Aquaman #15

Issue Details

Synopsis

Summoned to a remote seacoast laboratory, Aquaman and Aqualad bear witness to Dr. Deering's latest invention, an immense ocean-going submersible. Following Dr. Deering beneath the waves,they are treated to a demonstration of just some of the more remarkable features, built into the machine. From the cockpit, Dr. Deering can project the sound of his voice underwater. The machine's robot arms can bear the weight of sunken ships. It has a drill for boring through underwater mountains. It can also clear the sea floor via a powerful suctioning vacuum. Returning to the lab, Dr. Deering is about to showoff his latest breakthrough... a formula to allow man to breath underwater... when he is caught in a sudden explosion. Doused in the chemicals, Dr. Deering begins to choke, no longer able to breath the air. Aquaman rushes him to the ocean. Once submerged, Dr. Deering realizes that he has become a water breather. An examination by a local doctor bears no fruit. There is no cure for Dr. Deering's condition. The revelation begins to unravel Dr. Deering's mind. He despairs that he will never finish his work. Fears the isolation of living alone beneath the waves. Aquaman moves Dr. Deering into a water tank, on dry land, hoping to allay his fears of residing in the ocean's depths. Dr. Deering, though, merely feels like a freak. Dr. Deering is able to survive outside of water just long enough to reach his lab. Therein, he puts on a diving suit, first filling the helmet with fresh water. Through the night, he toils in the lab, making modifications to his ocean-going machine. With the cockpit sealed tight and filled with water, Dr. Deering drives his machine into the city. Once there, he begins to steal the skyscrapers.The local police mount an offensive against Dr. Deering, but find they are powerless to stop his machine. It is impervious to gunfire. It's telescoping robot arms have enough reach to pluck the police helicopters from the sky. In the end, the officers can only stand and...