Aquaman #16

In "Aquabête, le redoutable," Peter Dudley's obsession with Mera leads him down a dangerous path when he undergoes a radical transformation orchestrated by Dr. Ludorf, hoping to become the equal of Aquaman. But the experiment spirals out of control, turning Dudley into the monstrous Aquabeast, who kidnaps Mera and unleashes chaos beneath the sea. Written by Bob Haney and illustrated with dynamic flair by Nick Cardy—whose inks bring the creature's terrifying form to life—this 1973 tale from Arédit-Artima delivers a haunting, high-stakes aquatic thriller. The cover by Nick Cardy captures the beast’s grim intensity, a striking visual that hints at the tragedy to come.