Aquaman #34

Issue Details

Synopsis

On board his yacht, Adventure, billionaire playboy Peter Dudley is a man unfulfilled. Escaping into the ocean, Dudley seeks out exotic specimens for his aquarium. Spying movement, Dudley casts his net, and catches Queen Mera, of Atlantis. Taken with her great beauty, Dudley ascends to the surface, taking Mera with him. Before he can reach his yacht, Dudley is attacked by Aquaman. The Monarch of Atlantis frees his Queen, then turns to strike Dudley again. Dudley pleads his ignorance, stating that he mistook Mera for a fish. Dudley invites them both back to his yacht. Dudley begins to obsess over Mera. His desire growing for her as great as his building jealousy of Aquaman. Once the Atlantean couple depart, Dudley immediately sets out to become a better version of Aquaman, in the hopes of winning Mera's heart. To this end, he hires one Dr. Hans Ludorf. The doctor warns Dudley that his surgical transformation process may kill him, or that the results may not be quite as desired. Dudley dismisses Ludorf's concerns. At first the operation would seem to be a success. Dudley becomes an exact duplicate of Aquaman. Seconds later, however, his features begin to distort. He continues to change, mutating into an monstrous ogre-like creature, though still bearing a passing resemblance to Aquaman. He has become the Aquabeast. Dudley bursts from the cabin of his yacht, dives overboard, and swims for Atlantis. Locating the fabled underwater city, Dudley conceals himself within an ore cart, headed for Aquaman's palace. Once there, he thunderously reveals his presence, inside the throne room.Dudley has come for Mera. As he lumbers towards her, Aquaman attacks. Dudley barely feels the punch. A fierce battle ensues. Dudley, as the enormously powerful Aquabeast, deals Aquaman a crushing defeat. Aqualad steps in to protect the Queen, but Dudley contemptuously swats the teen hero aside. Mera uses her ability, to control and manipulate water, to encase Dudley in a block of hard water. Dudley...