Aquaman #14 - A Review

As Aquaman continues his quest to prove the existence of the sinister organization NEMO and their plot to start a war between Atlantis and The United States, a warmongering faction of the US Government has launched their own attack against the Atlantean King. Dubbed The Aquamarines, this group of genetically altered covert super-soldiers were created for one purpose - killing Aquaman!


The story for this issue seems like filler but it is well-crafted filler in spite of that fact. Dan Abnett writes a damn fine action sequence, but the action is hampered by The Aquamarines lack of depth. In terms of characterization they are as uncomplicated and inoffensive as the villains in an action-figure line.


The artwork, thankfully, remains as strong as ever and Philippe Briones does a fine job bringing the Aquamarines to life. The characters are striking, even if the base concept is a bit silly and unlikely to ever appear again after this issue. Regardless, Briones is a fantastic visual storyteller and one of the best artists to ever handle Aquaman and Mera.

Aquaman #13 - A Review

NEMO's attacks on The United States and Atlantis continue. Aquaman has evidence of their attempts to start a war between the two nations but still needs the final bit of proof - an actual NEMO soldier who can prove the existence of the secret group. Now, as his allies in the Justice League move to convince the American government that Atlantis is innocent of the attacks on them, Aquaman must fight to protect his people.


Dan Abnett moves the story of The Deluge through its various subplots like a master plate-spinner. There's a lot going on, with a combination of political drama, war thriller and superheroics making up the action of this issue. Despite the different genres and tones involved, the story is fact-paced and not a bit of it feels unnecessary or drawn out.


The artwork proves equally energetic and exciting. Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Gabe Eltaeb are to be commended for their seamless workmanship on this series. This is one of the best-looking books on the stands today!

Aquaman #12 - A Review

Having taken over control of the secretive group NEMO, Black Manta has launched a false-flag war, using stolen Atlantean technology on American targets. Now Aquaman must fight a war on two fronts, protecting both his home nations from each other while simultaneously searching for proof of NEMO's existence and intentions.


Dan Abnett has a long history writing military fiction. It's not a genre I've ever felt much affinity for but Abnett does a fantastic job of drawing on that experience with this story. This issue feels less like an Aquaman comic and more like The West Wing mixed with The Last Ship. Yet the story is still engaging and it's an interesting change of pace to see how a military conflict would work in the science-fiction setting of the DC Universe mixed with the usual superheroic action.

Abnett's script requires an artist of diverse talents and Philippe Briones proves worthy of the challenge. The battles in this issue depict traditional military aircraft, the sci-fi ships of Atlantis and a number of giant Godzilla-style monsters. Briones depicts them all expertly and Gabe Eltaeb's colors finish the artwork perfectly.

Aquaman #11 - A Review

Aquaman has bested The Shaggy Man and, in doing so while saving the city of Amnesty Bay, done much to mitigate the warmongering of various elements in both the Atlantean and American governments. Yet Black Manta and his followers in N.E.M.O. have more tricks up their sleeves. Could this be the beginning of the dark time foretold in Atlantean prophecy - the Deluge that will destroy both Atlantis and the surface world?


With this issue, several previously planted plot seeds begin to bloom and Dan Abnett proves himself a master writer. The story is light on action and heavy on set-up, but it proves a riveting read regardless. The rich ensemble cast Abnett has built for this series over the previous ten issues (some seemingly throw-away characters despite the emotional investment put into them) are brought into play in a more direct capacity and there are a number of amazing emotion-driven moments here.

Would that Abnett's script was well-presented by the artwork. Philippe Briones is a fine artist but there's some discontinuity between the script and the finished artwork. Consider the above scene where Arthur refers to Mera's costume being ripped and her being injured when she appears to be perfectly fine. I believe the word balloons between the characters may be mixed up but it is still a glaring error that should have been caught by the editors in either case.

Despite this, I still enjoyed this issue immensely and would recommend this as a wonderful jumping-on point for anyone interested in Aquaman.

Aquaman #8 - A Review

Black Manta and N.E.M.O. launch their mystery weapon at Atlantis. It is some manner of living creature, resisting all the efforts of Aquaman and the Atlantean army to repel it. Meanwhile, Mera finds herself facing a very different sort of battle - a test of wills with The Widows, who will be the final judges of her worthiness to be Queen of Atlantis!


Dan Abnett has crafted a mythology for Aquaman as rich as any fantasy world in existence. The sequences between Mera and The Widows feel like something taken from A Game Of Thrones. And the revelation behind Black Manta's secret weapon is an honest surprise and a nice nod to the classic history of the DC Universe.


The artwork proves equally wonderful. The action sequences are top-notch and Scot Eaton draws some fantastic expressions that add a sense of motion to the static scenes of the characters merely talking. Wayne Faucher's inks are perfectly balanced and Gabe Eltaeb's color palettes are well-chosen throughout the issue.

