Wow.

Based upon the hits we’ve received the past few hours, the Fortress should ditch the whole comics bit and set up shop as a Taylor Hicks fan site.

It’s tempting … but as the man said, you’ve gotta dance with the one that brought you. So, it’s back to comic-books and super-heroes!

{Suddenly, legions of Taylor fans stampede out of the Fortress.}

Hello?

…

Oh well. Over the past several days we’ve enjoyed Siskoid’s tribute to Aquaman - an awesome character who, for far too long, has been the butt of jokes by hack comedians and ignorant fan-persons.

(Although that Seinfeld gag was pretty funny … )

To demonstrate our solidarity with Aqua-fans everywhere, the Keeper would like to present Arthur Curry’s first meeting with a certain Avenging Son.

No, not that brief kerfuffle from the ’90s or the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it encounter in JLA/Avengers.

We’re referring to the legendary semi-crossover between Aquaman #56, published in 1971, and The Savage Sub-Mariner # 72, which appeared three years later!

That’s right Fortress Fans, it’s yet another great team-up by proxy from the Bronze Age! Writer Steve Skeates originally intended “The Creature That Ate Detroit” - a nifty artifact from DC’s “age of relevance” - to be a two-part tale that involved Aquaman losing his abilities to breathe underwater and communicate telepathically with his fishy friends.

Sadly, the Aquaman comic was canceled after its 56th issue and remained incomplete until Skeates wrote the final issue of Namor’s comic in 1974.

The end result: A tag-match that kinda sorta teamed up the Aquatic Ace and his Avenging forbearer.

As recounted in Back Issue #27 (as well as the always excellent Comic Treadmill), the Aqua-tale introduced a Detroit-based super-hero named The Crusader. After learning his eyesight was failing, the Crusader invented a satellite that bathed light on the city so he could wipe out crime and retire in a blaze of glory.

Unfortunately, the unnatural light also caused a catastrophic growth in algae that turned Detroit into a disaster area.

Natually, Aquaman takes exception to such acts and proves that he doesn’t need his pet octopus to kick some punks’ butts.

After fighting his way through the Crusader’s team of scientists (punk scientists, we should add), Aquaman breaks into the control room and destroys the satellite.

Now, let us switch scenes to the Marvel Universe where a friendly, neighborhood ball of alien energy is peacefully floating through space. Unfortunately, said ball of energy decides to check out a nearby satellite just as a familiar gloved hand presses the auto-destruct button.

(Pssst. Don’t be fooled by the color of the glove. It’s Aquaman!)

Flung to the sea, the alien being forms a body for itself out of the … er … available materials and decides to check out its new home.

As luck would have it, Prince Namor is nearby moping in the mighty Marvel manner. The Sub-Mariner’s reverie, however, is interrupted by two idiots who think it’s a good idea to bait a guy who can bench-press tanks.

One of the toughs delivers some sweet chin music to the Avenging Son … and then it’s on!

Of course, the alien slime-creature inserts itself into the equation at that very instant and soon it’s an underwater free-for-all with Namor savagely attacking what he perceives to be an enemy.

(A misunderstanding leads to a brawl in a Marvel comic? Unheard of!)

At this point, Skeates deviates from his original plan. Attempting to defend itself, the creature blinds Namor rather than taking away his ability to survive underwater.

(The Sub-Mariner was already having problems of a similar nature at that point in time. Hence, the black leather jump-suit designed by Reed Richards.)

The enraged Namor responds in a manner that is completely consistent with his characterization over the past six or so decades: He squeezes the #$%^% creature until its head pops off into space!

Namor regains his eyesight a panel or two later, because its the last issue after all and he has to be in fighting form to co-star with Doctor Doom in Super-Villain Team-Up! Still, Skeates has enough time to fit in a quick sermon on how the world would be better if only we could all communicate …

Remember, it was the early ’70s!

Both Aquaman and Namor appear off and on in comics to this very day, with both characters experiencing ironic reversals in the ’90s when Arthur adopted a bad-@$$ attitude while Namor disguised his more savage nature as head of a corporation.

For our money, though, the classic versions of both sea kings will always endure. As for their near team-up, well that’s the stuff that hooks lifelong geeks like your ever-humble Fortress Keeper.