Aquaman #33 - A Review

With Mera's life in the balance, Arthur leads what few forces The Resistance can muster to bring down The Wall Of Thorns. Can they stand against the combined forces of The Silent School of Atlantis' mages, who stand loyal to the usurper King Rath?



Politics takes a back seat to action in this issue of Aquaman, but Dan Abnett proves as skilled at writing exciting action stories as he is political thrillers. The artwork astounds, as always, with Riccardo Federici and Rick Leonardi's art featuring a depth as vast as the ocean itself and Sunny Gho's color art glowing upon the page. This is one of DC Comics' most underrated series.

The Final Analysis: 9/10.

Aquaman #32 - A Review

Aquaman has found his lost love, Mera, but the magical curse shielding Atlantis will kill her unless she is returned to the surface immediately. Thankfully, he'll find some unexpected aid from the mystic order known as The Widowhood, but they have their own agenda for helping him... and it involves putting Mera on the throne of Atlantis in place of the usurper King Rath!


There are several aspects of Dan Abnett's story I want to take issue with. The chief one is the idea of the people of Atlantis suddenly rallying behind the banner of Queen Mera, when her status as a native of Xebel (a prison plane the ancient Atlanteans used for holding certain undesirables) when such a big deal was made about the people never accepting her as a ruler in previous issues. Granting that circumstances have changed, it still seems a bit sudden. I'm also not overly fond how the sudden love triangle that seems to be forming between Mera, Dolphin and Aquaman, merely because it makes Dolphin suffer as a character and the whole thing seems derivative of the Tinkerbell/Wendy/Peter Pan relationship... even ignoring Dolphin's muteness and light powers.

Still, Abnett makes the action of the story engaging outside of those points and the drama here a Mera agrees to sacrifice the live she wants for the sake of seeing Rath defeated is true to the character and truly touching. The artwork by Riccardo Federici and Sunny Gho captures the script perfectly and looks fantastic throughout.

The Final Analysis: 8/10. I my not like parts of this story but it is still well-told. 

Aquaman Annual #1 - A Review

With his plans for an embassy with the surface world dead in the wake of a terrorist attack by Black Manta, Arthur Curry has begun to seek another way to unify the two worlds. Enter Crownspire - a city built between surface and sea which will, in time, house Atlanteans and humans in peace and harmony.

Flash forward to a glorious day when Crownspire is no longer a dream. When Aquaman and Mera are gladly retired from heroism. When their son is schooled alongside human children. And when an unseen enemy seeks to destroy what they have built...



Albert Einstein once said that the secret to creativity is learning how to hide your sources. This proves true of Aquaman Annual #1, which does a poor job of hiding its connection to a more famous and better written story involving a hero's perfect world. Despite this, Phillip Kennedy Johnson's story is not wholly without merit and his portrayal of the older Mera and Arthur is an engaging one.

The artwork is similarly mixed. Much of Max Fiumara's artwork seems vague and unfinished. He draws fantastic sea-creatures but his humanoid figures look alien and strange. The colors by Dave Stewart, however, are fantastic.

The Final Analysis: 5 out of 10. A serviceable but ultimately forgettable annual. 

Aquaman #30 - A Review

The Atlantean people have joined their heroes in rising up against the unjust King Rath. Will Arthur Curry step forward to lead them, not as a king but as a hero? Will the other rebels accept him? And what of Mera and her efforts to break through the wall around Atlantis?

Part political parable. Part high-octane action thriller. All amazing. Story. Artwork. Everything.  If you aren't reading this series, you need to be. Dan Abnett and Stjepan Sejic are crafting a modern masterpiece.

The Final Analysis: 10/10

Aquaman #29 - A Review

As Dolphin tries to convince a despondent Arthur to continue to fight for the people of Atlantis, other heroes work to save their nation from the excesses of King Rath. Vulko, one-time adviser to the last Queen of Atlantis, scours the ghost-haunted archives for a weapon that might stand against the artifacts Rath has accumulated. Meanwhile, Mera and Garth (now called Tempest) struggle to breach the magical barriers that surround Atlantis.


It is good to see Dan Abnett take an issue to focus on the supporting cast of Atlantean heroes. Garth and Vulko haven't gotten any time in this book since DC Rebirth began (Indeed, I'm not sure if Garth has appeared in Aquaman at any point since The New 52 started!) and are given some much needed definition. Indeed, we learn more about Garth here than we have in Abnett's Titans title.

