The Fire and Water Podcast, Episode 148

THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST: Episode 148

The official podcast of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE and FIRESTORM FAN

Episode 148 - Bob Haney Showcase IV with Metamorpho

Back by popular demand, it's another Bob Haney Showcase, this time focusing on Metamorpho, The Element Man! Shag profiles "The Freak and the Billion-Dollar Phantom" by Haney and Ramona Fradon from FIRST ISSUE SPECIAL #3 (June 1975), and then I tackle "How To Make A Super-Hero" by Haney and Jim Aparo from BRAVE AND THE BOLD #123 (Dec. 1975) starring Batman, Plastic Man, and Metamorpho! It's more Zany Haney! Don't forget kids, use the hashtag #ZanyHaney online for this episode!

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Aquaman Episode 34 - Three Wishes to Trouble

Aquaman Episode 34 - "Three Wishes to Trouble" by Bob Haney

While on patrol, Aqualad and Tusky find a weird old jug sitting among a wrecked ship. Aqualad opens the jug and out pops...Snork The Genie!

Aqualad is granted three wishes (of course), and the first thing he asks for is a giant robot. His wish is granted, and he commands the robot to clean up all the debris laying around this part of the ocean. Unfortunately the robot does its job too well, using its powerful suction to dredge up everything in its path, including Tusky and Storm!

Aqualad consults Snork, using his section wish to ask for a "giant robot smasher." Snork complies and the robot is destroyed. Aquaman arrives demanding to know what the hell is going on, and Aqualad tells him about Snork. The Sea King tells his young irresponsible charge to get that genie back in the jug, but Aqulad doesn't quite comply. Instead, he uses his third wish to ask for telepathic powers similar to Aquaman's!

Aqualad does the vu-vu-vu thing, accidentally releasing a small army of mutant fish who go on a rampage! He tries to command them back into the dark cave they came from, but he finds his powers gone. When queried, Snork cheekily points out that Aqualad asked for the powers "one time only", and he has fulfilled that wish. Realizing he's in trouble, Aqualad calls on Aquaman who uses his powers to get his finny friends on the case, forcing the angry sea creatures back from where they came.:

Aquaman has had enough, commanding a puffer fish to come and suck up Snork. He then spits the genie back in the jug, with Aqualad sealing it back up. The End!

This is the second episode in a row where Aqualad does something really stupid and Aquaman has to pull his fat out the fire. Sidekicks, am I right?

Snork The Genie is right out of Central Cartoon Casting, with a funny voice and a slightly more cartoony visage. He did a few guest spots on other cartoons like Shazzan and The Brady Kids before retiring and settling down in Laurel Canyon. His lawsuit against Hanna-Barbera regarding their Snorks animated show was not successful.

Aquaman Episode 29 - The Undersea Trojan Horse

Aquaman Episode 29 - "The Undersea Trojan Horse" by Bob Haney

The villainous--and pruny--Dr. Lamprey is piloting his ship and depositing a strange device at the bottom of the ocean floor. Moments later, Aquaman and Aqualad are attacked by robot swordfish, which Lamprey is using as a distraction while he attacks Atlantis!

Aqualad climbs aboard one of the robots and forces it into a sea wall, causing it to explode. Meanwhile, outside Atlantis, Mera comes across a very strange item, a giant bejeweled swordfish. She can't help but touch it (because she's just a dumb girl), which activates a switch inside, causing a small army of metal fish to swim out, heading for Atlantis!

Aquaman and Aqualad arrives just in time, with the Sea King commanding some finny friends to deal with the robot invaders. He then spies Dr. Lamprey's craft, and calls some electric eels to attack it. Even though the ship is disabled, more robots attack, which confuses Aquaman--then he realizes the controller must be somewhere else.

Tusky finds the controller inside a giant clam, grabbing it with his mouth and smashing it to bits. This causes the robot attackers to blow up, thus ending the threat from Dr. Dried Apple Head. The only thing left to do is chuckle at Mera for trying to bring down the giant swordfish, because as we all know, it's funny when girls try and do stuff. The End!

I was pretty hard on this episode, with its sexual politics right out of Mad Men, but I guess I'm not really being fair: this cartoon is a product of its time, and I'm sure the writers and producers had no malice intended. In fact, I'm happy they included Mera at all, since she shows up so infrequently in this show.

