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"Flash Back": Aquaman sits in the Aquacave reading the last paragraph of Atlanna's chronicles of the history of Atlantis. He decides to add to the journal his history as well and begins writing.

Aquaman: Time and Tide #1 is an issue of the series Aquaman: Time and Tide (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1993.

Synopsis for "Flash Back"

Aquaman sits in the Aquacave reading the last paragraph of Atlanna's chronicles of the history of Atlantis. He decides to add to the journal his history as well and begins writing.

He begins with his belief that his mother was either delusional or insane. She claimed that Arthur's father was a centuries-old Atlantean wizard though Aquaman has long theorized it was a surface dweller. He reflects on his ancestry which includes Kordax, a monster of "epic proportions" with blond hair and command over sea creatures - a coincidence that leaves Aquaman distressed.

He then recalls the first time he was ever called a hero. Alerted by sharks that something strange was occurring on the surface. Trickster robs a cruise ship on which is a police convention. He runs through the air towards his minisub but is being chased by the Flash who, as Barry Allen, happened to be part of the convention. Aquaman surfaces in the middle of the chase distracting Flash enough that Trickster is able to tag him with leg restraints. Flash tumbles along the water's surface and collides with a large shark, loses consciousness and sinks. Aquaman orders the sharks not to eat the Flash but they appear to have very short-term memories. In their confusion over recent events, Aquaman is able to rescue the Flash and bring him to the Aquacave.

Flash regains consciousness and Aquaman tells Flash of his distrust of surface dwellers. Flash, however, is able to reason with Aquaman convincing him to help in the capture of the Trickster. After the capture, Flash convinces Aquaman to join him in Crescent Shore to get a "hero's welcome" hoping the experience will aid in easing some of Aquaman's distrust of surface dwellers.

While waiting to be presented to the public, Flash gives Aquaman his hero name based on the "A" symbol on his belt, although Aquaman tells him it's an Atlantean letter. The Mayor presents Aquaman with the key to the city and Flash is soon informed that the Trickster has escaped. While Flash goes looking for him, Aquaman is escorted to a limousine with the Mayor and his Public Relations staff, Jack Shipp and Bart Saxton. They try to talk Aquaman into being the resident hero to allow them to cash in on his presence. They had previously settled on the name "Ocean King" and had many items of merchandizing prepared (such as key chains, watches and fly swatters). They even had begun sketches for a potential comic book series. Disgusted, and aggravated by cigar smoke and vodka (he had mistaken for water), Aquaman busts out of the moving limo, through traffic before collapsing on the sidewalk where he was immediately accosted by fans.

Trickster spots Aquaman and begins taunting him. The crowd cheers Aquaman on, but Aquaman turns and begins walking away. Trickster tries to goad him with a fish-shaped smoke bomb and a bucket of sand that forms an adhesive but Aquaman continues walking away. As Trickster gets more and more daring in his taunts, he also gets closer and Aquaman knocks him out with a single punch. The crowd, thinking it was all part of his master plan, cheer Aquaman again but Aquaman lashes out at them. He is about to dive back into the ocean when Flash catches up to him, hands him the key to the city and offers some kind words.

Appearing in "Flash Back"

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

  • Atlanna (Flashback only)
  • Atlan (Flashback only)
  • Kordax (Flashback only)
  • Mayor of Crescent Shore (Unnamed) (Flashback only)
  • Jack Shipp (Flashback only)
  • Bart Saxton (Flashback only)

Locations:

Items:

  • Aquacave Memorabilia:
  • Trickster Gadgets:
    • Air Walker Shoes
    • Jack-In-The-Box Arm Restraints
    • Spring-Toy Leg Restraints
    • Exploding Fish
    • Smoking Fish
    • Adhesive Sand

Vehicles:

  • Trickster's Minisub


Trivia

  • Bart Saxton wears numerous rings that are similar in appearance to Marvel Comics' Iron Man villain The Mandarin.
  • Bart Saxton shows Aquaman a sketch of potential comic-book versions of Aquaman that appears in armor not unlike those worn by Marvel Comic's Atlanteans. The drawing is signed "By King Studios."
  • Bart Saxton takes an immediate shining to the name "Aquaman" pointing out that "if they ever make a superhero 'Who's Who,'" Aquaman will be near the beginning. DC Comics did a series called Who's Who almost 10 years earlier (in 1985) and Aquaman was in the first issue.


See Also

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