Episode 8: Downtime
Takes place on August 27 — September 3
After Batman points out that he is performing poorly as leader due to homesickness, Aqualad returns to Atlantis to decide if he should stay there. He hopes to declare his love to his childhood friend Tula, only to find out that she has fallen in love with his old friend, Garth. Meanwhile, the forces of Black Manta attempt to steal a frozen creature from Atlantis, only to be foiled by Aqualad and Garth.
In the end, Aqualad decides to return to the surface world, while Manta reports to his employers, The Light.
Tropes:
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Aquaman's brother Orm pretends to be nothing more than a good natured aide to his brother and sister in-law, but is working alongside Manta as Ocean Master.
- Breather Episode: Outside the Atlantis plot, the team does not work together this episode; the others are shown spending time with their loved ones (or, in Miss Martian and Superboy's case, hanging around Mount Justice).
- Foreshadowing: Black Manta's words and actions towards Aqualad (such as swimming right up to him and talking rather than just shooting him) foreshadows the fact that, as in the comics, he's Aqualad's father.
- Monster in the Ice: A glacier holding Starro the Conqueror is excavated by the Atlanteans. During a fight with Black Manta, who covets the contents, Starro's preserved arm is broken free, but the glacier and most of the creature are promptly blown to kingdom come.
- Mythology Gag:
- In the comics, Garth was the first Aqualad, and Tula was his girlfriend; she was killed long before ever meeting the second. Later, Garth assumed the identity of the magic-using Tempest. In fact, when he uses magic, he literally says "I summon the power of the Tempest".
- In the comics, Topo is a normal octopus, rather than a humanoid one. There's a version of the humanoid Topo in the Aquaman series with his temp replacement Arthur Joseph Curry.
- Mera is revealed to be pregnant this episode; in the comics, Manta killed her and Aquaman's infant son.
- Punch a Wall: Robin punches a wall in anger and puts a huge dent in there when he thinks Batman is favoring Aqualad over him.
- The Reveal: Artemis' name in this episode is revealed to be Artemis Crock. In the comics, Artemis Crock is an archer whose father is the Sportsmaster.
- Sore Loser: Black Manta supposedly blows his stack and destroys Starro's remains rather than let anyone else have it. Given this jars with later portrayals of Manta, it's likely an act to hide his true intentions.
