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Aquaman (2016) #1
Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Drowning
Part of the most critically acclaimed, best-selling, all-new line of volume one graphic novels, DC Universe Rebirth!
He is Arthur Curry-Aquaman. King of Atlantis. Member of the Justice League. World leader. Superhero. A bridge between the surface world and the world below. And to far too many humans, the dictator of a rogue state. But Arthur and his beloved fiancée, Mera, are determined to prove to humankind that Atlantis can be a force for peace and justice.
Yet even as Aquaman strives to improve his public image, dark forces rise from the depths to crush his hopes and dreams. A cabal of Atlantean terrorists have declared war on their king and the surface world alike. And the killer known as Black Manta will stop at nothing to settle his blood feud with the hero he hates above all else.
Can Aquaman stop the tide of distrust and bloodshed? Or to save the world, will he sacrifice himself?
Rising up from the blockbuster DC Universe Rebirth event comes AQUAMAN VOL. 1: THE DROWNING, a thrilling jumping-on point to the new adventures of the King of the Seven Seas, from writer Dan Abnett (TITANS HUNT, TITANS) and illustrated by Scot Eaton (BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL), Brad Walker (ACTION COMICS), Philippe Briones (NEW SUICIDE SQUAD) and more! Collects AQUAMAN: REBIRTH #1 and AQUAMAN #1-6.
He is Arthur Curry-Aquaman. King of Atlantis. Member of the Justice League. World leader. Superhero. A bridge between the surface world and the world below. And to far too many humans, the dictator of a rogue state. But Arthur and his beloved fiancée, Mera, are determined to prove to humankind that Atlantis can be a force for peace and justice.
Yet even as Aquaman strives to improve his public image, dark forces rise from the depths to crush his hopes and dreams. A cabal of Atlantean terrorists have declared war on their king and the surface world alike. And the killer known as Black Manta will stop at nothing to settle his blood feud with the hero he hates above all else.
Can Aquaman stop the tide of distrust and bloodshed? Or to save the world, will he sacrifice himself?
Rising up from the blockbuster DC Universe Rebirth event comes AQUAMAN VOL. 1: THE DROWNING, a thrilling jumping-on point to the new adventures of the King of the Seven Seas, from writer Dan Abnett (TITANS HUNT, TITANS) and illustrated by Scot Eaton (BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL), Brad Walker (ACTION COMICS), Philippe Briones (NEW SUICIDE SQUAD) and more! Collects AQUAMAN: REBIRTH #1 and AQUAMAN #1-6.
173 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
March 15, 2017
Well, it's better than Batman, so at least there's that.
I was hoping the newly rebirthed Aquaman would Wow me the way Johns' The Trench did, but no such luck. I mean, it's not awful or anything, but for some reason the action and characters didn't really suck me in to the story.
The art didn't Wow me, either. Not ugly, just...? shrugs
Plus, the colors were too cartoony, or bright, or something? Sorry, I can't put my finger on it, but the look of this thing was just a tad off-putting to me. I don't know, it all just added up to a blech feeling when I looked at it.
I did like the relationship between Arthur & Mera. I appreciate it when characters who are romantically involved stick by each other, instead of falling apart at the first sign of trouble.
Ok, the gist of the story is that there's this terrorist attack at the Atlantian Embassy and then on an American ship, and it all points to Arthur's people. So the America government arrests Arthur on what may be the flimsiest evidence in comic book history.
Do any governments arrest the kings of other countries? I think not. That's the sort of diplomatic nightmare that would start wars. Which is obviously what the writer was going for, but COME ON! The United States is supposedly very wary of Atlantis after Orm attacked (and destroyed) its coastline, so they cuff its new king and stuff him in a jail cell?
Um, wouldn't that kind of set the Atlanitan's off...AGAIN?
Very contrived and silly, Mr. Abnett. I'm disappointed in you.
The showdown with Superman at the end left me with mixed feelings. Sure, I loved seeing Arthur show off what a badass he is, but at the same time I'm disappointed that it had to be against Clark. Superman shouldn't be letting our government manipulate him, you know? He should know better!
Add that together with Arthur's little pity party speech about how the Justice League doesn't love him, and the whole thing had a cringy feel to it.
