If you’re planning on ruling Earth in the DC Universe you can’t ignore Atlantis, kingdom of Aquaman, ruler of the Seven Seas. Amanda Waller, in her vendetta against the planet’s metahumans, has tasked one of her super power-stealing Amazos with getting the Atlanteans on side. He’s codenamed Depth Charge, and while he’s speaking words of peace it’s a peace he’s happy to enforce in the harshest terms.
He’s giant-sized, manipulating killer sharks and seems to have energy blasts. Who has he stolen powers from?
The Unstoppable Doom Patrol, who happened to be in the area when Depth Charge attacked Aquaman and partner Tempest. The android drags the defeated monarch to Atlantis, leaving the other heroes behind. Aquaman and Tempest, though, are far from the only heroes of the undersea kingdom.
Get in there my son! It’s brilliant to see Aqualad II… sorry, Aquaman II, III or IV, depending on your multiversal calculations, stepping up in the face of a massive threat. It’s a refreshing change from his regular appearances in DC anthologies either worrying about being Black Manta’s son, or netting a decent boyfriend. Here he’s every bit the focused frontline hero, uncowed in the face of a situation that would have the rest of us wetting ourselves.
Of course, he’s already pretty wet, being in Atlantis. As for how Jackson Hyde does, I recommend you grab this Absolute Power tie-in, because it’s a well-plotted, thoroughly entertaining slice of DC drama. Writer John Layman has a nice handle on all the heroes, with Beast Girl the standout for her insight into Depth Charge’s deviltry.
Tempest is also on excellent form, making the right battlefield decisions, while the people of Atlantis – ever the hapless victims of surface world nonsense – show true grit.
I love this panel of well-drilled undersea infantrymen – if ever anyone does a Busby Berkeley-style Aquaman: The Musical, Max Raynor should draw the comic book adaptation. The artist does a splendid job, his sharp storytelling mainlining Layman’s narrative into our head. The heroes are bright and bold, the villain truly intimidating, and those poor, used sharks… brrrrr. Little details like Jackson’s trident apparently having a wee jet to push against the water currents, and the distinctly expressive seahorses, are appreciated – there’s no cut-and-paste with Raynor.
Given that inkers are rare these days, colour artists as good as Luis Guerrero are to be treasured. His modelling via tones, and atmospheric rendering of the Atlantean environment, are tip-top. On the lettering side, Dave Sharpe’s work is clear throughout, though there is the mystery of Elasti-Woman’s narrative box being tagged with a ‘V’.
Anyone?
The cover by Pete Woods is fun, a disaster movie style overview of the issue, with a couple of extra Doom Patrol members thrown in to cover all bases.
A super-solid piece of superhero storytelling, Absolute Power: Task Force VII #2 is a tie-in well worth your time and money. Unlike last issue, it features characters who don’t have their own ongoing series, enriching the overall event storyline by showing us happenings outside the usual locales and demonstrating that all B-listers really need to shine is a well-crafted spotlight.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
Sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hear from you in a few weeks, then?
LikeLike
I finally got a chance to read this, and yep, it’s a winner. Strangely enough, my favorite moments were quieter ones in the beginning. The opening page, with Rita waking up in a giant-size indentation in the sand, was a great moment that set the scene immediately. And then when Cliff asks Larry if he’s sure he’s lost his powers, and Larry takes off his glove and says “positive.” It’s those little touches that make me think Layman will do a fantastic job when he takes over Titans in a couple months.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They were great bits, I’ve not read much Layman but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen… really, he should pitch a Primal Force series.
LikeLike