Aquaman #19

by kanchilr1 on May 04, 2013

Month in and month out Aquaman has been consistent in terms of quality. The title should be applauded for being so dependably interesting even throughout crossovers and status quota changes. The latest change in the title is a seismic shift in tone that will be continued to be explored as the series progresses. Up until the New 52, Aquaman was a comic that often got overlooked among all of the other DC books. Writer Geoff John has definitely made our favorite Atlantean a major player in the new DC universe. While the main Justice League title also written by Johns has been lacking in characterization, the king of the sea has had so many great moments in his solo book.
 

The relationship between Mera and Arthur is one of the strongest parts in this comic. Throughout this series we have been shown that the couple truly and sincerely are in love with each other, and it is hard to watch Arthur separated from her for so long. This issue makes huge strides in the couple meeting again. The book has had a strange sense of loneliness that will hopefully dissipate once Mera graces a stronger role in the title. The last arc with The Others also deterred the heroine from the pages of this comic, the storyline made her stand in the background while the hero enjoyed the action scenes. Johns needs to start utilizing his characters better, especially when they are of the female variety.


With this huge status quo shift also came a new artist, Paul Pelletier. The penciller is an odd choice as he is known for intergalactic space battles, however after an issue or two of Aquaman it becomes clear why he is well suited to tackle the ocean blue. His curvy lines complement the designs of former artist Ivan Reis. In addition to keeping within the same style as Reis, the artist is also dynamic. Pelletier renders a splash page early on of a monster that is simply incredible, and in the next scene he skillfully deals with talking heads. A huge part of why the new art still works on the title are the colors by Rod Reis. The blues and greens of the title stay consistent to the first few issues. Hopefully throughout the lifespan of this Aquaman title, the book will stay this consistent artwise.

Since the Throne Of Atlantis crossover in the Justice League, Arthur has been concentrating on taking the weapons that washed out at shore during the giant battle on the surface world. Dealing with the aftermath of a big crossover in a logical way is a fantastic way to naturally progress the narrative at hand. Johns make the characters under the sea truly fascinating as a sense of brutality is displayed on these pages. The writer also picks up on the current fate of what will happen to the Ocean Master. Watching an arrogant Atlantean stumble through the modern jail system is amusing. This issue moves at an incredibly fast pace and features many great character beats. Arthur is in a trouble spot as many of the characters he is ruling over are plotting mutiny.

Aquaman is in a transition period currently, new characters and events are taking shape throughout the title. Anybody taking the time to invest in DC should be following this epic saga as the quality never falters. It is rare for a comic to become better after a crossover event, yet Aquaman is making strides to prove seasoned readers wrong. Geoff Johns is building a truly unique world for readers to get lost in.

Our Score:

8/10

A Look Inside