Still, I've got hope that this will get better, because its got a decent (thought flawed) plot, and it's readable. Coulda been worse.
Recommended for fans of Aquaman.
I was hoping the newly rebirthed Aquaman would Wow me the way Johns' The Trench did, but no such luck. I mean, it's not awful or anything, but for some reason the action and characters didn't really suck me in to the story.
The art didn't Wow me, either. Not ugly, just...? shrugs
Plus, the colors were too cartoony, or bright, or something? Sorry, I can't put my finger on it, but the look of this thing was just a tad off-putting to me. I don't know, it all just added up to a blech feeling when I looked at it.
I did like the relationship between Arthur & Mera. I appreciate it when characters who are romantically involved stick by each other, instead of falling apart at the first sign of trouble.
Ok, the gist of the story is that there's this terrorist attack at the Atlantian Embassy and then on an American ship, and it all points to Arthur's people. So the America government arrests Arthur on what may be the flimsiest evidence in comic book history.
Do any governments arrest the kings of other countries? I think not. That's the sort of diplomatic nightmare that would start wars. Which is obviously what the writer was going for, but COME ON! The United States is supposedly very wary of Atlantis after Orm attacked (and destroyed) its coastline, so they cuff its new king and stuff him in a jail cell?
Um, wouldn't that kind of set the Atlanitan's off...AGAIN?
Very contrived and silly, Mr. Abnett. I'm disappointed in you.
The showdown with Superman at the end left me with mixed feelings. Sure, I loved seeing Arthur show off what a badass he is, but at the same time I'm disappointed that it had to be against Clark. Superman shouldn't be letting our government manipulate him, you know? He should know better!
Add that together with Arthur's little pity party speech about how the Justice League doesn't love him, and the whole thing had a cringy feel to it.
Still, I've got hope that this will get better, because its got a decent (thought flawed) plot, and it's readable. Coulda been worse.
Recommended for fans of Aquaman.
April 14, 2017
Don’t tell Anne (she’ll defecate herself), but this is the first real, actual, solo Aquaman story I’ve ever read.
(Note: it’s not that Anne would defecate herself because this is the first real, actual, solo Aquaman story I’ve ever read; it’s just that she does so habitually, and I fear any sudden movements might prompt another bowel explosion.)
And, like the first woman goodly enough to allow me to practice the manly arts of love on her, I’m underwhelmed. On the one hand, the story takes itself very seriously, setting Aquaman up as a noble and righteous king torn between two worlds and struggling to do right by both; on the other, it tries to self-deprecatingly acknowledge the ridiculousness of making a righteous and noble figure of a dude who talks to fish and wears a hideous orange-and-green, skintight, scaly outfit. The dissonance is distracting, and, other than some cool moments under the water (where, as Bobby Generic once pointed out, the fish don’t stink), the bulk of this story involves a lot of punching for questionable reasons and completely disproportionate responses from everyone from the U.S. Chief of Staff to the Big Blue Boy Scout himself (by which I mean Superman, not Papa Smurf, though rumor has it that he once took Aquaman in a best two-out-of-three arm wrestling contest with, the story goes, both arms tied behind his back).
If this is a representative example of the typical Aquaman tale, I’ll just say what the aforementioned taker of my virginity told me upon being offered a second go: “No, thank you—it’s not that I’m full, it’s just that I don’t want anymore. Also, that thing you did, with the twisting? It wasn’t seductive, it just kind of hurt. And when you move your hips like that, you look a little bit like a lopsided spinny toy. Also, you have no ass.” (It's possible that the entirety of that quote is not applicable here, but I leave that up to you to determine, dear reader.)
(Side note: Anne, or others, if there are actual good, compelling Aquaman stories I should read, please let me know…)
(Note: it’s not that Anne would defecate herself because this is the first real, actual, solo Aquaman story I’ve ever read; it’s just that she does so habitually, and I fear any sudden movements might prompt another bowel explosion.)
