Comic Title: Aquaman Special #1
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 1989
On Sale Date: March 14, 1989 Shipping Date March 14, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #160

Shipping Date March 14, 1989
Source: Previews, #1

Copyright Date March 14, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Direct Market Date March 16, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #91

Cover Price: $2.00
Page Count: 48
Editor: Mark Waid

Title: "The Legend of Aquaman"
Pages: 44

Feature(s):
Aquaman (Post-Crisis)

Plotter: Keith Giffen
Scripter: Robert Loren Fleming
Penciller: Curt Swan
Inker: Eric Shanower
Letterer: Agustin Mas
Colorist: Tom J. McCraw

Reprinted In:
Aquaman:The Legend of Aquaman TPB (2018)
Aquaman:80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas the Deluxe Edition HC (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Aquaman (last appearance in Secret Origins #46; next appearance in Millennium #1)

Supporting Character(s)

• Arthur Curry (a lighthouse keeper; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Vulko (last appearance in Aquaman Special #1; next appearance in Aquaman Special #1)
• Aquaman's mother (in flashback; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Several Atlantean soldiers (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• The King of Atlantis (no further appearances)
• Several Atlantean prisoners (no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Aquaman (as an infant; last appearance in Atlantis Chronicles #7; next appearance in Aquaman Special #1)
• Aquaman (as a young man; last appearance in Aquaman Special #1; next appearance in Secret Origins #32)
• Vulko (during Aquaman's imprisonment; last appearance in Atlantis Chronicles #7; next appearance in Aquaman Special #1)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Justice League (depicted in montage)
• Green Lantern (depicted in montage)
• Flash (depicted in montage)
• Martian Manhunter (depicted in montage)
• Black Canary (depicted in montage)
• Aqualad (depicted in montage)
• Mera (depicted in montage)
• Aquababy (as Arthur Curry III; depicted in montage)

Comments:
This story establishes a new post-Crisis origin for Aquaman which has significant differences from that of the Earth-1 Aquaman. Some of the changes include: Aquaman was abandoned on Mercy Reef as an infant. He met his foster father, Arthur Curry, as a teen, his costume was an Atlantean prison uniform, and his mother had been queen.

Synopsis:
As an infant, a blond child of Atlantis was abandoned on Mercy Reef. The child's unique makeup allowed him to survive underwater and on the surface. He grew to adolescence under the sea and discovered the ability to command sea life. As a teen he met and befriended a lighthouse keeper, Arthur Curry, who taught him about surface life. When Curry died, the boy took his foster father's name and began searching for his heritage.

After a long search, the youth discovered Atlantis. The undersea colony had been taken over by a tyrannical regime, and the boy became their prisoner. During his time in the prison colony, he was called Aquaman by the other prisoners. Aquaman also met a teacher Vulko who taught him the ways of Atlantis. He also saw his mother, who was also a prisoner. She died in captivity.

After the death of his mother, Aquaman overpowered the guards. He surprised the other prisoners with his strength and courage. Vulko convinced him to flee. Aquaman then went to live on the surface and was a founding member of the Justice League.

Eventually he returned to Atlantis only to discover that the evil regime had been overthrown. Vulko had been a leader in the rebellion and took inspiration from his former pupil. The Atlanteans had been monitoring the surface and knew of Aquaman's heroic career. He also met the king and discovered that his mother had once been queen. She had been overthrown by the regime which had imprisoned him years earlier. With his royal heritage, Aquaman is given the crown.

In the years that followed, Aquaman would befriend and mentor the boy, Aqualad, marry Mera, and have a child with her. When the child was killed, Aquaman left his throne and returned to the open seas.