Comic Title: Aquaman #44
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Mar/Apr 1969
On Sale Date: January 2, 1969 Copyright Date January 2, 1969
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1969

Newsstand Date January 2, 1969
Source: Comic Reader, #71

Newsstand Date January 2, 1969
Source: Newsdealer Magazine, V23 #12

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.12
Page Count: 32
Circulation: 185036
Editor: Dick Giordano

Title: "Underworld Reward"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Aquaman (of Earth-1)

Writer: Steve Skeates
Artist: Jim Aparo

Reprinted In:
Adventure Comics #495 (1983)
Aquaman:The Search for Mera Deluxe Edition HC (2019)

Feature Character(s)

• Aquaman (last appearance in Brave & the Bold #82; next appearance in Aquaman #45)

Supporting Character(s)

• Aqualad (last appearance in Aquaman #43; next appearance in Aquaman #45)

Villain(s)

• Members of a crime syndicate (Max, Redman, and Reynolds named; first appearance; last appearance in Aquaman #46; next appearance in Aquaman #45)
• The men of Eldfur (last appearance in Aquaman #43; next appearance in Aquaman #45)
• The Bugala (next appearance in Aquaman #45)

Other Character(s)

• An unnamed informant (dies in this story; no further appearances)
• An unnamed girl (next appearance in Aquaman #45)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Mera (in flashback)

Comments:
This story is continued from Aquaman #43 and continues in Aquaman #45.

Synopsis:
Aquaman takes his quest to find Mera to the surface world. He witnesses the mob kill an informant. The killer thinks the informant passed information to Aquaman, so the underworld places a price on Aquaman's head.

Aquaman takes refuge in the apartment of a young woman. He gives her a note detailing the information he has and asks her to give it to the police. He then avoids the mob and returns to the ocean and his quest.

As he swims away, Aquaman has second thoughts about leaving the situation behind. He turns around and confronts the mobsters, who have now kidnapped the woman Aquaman met.

Meanwhile, Aqualad who is being held prisoner by the men of Eldfur is taken to face the Bugala, a creature that has been killing their people.