Aquaman #7 - A Review

Safely returned to Atlantis, Arthur and Mera hunt the forces that faked an Atlantean attack on the United States Navy. All signs point to The Deluge - an group of terrorists devoted toward renewing hostilities with the surface world. Yet the true culprits are NEMO - a secretive group who had their own reasons for targeting Atlantis, even before the crowning of their new Fisher King, Black Manta!


After several action-filled issues, Aquaman tells a tale of espionage under the seas. The script by Dan Abnett invites comparison to The West Wing in its depictions of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering needed to run a nation. The theme of terrorism and the examination of what brings it about proves quite timely and one cannot help but draw parallels between the current state of affairs in the United States, with a minority executive struggling to pacify conservative elements of his own government while contending with outside threats.


The artwork is a good match for the story - seemingly simple but with surprising complexity. Scot Eaton instills a sense of motion to everything, even those scenes depicting characters merely having a conversation. Wayne Faucher's inks are kept relatively light, save for the close-ups where deeper shadows add increased depth to Eaton's fine line-work. And the colors by Gabe Eltaeb are well-chosen throughout.

Aquaman #5 - A Review

Thanks to the actions of an Atlantean terrorist group, the United States and Atlantis stand on the brink of war! Only Aquaman stands a chance of ordering his armies to stand down. Unfortunately, Mera's efforts to free him from prison have only aggravated the situation and now a military strike force is out to kill them both...

The action in this issue is quite good and the artwork is excellent throughout. This doesn't stop the issue from seeming like filler but it is solid, enjoyable superhero action. As in most Dan Abnett stories, the best moments are the brief character scenes where we get to see the supporting cast shine. Too bad these moments are all too brief.

Aquaman #4 - A Review

As a show of good faith, Aquaman has allowed himself to be imprisoned in the wake of an apparent Atlantean attack on an American warship. As an increasingly impatient Mera directs the Atlantean investigation into the incident, other forces on both sides of the brewing conflict work to escalate tensions between the two nations.

While I expected good things from Aquaman #4 I wasn't expecting one of the best political metaphors in recent comics history. Abnett draws parallels between the surface world's fear of Atlantis and American xenophobia with surprising subtlety. The artwork by Philppe Briones is full of similar complexity, with an astonishing amount of detail fit into every panel. And Gabe Eltaeb's color art completes the book perfectly.

Aquaman #3 - A Review

The Atlantean embassy has been seized by the American government in the wake of Black Manta's attack. Now, as Arthur and Mera journey to Washington D.C. to directly address the concerns of undersea aggression, Black Manta finds himself sprung from prison by NEMO - an organization with their own grudge against the Atlantean king. Yet it is an enemy close to home that is about to make Aquaman's life even more difficult....

I don't think any DC Rebirth title has surprised me more pleasantly than Aquaman. I expected the writing by Dan Abnett to be excellent and it has been, drawing off the rich history of the character while simultaneously building upon it and making it accessible to new readers. The artwork by Phillippe Brones is good, though slightly posed at times. Still, I've enjoyed this series far more than I expected to and I plan to pick it up for the foreseeable future.

Aquaman #2 - A Review

For years, Black Manta has sought to destroy Aquaman in order to avenge the accidental death of his father, Today, he has executed his boldest effort yet, seeking not only to destroy Arthur Curry but his consort Mera and any hope of peace between the surface world and Atlantis with an attack on Atlantis' new embassy. How can Aquaman hope to defeat an enemy in a contest where a victory in battle will cost him a war?


Dan Abnett does not shy away from the inherent controversy in this story. While Black Manta's reasons for seeking vengeance are understandable, he is hardly a sympathetic villain. His purpose here is to show a localized cycle of violence and how terrorism is born of feelings of helplessness and a desire for revenge.

The question posed to Aquaman here is one that has come up repeatedly in our own national and international dialogues - how can we hold to our ideals while still dealing with an enemy who seems to care more about our destruction than their own welfare?  The answer, unsurprisingly, is the same one preached by our saner religious leaders and politicians - "Hate cannot drive out Hate. Only Love can do that," as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said and the way in which this principle invoked, while obvious in retrospect, is still astonishing to see play out.

Abnett's script is brought to life by a fantastic art team. Scot Eaton's character designs are crisp and clear and his action sequences well-choreographed. Inker Wayne Faucher provides suitable shading, increasing the amount of shadow in each panel to mirror the rising ominous tone in moments of dramatic silence. And Gabe Eltaeb's color art finishes everything perfectly.

Aquaman #14 - A Review

Despite being the first part of a multi-issue crossover with Justice League, Aquaman #14 doesn't feel like the start of a major storyline.  This is actually to the story's benefit, as this issue proves to be a wonderful jump-on point for those Justice League readers who haven't been reading this book.  Geoff Johns does an amazing job of establishing several important facts for new readers as well as establishing some trivia that suggests some major changes for the New 52 Aquaman continuity. 