The action scene with Aquaman and Aqualad smashing the robot fish is pretty exciting, with lots of quick cuts of our heroes flying across (and sometimes at) the screen.

The Fire and Water Podcast, Episode 124

THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST: Episode 124

The official podcast of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE and FIRESTORM FAN

Episode 124 - Bob Haney Showcase III/Geek Talk

This week Shag and I start the show discussing a host of smaller topics, like the Batman v Superman trailer, Convergence, and the Suicide Squad movie. Next is another Bob Haney Showcase: Shag profiles "Hero is A Dirty Name" by Haney, Dick Dillin, and Tex Blaisdell from WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #231, and then I tackle "The Disco of Death" by Haney and Jim Aparo from BRAVE AND THE BOLD #151! It's more Zany Haney!

Have a question or comment? Looking for more great content?

THE AQUAMAN SHRINE - http://www.aquamanshrine.net

FIRESTORM FAN - http://firestormfan.com

THE FIRE & WATER TUMBLR - http://fireandwaterpodcast.tumblr.com
E-MAIL: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

This episode brought to you by InStockTrades - http://instocktrades.com

Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-fire-and-water-podcast/id463855630

Thanks for listening! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

Aquaman Episode 25 - In Captain Cuda's Clutches

Aquaman Episode 25 - "In Captain Cuda's Clutches" by Bob Haney

Back at the AquaCave, Tusky is enamored by a giant jewel sitting atop a stand against a wall. As he stares, he sees some sort of crystalline creature inside, scaring him. Aquaman chuckles and explains that this jewel is a not only ornamental, but serves as a portal to another world, one that consists of Jewel People, a peaceful race that spends all its time mining its resources so it is self-sufficient.

The fly in the ointment is the villainous Captain Barracuda, riding atop the giant starfish known as Starro, on his way to attack the Jewel People and steal their riches!

Captain Barracuda first attacks the main dome of the Jewel People's city, and using Starro starts cracking it open like an eggshell. Aquaman and Aqualad take off to stop them, with the latter being temporarily knocked out by Barracuda's ray gun of doom, or whatever.

Between the two of them, Captain Barracuda and Starro are difficult to stop. Aquaman finally gets close enough to deal with 'Cuda in a very hands-on, direct manner:

Separated from Starro and his ray gun, Captain Barracuda is apprehended by the Jewel People and put in chains. Aquaman and Aqualad have a laugbh that he's now getting to be around all the jewels he wants, just not the way he intended...The End!

I had completely forgotten that Starro was used in this show. When he's first mentioned, I got so excited at the idea of one of my favorite JLA villains making an appearance. Unfortunately, I'm guessing writer Bob Haney just simply needed a name for a giant malevolent starfish, and used "Starro" since it was probably in his mental rolodex. The Starro seen here doesn't look like the comics version and displays no personality of his own: he's just a goon of Captain Barracuda's. In fact, when Barracuda is defeated, Starro is not seen or mentioned, as if he's not even really a threat on his own. Too bad, as I said I love the character and it would have been a blast to see a Filmation version of him.

Aquaman is way more a bruiser in this episode--he personally knocks Barracuda off Starro, puts him in a bearhug, and then throws him to the ground. Maybe the Sea King was really protective of the Jewel People and Barracuda's attack set him off.

Happy Aqua-Birthday Bob Haney!

The Aquaman Shrine today commemorates what would have been the late, great Bob Haney's 89th birthday!

Aquaman Episode 20 - The Torp, The Magneto and The Claw

Aquaman Episode 20 - "The Torp, The Magneto and The Claw" by Bob Haney

Aqualad and Mera are out on patrol, away from Atlantis, when they spot the dreaded Torpedo! Living up to his name, he attacks!

Aqualad tells Mera to take off and find Aquaman while he follows Torpedo. He is shocked to see that the pointy-headed bad guy is using an underwater junkyard as his home base. Even more surprising is that the Torpedo is not working alone--he has teamed up with two other metallic baddies, Magneto and The Claw!

Mera gets a message out to Aquaman, but she is then captured (along with Aqualad) by The Claw, who stuffs them inside the jaws of an old bulldozer scoop, trapping them. Aquaman soon arrives, rescuing them, then turning his attention towards his old foes.

