Issue Aquaman 1 of 5 Subtitle Aquarium Date June 1989 Writer(s) Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming Artist(s) Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, Al Vey storyline Aquaman returned to Atlantis to find two of his outposts destroyed. Their sentries were dead. He headed back to Atlantis with only one clue: one of the dying sentries mentioned a jellyfish, and he found traces of one at the other outpost. At Atlantis, he found his people enslaved by an unknown force, but the city was intact. He found their salt refining plant was being dismantled. He was captured. Aquaman awakened in a political prisoner camp with several others dressed as he was (in the orange and green prison uniforms - the one he'd continued to wear after leaving the first time). He was told things that had happened while he was imprisoned: Mera had gone insane after the death of their child, and a power struggle erupted for the throne. Aqualad refused. Pletus took control when Atlantis was invaded and the general was killed. He surrendered to the invaders and was killed. After taking down another prisoner who blamed him for staying away too long, Aquaman was invited to join t he resistance.

Issue Aquaman: 2 of 5 Subtitle Still Waters Date July 1989 Writer(s) Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming Artist(s) Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, Al Vey storyline Arthur continued to learn the ways of the resistance fighters as one of their missions went off successfully. He grew tired of their untrained ways. The invaders met - 23% of the population of Atlantis had been "terminated." The resistance unknowingly blew up a prison transport ship. Aquaman had the people steal some odd chemicals which would go together to make a jellyfish poison used by surface dwellers on beaches.

Issue Aquaman: 3 of 5 Subtitle Queen to King's Seven Date August 1989 Writer(s) Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming Artist(s) Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, Al Vey storyline Resistance fighters entered the palace using Aquaman's knowledge of it - they confirmed their captors were, in fact, jellyfish. A commotion rang out in the Aquarium (prison) - Mera was loose and taking on the guards. The attack went on without Arthur, as he was busy "playing tag" with his wife, who blamed him for the death of their child. The jellyfish poison worked, killing the captors and leaving all other life unharmed. Aquaman was forced to throw his mentally ill wife into a wall, knocking her unconscious.

Issue Aquaman: 4 of 5 Subtitle The Tide of Battle Date September 1989 Writer(s) Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming Artist(s) Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, Al Vey storyline The surviving invaders (and their humanoid army) surrounded the city and cut the Atlanteans off from their food supply. Mera was dead. As her husband spoke to her in her casket, she arose - being not from his dimension, she was able to survive death. She blamed him again for the death of their son before leaving for her own home. Aquaman broke down. The invaders stood outside their walls, knowing they could attack and win. The Atlantean general prepared to attack, knowing it was a mad scheme that could not win, but it was better than watching their people starve. Aquaman searched for a better plan.

Issue Aquaman: 5 of 5 Subtitle Battle Royal Date October 1989 Writer(s) Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming Artist(s) Keith Giffen, Curt Swan, Al Vey storyline Atlantis attacked its oppressors three times, only to be driven back. The jellyfish stuck with their plans of waiting it out and demoralizing their prey. The forth surge was met with no opposition - from high atop Atlantis, Aquaman commanded sea life to attack with his men. The two remaining jellyfish escaped and their troops were defeated. Atlantean life was soon back to normal - or as normal as could be under the circumstances. Arthur gave up the throne so that he could live throughout the sea - not simply in one corner of it.