YMMV / Aquaman (1962)

• Awesome Art: The art for the series became astoundingly colorful and detailed over the years, especially when done by Nick Cardy and Steve Skeats.
• Funny Moments: Arthur and Mera's marriage in Aquaman #18 almost didn't happen for a really silly reason. When Aquaman was crowned King of Atlantis for the first time, Vulko cheered the news and immediately told him that, per the custom, he had to choose an Atlantean girl to be his wife. (Cue an Oh, Crap! face and dozens of eligible and not-so-eligible women clamoring for him.) Since Mera wasn't Atlantean, Aquaman couldn't marry her and told her he couldn't, but not why. She was so angry she swam off before he could further explain, got in with an usurper to the throne, and came very close to killing Arthur before realizing she still loved him and saved his life. She was then Easily Forgiven and Aquaman made her an honorary Atlantean, letting the marriage proceed.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Early stories featuring Aquababy called attention to how adorable and innocent he was, while Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad all envisioned him growing up and taking the throne someday, whether as a superhero or a scientist. All of this becomes extremely hard to read knowing of his eventual murder by Black Manta, especially a storyline where Aquababy was caught in a crossfire between Manta and Ocean Master and saved Orm's life, putting the villain in debt to the infant.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • Aquaman and Mera were married in Aquaman #18 with all their friends in attendance, including Aqualad and the Justice League.
  • The first few issues after Aquababy's birth in Aquaman #23 opened with dedications to how cute he was and how Arthur, Mera, and Aqualad envisioned him as being king himself one day.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: A lengthy arc ended with Aqualad and Aquaman speculating on whether a prophecy that Atlantis would eventually breach the surface was true, and whether the people could survive if they were forced to breathe air. Aquaman brushes it off by saying it wouldn't happen until at least the year 2000 and they'd have plenty of time to prepare. In the real-life 2018, the Atlantean Civil War ended with Atlantis rising from the sea and becoming an island nation again.
• My Real Daddy: Aquaman dates back to the Golden Age, but it was Robert Bernstein who gave him his most iconic backstory as the son of an Atlantean woman named Atlanna and lighthouse keeper Tom Curry; and Nick Cardy and Bob Haney who came up with characters synonymous with him such as Mera, Black Manta, the Ocean Master and Tula.

---