He first takes on Magneto, using his own powers against him. Aquaman summons some octopi, who grab some of the old junk and pile it on top of Magneto, whose magnetic powers trap him under tons of the stuff. The Claw then attacks Aquaman, who avoids the deathly pincers long enough to grab one of his arms, stretching it, and then letting is snap back, knocking The Claw out.

Finally Aquaman and Aqualad turn to Torpedo, leading him into a nearby cave. Torpedo thinks he has our heroes trapped, not realizing his powers don't work well in a closed environment. He dive bombs Aqualad, but Aquaman grabs him at the last second, causing Torpedo to veer off course violently:

The Torpedo ends up heading further into the deep dark cave, out of control. As the sound of his voice trails off into nothing, we have reached...The End!

Last week's episode featured three Aqua-Villains teaming up, now another set of bad guys get the same idea. If I was Aquaman, I would worry about some sort of conspiracy going on. Of course, Torpedo, Magneto, and The Claw were a team from the original 1960s Aquaman comics, but here on the show it's presented as if they're teaming up for the first time.

There's a funny little bit of snark in this episode--it's Mera's fault that The Claw captures her and Aqualad. So when The Claw clamps down the bulldozer's jaws on them, you can hear Aqualad complain to Mera, "We're trapped--thanks to you!" Mee-ow! Another nice moment is the final scene of The Torpedo disappearing into the cave. The sound editor of the show faded his audio, so you really get the sense he's going further and further away. A simple, if a little chilling, moment.

By the way, what's with calling Torpedo "Torp" in the title of this episode? Are we really on a nickname basis with this guy now?

Aquaman Episode 14 - Treacherous is the Torpedoman

Aquaman Episode 14: "Treacherous is the Torpedoman" by Bob Haney

Aquaman, Aqualad, and Tusky come upon the wrecked hull of a boat, not knowing that waiting inside is an old foe(?) of Aquaman's, The Torpedoman!

Torpedoman makes a frontal assault (considering his name and powers, that's really the only kind he can make), and Aquaman and Aqualad counter by lassoing him with some seaweed. He escapes by by transmogrifying into an anchor and dropping himself onto our heroes, who escape in the nick of time.

The Torpedoman then activates an electronic grid installed in the "wrecked" ship, followed by an attack that he hopes will drive Aquaman and Aqulad into it. But luckily they duck out of the way, and the Torpedoman helplessly flies into it. As he screams in pain, Aquaman shows mercy and has some of his finny friends help pry him loose:

Aquaman's generosity is met with treachery, as the Torpedoman drumps a net onto his enemies. He then dives below the ship, causing it to come loose from the cliff it so precariously sits on. As the ship starts to tumble, Aquaman calls an octopus pal to free them from the net. They escape just as the ship falls, which Aqualad surmises took The Torpedoman with it. Aquaman isn't so sure, thinking they'll run into him again someday. The End!

As we all know, Bob Haney played fast and loose with continuity in the comics, and he does that here too--The Torpedoman refers to Aquaman as his "old enemy" even though we've never seen him before, either in the comics or on this show. As villains go, Torpedoman is particularly incompetent, getting caught in his own deathtrap twice in less than eight minutes. He probably eventually gave up the supervillain game and decided to rent himself out as a freelance anchor. Call 1-800-Tor-Pedo!


Post Script: As F.O.A.M.er Joseph Brian Scott mentions in the comments, The Torpedoman is most likely the animated version of the character that appeared in Aquaman #36, alongside fellow baddies Claw and Magneto. He's probably right, especially since that comic was published only a few months before this episode was produced. Given how limited time and money was for these shows, Filmation would have only had room to animate one villain, so Torpedoman got the nod. Good call JBS!

Aquaman, Episode 6: War of the Water Worlds

Aquaman Episode 6: "War of the Water Worlds" by Bob Haney

Mera and Tusky are out for a leisurely stroll around the ocean, when she spots a mysterious yet beautiful flower. Mera stops to smell it, and is suddenly grabbed by seemingly-innocent plant and dragged kicking and screaming into a small pit in the ocean floor!

Tusky makes his way back to the Aqua-Cave and alerts Aquaman and Aqualad. They head into the pit to rescue Mera, and discover a heretofore unknown other world! Our heroes soon learn that it's quite a dangerous place, with creatures of all sorts around, just ready to reach out and attack. A line of plants reach out and grab Aqualad, and it's up to Aquaman to save him!