My favorite sequence takes place in a brief interlude which confirms Black Manta's seriousness as a villain.  For all the grief Aquaman has received over how lame a superhero he is, I think Black Manta has gotten worse ribbing from the fandom at large.  After all, how lame do you have to be to repeatedly get your butt kicked by Aquaman?  In previous issues, Geoff Johns showed how Aquaman's true power has been frequently underestimated.  Now, he does the same for Black Manta, showing the lethal ingenuity of a man who - like Batman - must face all manner of threats with nothing but his fierce intellect, raw cunning and the best toys money can buy.


The main thrust of the issue centers upon Aquaman having a meeting with his brother.  Well, half-brother technically, but they address one another as brother.  One revelation we learn in these sequences is that Aquaman's brother rules Atlantis and Aquaman apparently refused the throne.  Those who have been reading Aquaman can't help but wonder how this jibes with the story in Aquaman #0, where it appeared that a young Arthur Curry was preparing to lead a violent revolt in Atlantis.  Presumably things came to a more agreeable end?


An early scene in this book holds a point of interest for long-time Aquaman fans as well as fans of the classic Teen Titans.  Arthur's brother makes mention of a boy with purple eyes named Garth and a prophecy which says that a boy with purple eyes will bring about the end of Atlantis.  This is clearly a nod to the original Aqualad, whose name was Garth and who did indeed have purple eyes.  Does this mean that Aquaman and Mera will soon be getting a new sidekick?  And if so, will the rest of the original Titans, absent from The New 52 thus far, be appearing soon?

You may have noticed at this point that I continue to refer to Arthur's brother as nothing more than Arthur's brother.  There is a reason for that.  He is not named once in the entire issue - not by his true name nor by the villainous nom de plume he went by in the old universe - The Ocean Master.  The artwork also makes a point of shadowing his face or obscuring it, despite his wearing a full helm that almost completely covers his face.  This is especially odd given that appears, unobscured, on the front cover.



The artwork of this issue seems somewhat uneven.  I suspect this is the end result of employing two pencilers and five different inkers.  None of the artwork is bad but the look between pages is inconsistent.  Some pages - such as the above throne room scene - are so heavily inked as to be almost completely black.  Others, such as the splash page below, seem overly stylized to the point of being cartoonish.  I half-expect the fish surrounding Aquaman to begin singing a jolly calypso number about the joys of living below the ocean.


Despite this, I'd still gladly recommend this comic to any curious parties.  If you haven't been reading this book before, now is the perfect time to dive in!

Aquaman #7-9: A Review

In the 45 years since his creation, Black Manta has been many things.  An abused child driven to hate the sea after being trapped on a boat. An autistic man who found comfort in the texture of water while being tortured in Arkham Asylum by an incompetent psychiatrist.  A Black Separatist who wanted to form a new nation, free of the White Man's oppression under the sea.  And even a half-man/half-fish monstrosity.  But despite all this, there's one thing Black Manta has never really been - threatening.  Small wonder then that having established Aquaman as the badass as should be with his first story arc on this title, Geoff Johns should use his second story arc to build upon the background of both hero and villain and turn Black Manta into a villain worthy of the King of the Seven Seas.





These three issues move smoothly through four different story-lines.  Two are set in the modern day DCU.  Two are told in flashback.  In the first storyline, we focus upon Black Manta himself as he hunts and kills a series of superheroes - all of whom apparently draw power from Atlantean artifacts and all of whom were once part of an unofficial super-group called "The Others".






 The second arc focuses upon Aquaman, who was - not surprisingly - one of The Others.  He joins forces with Ya'Wara - a jungle-queen style heroine who was also a member of The Others -  and the two begin to track Black Manta.  This greatly annoys Aquaman's wife Mera, who doesn't seem to wholly believe that the only connection Aquaman and Ya'Wara ever shared was a telepathic one.








The third arc, depicted in flashback, showcases the adventures of The Others in the past.  We see exactly how Arthur and his fellow heroes used to work together and how they were all united in their efforts to stop Black Manta from exploiting the power of ancient Atlantis.  We also see how much Aquaman has changed in six years times, becoming much less savage and kinder in aspect - a scary prospect for those who remember that Aquaman is one of the few who can out-gruff Batman.







In the fourth arc, Mera is told of Aquaman's  life on the surface world as a child by Dr. Stephen Shin - a doctor to whom we have already been introduced.  We learn a little more of his background with The Curry Family and how he came to be hated by Aquaman mixed up with Black Manta.  I'll spare you any more details than that.  Suffice it to say that those familiar with how Geoff Johns rebuilt the Green Lantern mythos from the ground-up will not be surprised at how well Johns is beginning to do the same for Aquaman.

Ivan Reis continues to impress with his pencils, fitting more fine detail into several single panels than many artists attempt over whole pages.  He is ably assisted by inkers Joe Prado, Oclair Alber and Andy Lanning, whose work further refine Reis' pencils without becoming overly dark.  Colorist Rod Reis also deserves special praise, particularly for the sequences where he uses a water-down palette in conjunction with lighter inks in the flashback scenes showing Aquaman's childhood.  The effect seems to perfectly suggest the past without resorting to sepia tones or black-and-white imagery.

If you aren't already giving Aquaman a shot, now is the time to come on-board.