Aquaman #29

Writer: Dan Abnett

Artist: Stjepan Sejic

Letterer: Steve Wands

This was a big improvement from the last issue, although there are still some issues with the art. While the last issue wasn't paced very well and felt rather immobile, it gave this issue a better pace and each branch of the main storyline progressed in a really satisfying way.

Dan Abnett is juggling the three storylines of this arc very well; Dolphin is trying to convince Arthur to become the Aquaman once again, Vulko and his new friend Ondine are trying to find an artifact to destroy the Crown of Thornes, and Mera and Tempest are trying to break into the Crown to reach the city. This issue is the best demonstration of these stories sort of coalescing, which is fitting since this arc has been the best written one in Abnett's run on the character so far.

I mentioned some issues I have with the art. Stjepan Sejic was such a pleasant surprise to readers everywhere, but since then he has lent his talents to SUICIDE SQUAD at least twice. He seems to have stretched himself thin, which is something I can personally relate to. Why wouldn't he want to draw as many DC books as he can? He has been complaining about his lack of free time since he started this arc. His art has unfortunately suffered from it, but that doesn't mean its unreadable. His shading was a facet of his art that always stood out but here some of the art comes across as undetailed, and in some places even unfinished. However, he still manages to inject so much life into his facial expressions on his characters. Dolphin is undoubtedly the best Sejic character I've ever seen; since she's a character who can't talk, her personality and intention have to come across through her body language and facial expressions, which I'll definitely give Sejic praise for.

This is a very tight issue on the story front, but some of the art was lacking for me. Sejic continuously impresses me with his character work but some of the shading that he's well-known for isn't present and the art is depicted as somewhat undetailed.