Posted By Dan Greenfield on May 26, 2021 | 4 comments

PLUS: A shark-infested ’70s variant by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez…

This August, DC will celebrate eight decades of the Swift and Powerful Monarch of the Ocean with the publisher’s latest 100-page anniversary special.

Not just that, there will be the typical run of decade-tribute covers, including this beaut by storied Aqua-artist Ramona Fradon, who is slotted into the ’50s spot:

Inked by Sandra Hope, colored by Trish Mulvihill

Dig the official solicitation info, released Wednesday by DC:

Main cover by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

AQUAMAN 80th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1
Stories by DAN JURGENS, GEOFF JOHNS, BRANDON THOMAS, CHUCK BROWN, STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, MICHAEL MORECI, MARGUERITE BENNETT, DAN WATTERS, JEFF PARKER, SHAWN ALDRIDGE, AND FRANCIS MANAPUL!
Art by STEVE EPTING, PAUL PELLETIER, VALENTINE DE LANDRO, HENDRY PRASETYA, POP MHAN, TRUNGLES, MIGUEL MENDONÇA, EVAN “DOC” SHANER, TOM DERENICK, FRANCIS MANAPUL, AND MORE!
Main cover by IVAN REIS & JOE PRADO
ON SALE: 8/31/21    
$9.99 US | 96 PAGES | FC | DC | Prestige format

After defending the seven seas for eight decades, it’s time to throw Aquaman a party! This all-star-filled anthology spans across the ocean king’s legacy, not just celebrating his own triumphs, but also those of his greatest allies and enemies. We look at his ongoing romance with Mera, his bitter rivalry with Black Manta, his brotherly conflict with Ocean Master, and the inspiration he lends to younger heroes like Tempest and Jackson Hyde, the newest Aqualad.

It would not be an Aquaman celebration without also looking at how he’s changed over the years, including a brand-new tale of Bombshells Aquaman.

This special brings together Aqua talent past, present, and future, including reuniting fan-favorite creative teams such as Geoff Johns and Paul Pelletier, Dan Jurgens and Steve Epting, alongside Dan Watters and Miguel Mendonca. Plus, two of the stories are prequels to two new Aquaman miniseries launching in September, kicking off another 80 years of undersea adventure!

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A few thoughts:

— DC also released the 1970s cover – by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez and complete with sharks, which were wildly popular on covers of the era. Because, y’know, Jaws. BONUS: Love that trade dress!

Colored by Mulvihill

— And here’s the 2010s cover by Robson Rocha and co.

— In case you were wondering, Aquaman — created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris — debuted in More Fun Comics #73, which came out in September 1941 (and also gave us Green Arrow, who has his own anniversary special coming in June.

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MORE

— NICK CARDY’s 13 Greatest AQUAMAN Stories — RANKED. Click here.

— BURIED TREASURY: The AQUAMAN Tabloid Comic That Should Have Been. Click here.