Content to be an island unto itself, this title can be picked up by someone with no real knowledge of the New 52 DCU or Aquaman and be enjoyed. “Aquaman” has been one of the most consistent books of the New 52, with great art every month and engaging stories. Now at the year mark, does “Aquaman” issue twelve continue the trend?
Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Ivan Reis– The conclusion to “The Others”!
– The traitor in the team is revealed!
– Who is BLACK MANTA working for?
The answer is, not really. While action-packed and written at a page-turning pace, there is a lot that this book could have improved upon. For an issue that touts itself as a conclusion to the current story, there are holes in the plot so big you could sail the Titanic through them. Nothing really concludes, the plot just gets put on hold for another month while the number zeros debut in September and at the end of this issue, the reader still doesn’t know: why Atlantis sank, what the Seventh Relic has to do with Atlantis sinking, or in what way Aquaman is supposed to be acting ‘so strangely.’ All of these are just hooks dangling to pull the reader in for another couple of months, and it is fairly disappointing to realize one has fallen for it.
The scripting and dialogue is classic Geoff Johns. The book reads at a decent pace, and Johns leaves some space for his partner in crime to strut his artistic stuff with a few very flashy spreads. Like much of what Johns has written, the story is peppered with little flashbacks here and there, to generate an emotional response from the reader and at the same time relay important background information. The same techniques were used often in Johns’ “Green Lantern” and “Flash: Rebirth.” Anyone who has read Geoff Johns knows that exploring the pasts of our favorite DC characters is his shtick, but it also feels like it might be time to try out some new storytelling techniques.
As far as dialogue goes, there is not much to say other than this is a Geoff Johns book. A lot of verbal grandstanding by the villain, arguments between characters trying to resolve differences, and a couple touching tender moments. There is no doubt Geoff Johns is a very solid writer of comics, but his work is starting to become a tad predictable.
I really hope the rumors of Ivan Reis jumping from this book to “Justice League” are not true. Manning the helm of penciling duties, he continues to do a spectacular job on this title each month. Most impressive are the changes in art style between current plot and flashbacks. Each flashback panel stands out as so beautifully different from the rest of the book, with Reis’softer linework telling the reader without any words that these are memories Arthur remembers as gentler, brighter times. The rest of the interior art is not shabby either. Ivan Reis knows how to convey motion and action, makes Aquaman out to be an incredibly viscious fighter. After years of growing up with Aquaman gags on Cartoon Network, it is strange to see Aquaman painted in such a brutal, unforgiving light.
The only thing to gripe about with the art this issue is that it feels like Reis either needs bigger pages or more of them. There are several sections of the book where the action is contained by a page of skinny horizontal boxes, and the figures contained within are tiny and undetailed. This is a shame, because when you have a guy as good as Reis drawing your script, it would make sense to give the man space to show what he can do each and every page. In retrospect, it would make sense to trade one of two very pretty full size panels of Mera for more space to tell the actual story.
Overall, this issue is a little bit like eating popcorn for dinner. Sure, it is tasty, and it will tide you over, but it is not the most satisfying meal in the world by far. This issue does not deliver the dynamite conclusion that has been promised for a couple months, and so it just becomes a snack to tide us over for the real finish two months from now. “Aquaman” #0 better have eldritch knowledge from lost civilizations for me to devour in order for the next chapter in this story to be worth the wait.
Final Verdict: 5.5 – Browse or pick up when the trade comes out.
