse, and Wolfie — published in cooperation with the National Social Welfare Assembly — as filler content separate from the superhero lead story.
- The lead story has been reprinted at least five times, including in Showcase Presents: Aquaman Vol. 1 (DC, 2007), Aquaman: A Celebration of 75 Years (DC, 2016), and the DC Finest: Aquaman — The King of Atlantis collection.
- The issue number does not appear on the cover, only in the interior indicia — a production detail confirmed by multiple sources.
Cast · 8 characters
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Aquaman Classics #2501 (1969), Aquaman #1 (1969), Showcase Presents: Aquaman #1 (2007), Aquaman: A Celebration of 75 Years #[nn] (2016), Top Comics #2
Key issues in Aquaman
Reviews
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet.