Comic Title: Aquaman #46
Publisher: DC (National Periodical Publications, Inc.)
Address: 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: Jul/Aug 1969
On Sale Date: May 1, 1969 Copyright Date May 1, 1969
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1969

Newsstand Date May 1, 1969
Source: Comic Reader, #73

Frequency: Bi-monthly
Cover Price: $0.15
Page Count: 32
Editor: Dick Giordano

Title: "The Explanation"
Pages: 23

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

Writer: Steve Skeates
Penciller: Jim Aparo
Inker: Frank Giacoia

Reprinted In:
Adventure Comics #497 (1983)
Aquaman:The Search for Mera Deluxe Edition HC (2019)
Aquaman:80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas the Deluxe Edition HC (2023)

Feature Character(s)

• Aquaman (last appearance in Aquaman #45; next appearance in Aquaman #47)

Supporting Character(s)

• Aqualad (last appearance in Aquaman #45; next appearance in Aquaman #47)
• Mera (last appearance in Aquaman #45; next appearance in Aquaman #47)
• Vulko (last appearance in Aquaman #43; next appearance in Aquaman #47)
• Aquagirl (last appearance in Aquaman #43; next appearance in Aquaman #47)

Villain(s)

• Narkran (last appearance in Aquaman #42; next appearance in Aquaman #47)
• Members of a crime syndicate (in flashback; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Aquaman #44)
• A group of Atlantean thieves (in flashback; last appearance in Aquaman #40; next appearance in Aquaman #48)
• The Bugala (last appearance in Aquaman #45; next appearance in Aquaman #47)

Other Character(s)

• Mupo (a rebel leader; first appearance; next appearance in Aquaman #47)
• A group of Atlantean rebels (next appearance in Aquaman #47)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Mera (following her kidnapping; last appearance in Aquaman #40; next appearance in Aquaman #45)

Comments:
Mera's appearance on pages 2-16 of this story, detailing events following her kidnapping, occur between her appearances in Aquaman #40 and Aquaman #45.

This story is continued from Aquaman #45 and continues in Aquaman #47.

Synopsis:
Aquaman awakens following his rescue from the artificial whirlpool and finds Mera. She takes him to a hospital and tells him what happened to her. She was captured by Atlantean thieves who had been exiled from Atlantis. The thieves who worked for Narkran turned her over to surface criminals who intended to use her hard water powers to hijack cargo ships. Mera refused to help, but was forced to give in when the crooks claim they have Aquaman as their captive too.

Mera was being held in a tank in the crooks' underwater headquarters. When Aquaman broke into the hideout, he jarred the controls that kept Mera's cell closed. Once she got free, she was able to escape and help rescue Aquaman from the whirlpool. Aquaman completes his recovery in the hospital, then returns to Atlantis to confront Narkran.

Meanwhile, Aqualad continues his fight with the Bugala, and Aquagirl unites with a group of Atlantean rebels who wish to overthrow Narkran.