O.G.R.E.!

The Organization for General Revenge and Enslavement! An organization led by a man in color-reversed Klan robes and with a questionable salute…. But hey, “enslavement” is in the acronym. It’s not like they’re trying to hide it.

Also… they have a logo that looks like Shrek. Not joking. I’m not saying Jeffrey Katzenberg didn’t rip off this organization devoted to General Revenge, but…

Their mission: to hoover up all the sea coral for reasons. This plan doesn’t sit well with a couple of superheroes, though: Aquaman and Mera! Or should I say… Mr. and Mrs. Waterman? How inconspicuous! In Aquaman #26 (“From O.G.R.E. With Hate”) the two go undercover for the US government, which gives them an excuse for a fun weekend where they do the limbo, ride surfboards, and get admired by a snarky elderly couple.

O.G.R.E. sends their two finest assassins to eliminate the King and Queen of Atlantis. One is a big meathead named Typhoon who’s straight out of central casting. The second is a femme fatale named the Huntress. No, not Helena Bertinelli. She’s too cool to show up in this comic. A different Huntress. No, not Helena Wayne… or even the Golden Age Paula Brooks (who is kinda cool… she once stole PLYMOUTH ROCK). A DIFFERENT Huntress.

One so inconsequential that she’s not even mentioned in the “Other Versions” section of Wikipedia.

It turns out that they should probably be the ones to be worried though. Aquaman has to retain his clean-cut demeanor to appease both the Justice League and the US Government. Not Mera. Mera don’t shiv.

To be fair, Typhoon and Huntress took their shots while Aquaman and Mera were trying to catch shut-eye while wearing water-filled diving helmets. I’d be pissed.

Our heroes eventually catch up to the villainous Supreme One, and … surprise, surprise! … even the Supreme One is getting double crossed by his own mysterious superiors. No honor among O.G.R.E. agents, it seems. An undersea battle worthy of Thunderball erupts as Aquaman is assisted by Navy frogmen.

The day is saved when Mera breaks out her weirdest power, though. Think it was kinda bizarre that Aquaman can talk to fish? Mera outdoes her husband by summoning letters out of water.

For a while there I thought Mera was manipulating the onomatopoeia.

Their mission done, Arthur and Mera head for some more awesome vacation time. O.G.R.E…. just an unfortunate speed bump to hot-dogging a pipeline!