Aquaman #42

Issue Details

Synopsis

Aquaman emerges from the Depths and arrives at the land of the Maarzons, where he finds his enemy Black Manta in charge. Black Manta claims he has information on Mera and challenges Aquaman to a duel!The search for his abducted wife has led Aquaman to the outskirts of the Maarzons, a warlike tribe of primitive savages. Almost immediately, Aquaman is attacked by a Maarzon tribesman. A pitched fight ensues with Aquaman readily gaining the upper hand. However, two more Maarzon warriors ambush Aquaman. Held in place by the two Maarzons, Aquaman is left open to his original attacker's spear thrust. While waiting for the fatal blow, Aquaman's mind turns back to the events that led him to this dire state of affairs. Mera's abduction. The search for the ring with the five-sided stone. Aqualad's near mortal wounding. Aquaman's reverie ends as the Maarzon tribesman lunges forward with the spear. Aquaman suddenly wrenches his arm forward, thrusting one of the Maarzons holding him into the spear's path. Aquaman quickly puts down his original attacker, then follows the last Maarzon standing back to the Maarzon colony. As Aquaman approaches the Maarzon colony, he is nearly hit by another spear. Aquaman, however, is not under attack. A group of Maarzon tribesman are warring with one another in the middle of the colony. Fighting and violence seem to be all the Maarzon know. Aquaman searches for the seat of authority for the Maarzon people, but can find no such structure. Suddenly, his attention is drawn to the strange manta shaped submersible descending on the colony. It is the signature ship of his old enemy, The Black Manta. Aquaman rushes to engage the Black Manta. The Maarzons, however, worship the Black Manta as a God, and are quick to defend him.Engaging the Maarzon warriors in battle, Aquaman accuses Black Manta of Mera's abduction. He threatens to bring every denizen of the sea down on Maarzon unless the Black Manta gives up Mera's location. The Black Manta strikes a deal with...