What can I say about Stjepan Sejic's artwork I haven't already? I find myself unable to say anything beyond the artwork is gorgeous and that Atlantis has never looked better. Then again, perhaps that's all I need to say.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10.

Batman: The Drowned #1 - A Review

The Dark Knights continue their assault on Earth 0, as Aquaman and Mera face off against The Drowned. Hailing from Earth -11, this Batman is a Batwoman. Fearful of the potential threat posed by the metahumans of her Earth, she set about killing them all. This led to her ultimately transforming herself into a water-breathing monstrosity in order to wage a one-woman war on Atlantis itself!


With this issue, the novelty of the various Dark Nights specials is beginning to wear thin. Dan Abnett weaves a great story and The Drowned is easily the most unique of the various dark dimension Dark Knights to date. Unfortunately, the plot is exactly the same as most of the other specials, with a flashback detailing the background of The Knight in question, a battle in the present against their Justice League counterpart and Dr. Fate showing up at the end to spirit the hero away when the Evil Batman proves to be too much for them. It's still a good read but one feels it could have been great.

The artwork is similarly conflicted. There's two great art teams at work here, though their styles are so different as to completely wreck the visual flow of the book. It would have been better to have one artist but everything looks good in spite of that.

The Final Analysis: 7 out of 10. It's good but it could have been better.

Aquaman #28 - A Review

As the deposed Arthur Curry and his new ally, Dolphin, evade the minions of the Atlantean crime-boss Krush, Mera recruits the former Aqualad (now called Tempest) to try and penetrate the magical barriers around Atlantis. At the same time, the former Chief Elder, Vulko, makes his own play to bring down the corrupt regime of the new King, leading a clandestine raid on the royal treasury.



The most miraculous thing about Aquaman #28 is how accessible it is to new readers. Despite having one of the more involved mythologies of the DC Rebirth tiles, this book passes the Stan Lee test for every comic being written as if it was going to be someone's first exposure to the characters and their world. Dan Abentt's script manages this exposition smoothly and naturally, fitting it in between some stunning action sequences.


The artwork by Stjepan Sejic proves equally astonishing. I'm not sure if Aquaman has been officially bumped to a monthly-release schedule or is running late due to Sejic requiring more time for his intricate, beautiful and unique style of art. In either case, Aquaman has never looked better and it is well worth the wait.

The Final Analysis: 10 out of 10. Flawless. Absolutely flawless. 

Aquaman #22 - A Review

The key to the monster dubbed Dead Water lies revealed, as two more of the special team assembled by the US Navy start to transform! With a nuclear fail-safe armed and a strange new life form at the center of it all, Aquaman will face a difficult decision with a harsh price no matter what he does.



I said last time that this story-line had come to resemble a good Doctor Who story in terms of the unique science-fiction ideas suggested. The ending of H2-0 reminds me of Doctor Who for an entirely different reason. Change Mera into the companion pleading for another way to end things without violence and Aquaman to The Doctor at his most angry and you could run this story pretty much intact as a Series 10 episode. While the plot is gripping, that characterization doesn't ring true given the characters of Mera and Arthur in Rebirth. Until now, Mera was always depicted as the more aggressive of the two with Arthur working for understanding at any cost.

The artwork is similar mixed. Philippe Briones is a talented artist but some of the poses he draws here are incredibly forced. The artwork is also too heavily detailed and over-inked at points, making it frequently difficult to process the perspective. The colors by Gabe Eltaeb are nicely rendered but a good paint job can't disguise a hole in the wall.

Final Analysis: 5 out of 10. Competently executed but

Aquaman #21 - A Review

The  substance called "Strange Water" - dubbed H2 Point O by the US Navy - has revealed more mysteries to Aquaman and Mera. Responding to their powers - and seemingly irresponsible for the creation of the monster called Dead Water - the substance seems to have come from some manner of underwater gateway. Unfortunately, this revolution discovery may soon be spoiled by the couple's so-called allies...


With Aquaman #21, Dan Abnett shifts gears yet again, entering into the realm of pure science-fiction after two issues of horror. It's a good change, however, and the script has the same spirit as a top-notch Doctor Who episode. The artwork is equally varied and memorable. Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Gabe Eltaeb are each delivering some of the best work in their careers. This is one book every comic fan should be reading!

Final Analysis: 8 out of 10.

