After the concluding issues of “Aquaman: The Becoming” and “Black Manta” hit shelves earlier in the month, DC will unveil “Aquamen” on February 22. The new ongoing series, written by “The Becoming” writer Brandon Thomas (“Horizon,” “Voltron”) and “Manta” writer Chuck Brown (“Bitter Root,” “On the Stump”), will be illustrated by Sami Basri (“Harley Quinn,” “Witchblade”) and colored by Adriano Lucas (“Birthright,” “Detective Comics”).
When a suicide bomber in Middle America is revealed as an Atlantean sleeper agent seemingly gone rogue, the Aquamen—Arthur Curry and Jackson Hyde—are on the case. But it soon becomes clear that the tragedy was not just a single bad actor, but the beginnings of a much larger and more dangerous chain reaction…and the heart of an explosive Atlantean conspiracy! If Arthur’s not careful, the secrets he’s keeping—from Mera, Tula, Tempest, Atlantis, the surface, and even Jackson—could cause a rift from which the Aquamen might never recover!
Aquaman has not had an ongoing series throughout 2021, but the Atlantis corner of the DCU has been well represented by the two aforementioned series, as well as “Aquaman/Green Arrow: Deep Target” also by Thomas and artist Ronan Cliquet.
With Brown’s role as co-writer and via the art assets by Basri, provided by DC, it appears that Black Manta will be a key part of this series as well, though his exact role, either as friend or foe is not yet known. Both miniseries have been bumping up the supporting casts from this corner of the DCU, with “Black Manta” offering new villain Devil Ray, and Jackson Hyde’s mother and sister both being featured in “The Becoming.” The art and press release also feature Mera, Tula, Andy Curry, and Tempest; this is shaping up to be the most inclusive Atlantean comic in quite some time.
Check out four of the first issue’s covers, as well as some character designs by Basri below.
