Comic Title: Adventure Comics #260
Publisher: DC (National Comics Publications, Inc.)
Address: 575 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: May 1959
On Sale Date: March 31, 1959 Newsstand Date March 31, 1959
Source: House Ad, Action Comics #252, Page 15,
Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #9, Page 9

Copyright Date March 31, 1959
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1959

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 32
Editor: Mort Weisinger

Title: "How Aquaman Got His Powers"
Pages: 7

Feature(s):
Aquaman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Robert Bernstein
Artist: Ramona Fradon

Reprinted In:
80 Page Giant Magazine #8 (1965)
Aquaman #48 (1969)
DC Special Series #19 (1979)
More Secret Origins Replica Edition #1 (1999)
Aquaman Archives Vol. 1 HC (2003)
Showcase Presents Aquaman Vol. 1 TPB (2007)
DC Universe:Secret Origins HC (2012)
DC Universe:Secret Origins TPB (2013)
Aquaman:A Celebration of 75 Years HC (2016)
Adventure Comics (Facsimile Edition) #260 (2024)
Adventure Comics (Facsimile Edition) #260 [Variant] (2024)

Feature Character(s)

• Aquaman (last appearance in Adventure Comics #259; next appearance in Adventure Comics #261)

Other Character(s)

• Tom Curry (Aquaman’s father; appears in flashback; appears concurrently in Showcase #30; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Atlanna (Aquaman’s mother; appears in flashback; appears concurrently in Showcase #30; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Commander Haskel (a navy sub commander; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Aquaman (origin revealed; earliest chronological appearance; appears concurrently in Showcase #30; next appearance in Adventure Comics #268)

Comments:
Aquaman's origin is told in flashback.

First appearance of the underwater city of Atlantis.

Synopsis:
Aquaman prevents an atomic test by disarming the warhead on several bombs. He meets with the commander of the submarine to explain why he interferred with the testing. In doing so he reveals his origin to the sub commander.

Aquaman’s father was lighthouse keeper Tom Curry. Tom found a woman caught in a hurricane and rescued her. The woman was Atlanna, an exile from the undersea world of Atlantis. The couple fell in love, married, and had a son, Arthur.

As Arthur grew older, he displayed the ability to breathe underwater and communicate with fish. Atlanna’s secret past was revealed to Tom and Arthur on her deathbed. Tom trained Arthur to use his abilities to help others. In doing so he became a reknowned friend of all sea life. After his father passed away, Arthur became Aquaman, King of the Seas.

The commander of the sub is still uncertain as to why Aquaman halted the test. Aquaman reveals to the commander that the test site is the location of Atlantis, his mother’s home. The navy agrees to conduct tests elsewhere and keep the secret.