Aquaman #1 review

‘Aquaman #1 review’

Gosh, I feel like I’ve typed that line a fair few times over the years – the King of the Seas just can’t keep a series. On the other hand, he’s had a couple of blockbuster big screen outings that have ensured he’s never been far from the centre of the DC Universe, sometimes in his own feature, occasionally in the Justice League, sometimes both.

This comic comes under ‘both’, which isn’t hard given that right now every DC Universe hero this side of Microwavabelle is a member of the Justice League. Aquaman doesn’t get a trip to the satellite until fairly late in this debut issue. Before that he’s adjusting to a life change as he girds himself to rescue a crashing plane.

He has Mera’s hydrokinesis – hard water power to us oldies. Is that part of the Absolute Power thread which saw super-powers thrown from their regular owners to other superheroes and civilians alike? Did someone get his ability to communicate with sea life? Mera, maybe? And why is Arthur talking about being back? Where’s he been?

The comic opens with a flash forward – Arthur attacking a big sea beastie with a pretty uninspiring water sword. I think that’s what he’s holding on the cover by series artist John Timms, but to me it looks like he’s spilled his drink. I do like the cuteness of the shark on which Arthur is balanced biting the giant ‘A’, though a nicely rendered watery background – rather than a sea of white – would’ve helped the big fish pop.

The first few pages are set a year after everything else that happens this issue, which includes Arthur, as ever, being bored by the business of the court. Apparently this story takes place in one of those months he’s King of Atlantis… I can’t keep up, his throne room must have a revolving door. A mild distraction comes in the shape of Jackson Hyde, occasional Aqualad, would-be Aquaman and possessor of the worst hairstyle this side of Conor Hawke.

‘Garth’ is Tempest, the original Aqualad, something editor Paul Kaminski should have had writer Jeremy Adams mention. He might also have had the book note that Jackson isn’t a random Atlantean, but a superhero in his own right. And how Aquaman got Mera’s powers, that would be good to know – if it’s to do with the Absolute Power super-swaps, tell us! Comic book wisdom has it that every issue is somebody’s first, and actual first issues should pay attention to this notion more than most.

These little niggles distract from the undeniably enjoyable aspects of the story. Such as Arthur enjoying a respite from palace affairs when a big water monster appears off the US coast.

And a mystery when he answers a distress call back in Atlantis.

And wouldn’t you know it, the disappearance of the underwater city is somehow connected to this.

Yep, the pearl that worried Jackson but, as we saw above, not Arthur. To be fair, Jackson could have been a tad more assertive and mentioned that in the Brave and the Bold story nodded to in the editor’s note, the pearl had sucked an ocean of water from Earth and transported it to Mars. Ah well, it means there’ll be enough guilt to go around.

Humour comes with a great little scene after the water weirdo shows Arthur its power, while the Atlantean crown is not the most dignified for a warrior monarch. The Justice League cameo makes it feel Arthur is at the centre of the DCU.

And it’s all drawn with style by John Timms, a man with a knack for well-composed pages, full of interesting, useful angles. He pays attention to the fact a lot of the story takes place underwater, so we get Mera’s hair floating like sea serpent tendrils, and Arthur’s legs thrown back by the currents. Arthur himself looks good, though I’m never a fan of an Aqua-beard. The issue’s two big monsters are great, they look pretty darn formidable. The action scenes are terrific, especially the plane rescue.

That water sword, though, really does need work, it looks like a big nothing; if we are stuck with an Aquaman with hard water powers for at least a year in comics time, weapons made with them need to look as cool as Arthur wrangling ocean creatures. Given we see dolphins and the like helping plane passengers, maybe Arthur can still communicate with them. Or maybe it’s Mera… come on Jeremy, tell us.

I need a lot of convincing that giving Arthur’s Mera’s abilities is a good idea – what’s wrong with king and queen both having their classic, complementary power sets? Connecting this comic to Absolute Power – an interview in the issue confirms it – may bring in a few fans of that event (why no blurb on the cover?) but I can’t see it working longterm. Leaning onto the characters’ strength is the way ahead, not a gimmick.

The colours of Rex Lokus enhance the art, they’re bright without being gaudy. And Dave Sharpe has fun with Aquaman’s captions, giving them a background that evokes the texture of his suit. Also, the ‘One year before’ sitting on the art looks great… maybe that’s Timms’s doing, though, so well done whoever.

Adams became a favourite of mine writing The Flash and his current Green Lantern run showed great promise before if got bogged down in an overstuffed crossover with some other GL book. So I don’t doubt he can pull off a mainstream superhero tale. But this issue didn’t give me the massive buzz I hoped for with its elements – messed-up powers, Arthur back on the throne, Aquaman separated from Atlantis again, not enough Mera and, worst of all, that flash forward.

I know I go on about stories starting in media res, but beginning a year from now, then going back? Not for me… so Aquaman is fighting a big monster in a year? He’s fighting a big monster here. He’s fought big monsters many times, it’s not the kind of thing that makes me gasp in anticipation. Give me a sneak peek at the return of baby AJ. Or Aquaman married to Black Manta. Or free of chin hair. But a big monster? How did that land for you?