They head into a cave, and spy Mera laying on a slab with a strange light being beamed down on her. They are confronted by Slag, the laughing, demon-like ruler of this dimension, who says that Mera is his prisoner, and now Aquaman and Aqualad are too!

Aqualad is knocked out and put on the slab next to Mera, where they will be transformed for some nefarious purpose. Aquaman is thrown into a dungeon, where a hydra attacks him. Feeling outclassed, Aquaman calls on some finny friends to help him defeat the hydra and escape. Aquaman grabs Mera and Slag gives chase, but he and Aqualad get away.

Having returned to their world, Aquaman commands a giant, razor-toothed clam to sit atop the dimensional portal, that way Slag "will think twice" about invading their world again. The End!

Nice to see Mera back after several episodes away, even if she is relegated to Rescued Female role--she gets in trouble by sniffing a flower, a very girly thing to do. She never wakes up during the course of the episode, so after her intro she's just a prop. Still, Slag's dimension is a lot of creepy fun, with its nightmarish creatures and hellish color scheme.

I kinda feel bad for that clam, who basically can never leave that spot, lest Slag and his creatures escape and wreak havoc on the world again. That's dedication.

Aquaman Episode 1: Menace of the Black Manta

Aquaman Episode 1: "Menace of the Black Manta" by Bob Haney

Welcome to our new Sunday feature, Saturday Morning Sundays, where we will take a look back the Aquaman animated series by Filmation, which ran from 1968-1969, as part of the Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure!

This first episode kicks off with Aquaman's (then, and arguably still) #1 foe, Black Manta, skimming the bottom of the seas in his fearsome Manta Ship:

Manta spies on our heroes, Aquaman, Aqualad, Mera, and Tusky the Walrus, as plans his attack. Having attached an antenna to a nearby whale, Manta emits a transmission, causing the whale to go wild! Aquaman's finny friends try to warn him of danger, and they go an investigate.

Aquaman tries to calm the whale down, to no effect. After Mera is knocked off her steed into the mouth of a giant clam, Aquaman orders a hammerhead shark to smash the antenna on Manta's ship, breaking the transmission and calming the whale down. Next, Manta sends out a small band of his really creepy-looking Manta Men.

Aquaman and Aqualad fight them off, but Manta keeps attacking: using various powerful beams of energy, Manta has different sea creatures grow out of control in size and become deadly. They free themselves, only to see that Manta has spun a large net of coral with which to trap nearby ships. Aquaman again uses his telepathic powers to have some swordfish cut the net loose.

Aquaman and Aqualad then use the coral to trap the Manta Men. Black Manta follows our heroes into a canyon, where his ship gets caught between to cliffs. Now it's time for Aquaman and Black Manta to fight mano-a-mano:

After a brief fight, Manta falls into a nearby whirlpool. Aqualad thinks he's gone forever, but Aquaman is none too sure. After freeing the still-trapped Mera, who has to play catch up, we have reached...The End!

This first episode of the series--written by then-Aquaman scribe Bob Haney--establishes the necessary template that Filmation would follow for the remaining episodes. At only seven minutes each, there's virtually no time for set-up or characterization (not that there would have been even if there had been time): a villain appears, attacks Aquaman, there's some initial setbacks, and then the heroes triumph in the end. Filmation's visual imagination is on full display here, with the really cool Manta Men and bright, dazzling colors. 

This show aired in tandem with Super Friends way back in the early 1970s, and it was my first true introduction to the character. And what an introduction! Aquaman (voiced by Marvin Miller) is the epitome of a can-do hero: never flustered, brave, powerful, and kind to his sidekick Aqualad, steed Storm, and partner/wife Mera (though here on the show she seems more of an equal to Aqualad, and no relationship between the two is ever suggested). Aquaman the series is essentially the Haney/Cardy era of the Aquaman comic book brought to life.

For some reason, despite the Shrine being eight years old, I never did quite get around to covering the show in detail. So when Adventure Sundays started winding down and I wanted something equally fun and light-hearted to replace it, I realized than an episode-by-episode look at the show that kicked off my Aqua-Fandom would fit the bill. I hope you all enjoy and let the Shrine know what you thought of the show!