And, like the first woman goodly enough to allow me to practice the manly arts of love on her, I’m underwhelmed. On the one hand, the story takes itself very seriously, setting Aquaman up as a noble and righteous king torn between two worlds and struggling to do right by both; on the other, it tries to self-deprecatingly acknowledge the ridiculousness of making a righteous and noble figure of a dude who talks to fish and wears a hideous orange-and-green, skintight, scaly outfit. The dissonance is distracting, and, other than some cool moments under the water (where, as Bobby Generic once pointed out, the fish don’t stink), the bulk of this story involves a lot of punching for questionable reasons and completely disproportionate responses from everyone from the U.S. Chief of Staff to the Big Blue Boy Scout himself (by which I mean Superman, not Papa Smurf, though rumor has it that he once took Aquaman in a best two-out-of-three arm wrestling contest with, the story goes, both arms tied behind his back).
If this is a representative example of the typical Aquaman tale, I’ll just say what the aforementioned taker of my virginity told me upon being offered a second go: “No, thank you—it’s not that I’m full, it’s just that I don’t want anymore. Also, that thing you did, with the twisting? It wasn’t seductive, it just kind of hurt. And when you move your hips like that, you look a little bit like a lopsided spinny toy. Also, you have no ass.” (It's possible that the entirety of that quote is not applicable here, but I leave that up to you to determine, dear reader.)
(Side note: Anne, or others, if there are actual good, compelling Aquaman stories I should read, please let me know…)
February 5, 2017
Atlantis has built a dry land embassy on the Massachusetts shore to strengthen relations with America. But xenophobic Atlantean terrorists calling themselves the Deluge, as well as Aquaman’s nemesis Black Manta, seek to destroy any attempt at peaceful co-existence. Time for Aquaman and Mera to hit stuff!
I’ve only read a handful of random Rebirth issues so Aquaman, Volume 1: The Drowning is my first full Rebirth book. Given how popular Rebirth has been with readers, putting perennial second-place comics publisher DC’s sales within swiping distance of market leader Marvel’s (whose own sales have nosedived dramatically in the last year), I was hoping that meant the quality would be sky-high… and unfortunately it’s not, at least for Dan Abnett’s Aquapants.
I thought Rebirth was a return to the pre-Flashpoint continuity, ignoring the New 52 years entirely, however the New 52 Throne of Atlantis storyline – when Aquaman’s half-brother Orm/Ocean Master flooded the coasts and invaded the land – is referenced as the basis for America’s fear of Atlantis in this book. So it looks like Rebirth is a return to classic canon while also incorporating the New 52 timeline - fair enough but no idea how that works given that the New 52 was a continuity reboot that wiped out classic canon!
The story is so uninspired. Black Manta is being Black Manta, causing mayhem, this time in the new Atlantean embassy, because he wants revenge against Aquaman like he always does – Abnett’s just spinning his wheels, it’s like reading tedium in comics form. Then things get dumber with the Deluge – terrorists obviously not standing for Atlantis – sinking a US ship and once again creating tension between the two nations. Rather than talk through the problem like adults, Aquaman and Mera – mostly Mera – behave like ‘roided out meatheads, punching everything and everyone, making a bad situation even worse.
I feel like anyone with a higher than double digits IQ is gonna be not only bored but frustrated with how stupid everyone behaves especially as the escalation could’ve easily been avoided if anyone stopped to think for a moment. But then we wouldn’t get Aquaman and Mera punching Superman which is apparently what Dan Abnett/DC think readers want? “Duuuuuuuuh, I wants me comix to reads like me Injustice game…..!”
Aquaman behaves weirdly out of character particularly in the Superman fight, suddenly being insecure about his place in the Justice League, ranting about being “the creepy fish guy” and not getting respect(the Superfriends cartoon exists in this world)!
“Aquaman is a joke” is the same tack Geoff Johns took in his first Aquabook and it remains a silly detail. That said, Abnett doesn’t have Johns’ blockbuster vision and pacing and the book doesn’t have Ivan Reis’ sharp pencils – because Aquaman ships every 2 weeks, a number of artists are required to keep up with the demanding schedule so the visuals throughout look rushed and keep changing.
Mera is poorly written too. Here she’s angry, stupid and overly aggressive, which doesn’t tally with the character we’ve seen in previous books. Given her behaviour here and Aquaman’s negative reaction to it only makes their engagement even more baffling. Remember DC Universe Rebirth #1? The only story point in that issue for this series was Aquaman proposing to Mera.
