Powered up after the events of "Absolute Power," King Arthur of Atlantis returns in a new ongoing title written by Jeremy Adams and illustrated by John Timms. With a new supporting cast and a Vernesque take to his adventures, Aquaman is now one of the most powerful beings on Earth and beyond.
Aquaman
Artwork John Timms
The premise of this book in its first year revolves around the loss of Atlantis and all its citizens, chiefly among them Queen Mera, Princess Andrina, the Titan Tempest, and Aquaman Jackson Hyde. Aquaman is on a mission to find his vanished kingdon, rescue his family, and unveil the connnection between their disappearance and Darkseid's apparent fall in DC's "All-In Special."
Separating him from the Justice League, Adams gives Aquaman a new supporting cast and a new team. These are not The Others from his youth, either; this is an ensemble of characters that long-time readers may find familiar: Arion the Sorcerer, the mermaid Lori Lemaris, the Lady of the Lake from THAT other Arthurian legend, Zan from Wonder Twins fame, and the fabled Captain Nemo from "20,000 Leagues," among others.
Aquaman's Justice League.
As royal as the lead character, is the artwork by John Timms. From small panels to double spreads, his scenes are full of minute details and explosive action. Judge the book by his covers and you will not be disappointed.
Aquaman and the Trinity.
If there is one thing about this new series that does not sit well with me, is the perpetual cliché of stomping on the female character to advance the male protagonist's journey. That bad habit is repeated here by giving Aquaman new and powerful abilities, at the expense of stripping them from Mera, who is in truth the powerhouse of the pair. Let's hope that the second year of stories corrects this misstep. Injustice aside, "Aquaman" is a beautifully rendered book, full of adventure and mystery.
OVERALL SERIES RATING: 8.0
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