40 Years Ago Today From DC Comics -- Aquaman #33

Aquaman #33 (On Sale: March 2, 1967) has a great Nick Cardy cover introducing Tula, AKA, Aquagirl! Mr. Cardy's mastery of the female figure is the big treat here.

Inside we have "Aqualad's Deep-Six Chick" by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. Aquaman and Aqualad return to Atlantis after rescuing the survivors of a plane crash in the ocean. Aquaman receives a hero's welcome, but Aqualad feels ignored. Aqualad then meets Tula, an Atlantean girl his own age. She convinces him to leave Atlantis and have some adventures of his own. Before the story is over Aquaman, Aqualad and the newly dubbed Aquagirl will have to face Dr. Dorsal!

Aquagirl pretty much fills out the Aquaman family. We now had Aquaman, his wife Mera, their child, Aquababy, Aquaman's sidekick, Aqualad and now Aqualad's friend, Aquagirl. And why do we need her? 'Cause she's Wild, Wet and Whacky!

Duh!

Actually, in the wonderful The Art of Nick Cardy, John Coates asks Nick just that question:

I think it stemmed from the idea that the Aquaman character had Mera, while Aqualad was sort of left out. So George [Kasdan] and Bob [Haney] wrote in a young girl character, Tula. Like Mera, I designed Tula's outfit and overall look. She was Aqualad's companion. Being of the same age, they could relate to one another, or oppose the elders. We played up the fact that she was this wild, "hip" 1960s modern girl and Aqualad was more reserved and introverted.

Edited by George Kashdan.