Aquaman #20 - A Review

Sealed inside a secret US Navy research facility with the monster known as Dead Water, Aquaman and Mera must forge an unlikely alliance with their enemies The Aquamarines and The Scavenger to survive. Yet even if they manage that, there is still the mystery of "Strange Water" - the substance that Atlanteans cannot breathe which seems to transform ordinary humans into monsters - to solve...


Aquaman #20 breaks the format of the book to date, being a military/horror story rather than a political thriller. Dan Abnett writes this sort of thing well but the fact remains that most of the characters here are cliche stock types (the treacherous academic the loyal grunt, etc.) that exist only as canon fodder. The artwork by Philippe Briones and Gabe Eltaeb looks fantastic, however. Just don't expect there to be as much depth to the story as there is to the ocean and this is an enjoyable bit of entertainment.

Aquaman #19 - A Review

The Aquamarines were created by the US Government with one purpose in mind - creating a team of super-powered soldiers capable of bringing down Aquaman if necessary.  Now, they have come to Arthur Curry requesting his help in dealing with a mutual enemy - the nightmarish creature called Dead Water and the "strange water" substance that created it.

Dan Abnett is one of the best when it comes to writing good science-fiction with a militaristic flair. Aquaman #19 is a prime example of the genre. Unfortunately - from the perspective of one who enjoys more character-based adventure - this issue is a bit dry. No pun intended. The Aquamarines are all ciphers with little in the way of personality and the opening scenes of the book are heavy with exposition. This gives the reader little chance to establish a rapport with any of the cast and little reason to care about them being endangered when the action begins.


Once the action does start, however, Aquaman #19 becomes an entirely different book. Philippe Briones is given ample opportunity to showcase his talents for depicting both unusual beasts and fantastic fight scenes. The colors by Gabe Eltaeb provide the perfect conclusion to the pencils and inks.

Aquaman #17 - A Review

With a rough peace established with The United States, Arthur Curry can now pursue the next step of his plan to improve relations between Atlantis and the surface world - winning the United Nation's recognition as an allied nation. Unfortunately, his diplomatic mission is interrupted by the emergence of Warhead - a cybernetic being who can control people and weapons systems in the same way that Aquaman "talks" to aquatic life...


This may be the second part of this story but this is still a fantastic first issue for new readers. Dan Abnett's script does a good job of setting up the premise and explaining Aquaman's current goals. What really sells this issue, however, is the battle with Warhead, who is easily one of best and most original ideas for a super-villain in sometime.

The action of the issue is ably illustrated by Scot Eaton and Wayne Faucher. Together they are one of the strongest inker and artist teams working in modern comics and Gabe Eltaeb's colors provide the perfect finishes to one of the best looking books on the stands.

Aquaman #16 - A Review

The war between Atlantis and the United States is over. Now is the time for rebuilding - both homes and relationships. Yet Arthur Curry may find some things beyond even his ability to mend as he and a team of Atlantean volunteers work to rebuild his childhood hometown of Amnesty Bay...


Aquaman #16 introduces a new villain into Aquaman's life but there's little to say about them at present. The heart of this issue lies in Dan Abnett's exploration of Arthur Curry's central conflict - that he is a man of two worlds and yet an outsider to both of them - and how that conflict alters other people's perceptions. This includes both the sheltered Atlantean councilors whom Arthur tries to expose to the good parts of the surface world and the townies whom he tries to convince that he is still plain old Arthur Curry - even if he is now a Justice League member and King of Atlantis.



The art team brings Abnett's script to life with great skill. I fear getting smacked with the pun hammer for describing Brad Walker's style as fluid but the adjective applies as Walker shows great versatility throughout. The finished art pops on the page thanks to the inks of Andrew Hennessy and the colors of Gabe Eltaeb.

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 #9 - A Review

The living weapon launched by the sinister organization N.E.M.O. has torn its way through Atlantis. Now it moves upon Arthur Curry's childhood hometown of Amnesty Bay. Not even the full might of the Atlantean Navy was able to stop the creature - what hope does one lone man have against such power?


Comparisons between this storyline and The Death of Superman are inevitable and doubtlessly intentional. Yet the stakes are much higher, with Aquaman having to stand alone not because he is the only one capable of fighting a monster but because of how events contrived to make him the only one able to fight the monster. Dan Abnett has done a masterful job of building the drama in this series since the first issue and that drama is perfectly presented through the artwork of Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Gabe Eltaeb.  If you aren't reading Aquaman, you're missing out on a great comic!

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.