And that’s basically what Aquaman Rebirth is: a series without any real direction, drive or purpose. I suppose there’s enough backstory here for it to be a decent jumping-on point for new readers, which is one of the main selling points of Rebirth, but it’s not a book that’s gonna make anyone fall in love with the character or even entertain on any level. I got nothing out of this one except for yawn after yawn. A disappointing beginning to my Rebirth odyssey and another terrible Aquaman book to add to the pile!
I’ve only read a handful of random Rebirth issues so Aquaman, Volume 1: The Drowning is my first full Rebirth book. Given how popular Rebirth has been with readers, putting perennial second-place comics publisher DC’s sales within swiping distance of market leader Marvel’s (whose own sales have nosedived dramatically in the last year), I was hoping that meant the quality would be sky-high… and unfortunately it’s not, at least for Dan Abnett’s Aquapants.
I thought Rebirth was a return to the pre-Flashpoint continuity, ignoring the New 52 years entirely, however the New 52 Throne of Atlantis storyline – when Aquaman’s half-brother Orm/Ocean Master flooded the coasts and invaded the land – is referenced as the basis for America’s fear of Atlantis in this book. So it looks like Rebirth is a return to classic canon while also incorporating the New 52 timeline - fair enough but no idea how that works given that the New 52 was a continuity reboot that wiped out classic canon!
The story is so uninspired. Black Manta is being Black Manta, causing mayhem, this time in the new Atlantean embassy, because he wants revenge against Aquaman like he always does – Abnett’s just spinning his wheels, it’s like reading tedium in comics form. Then things get dumber with the Deluge – terrorists obviously not standing for Atlantis – sinking a US ship and once again creating tension between the two nations. Rather than talk through the problem like adults, Aquaman and Mera – mostly Mera – behave like ‘roided out meatheads, punching everything and everyone, making a bad situation even worse.
I feel like anyone with a higher than double digits IQ is gonna be not only bored but frustrated with how stupid everyone behaves especially as the escalation could’ve easily been avoided if anyone stopped to think for a moment. But then we wouldn’t get Aquaman and Mera punching Superman which is apparently what Dan Abnett/DC think readers want? “Duuuuuuuuh, I wants me comix to reads like me Injustice game…..!”
Aquaman behaves weirdly out of character particularly in the Superman fight, suddenly being insecure about his place in the Justice League, ranting about being “the creepy fish guy” and not getting respect(the Superfriends cartoon exists in this world)!
“Aquaman is a joke” is the same tack Geoff Johns took in his first Aquabook and it remains a silly detail. That said, Abnett doesn’t have Johns’ blockbuster vision and pacing and the book doesn’t have Ivan Reis’ sharp pencils – because Aquaman ships every 2 weeks, a number of artists are required to keep up with the demanding schedule so the visuals throughout look rushed and keep changing.
Mera is poorly written too. Here she’s angry, stupid and overly aggressive, which doesn’t tally with the character we’ve seen in previous books. Given her behaviour here and Aquaman’s negative reaction to it only makes their engagement even more baffling. Remember DC Universe Rebirth #1? The only story point in that issue for this series was Aquaman proposing to Mera.
And that’s basically what Aquaman Rebirth is: a series without any real direction, drive or purpose. I suppose there’s enough backstory here for it to be a decent jumping-on point for new readers, which is one of the main selling points of Rebirth, but it’s not a book that’s gonna make anyone fall in love with the character or even entertain on any level. I got nothing out of this one except for yawn after yawn. A disappointing beginning to my Rebirth odyssey and another terrible Aquaman book to add to the pile!
March 5, 2019
I enjoyed this story. I felt like the new 52 was a better start, but very few can compare to Geoff Johns as a storyteller. They are never going to let Aquaman just resolve his to kingdoms, Atlantis and the US, are they? This will forever by this archetype. I wouldn't mind seeing a different type of story than always this push, pull of Arthur's two halves.
I don't really understand why comic books set up their good guys to fight each other over and over. It seems people love seeing the good guys fight each other as much as they like seeing them fight bad guys. I get tired of it. It's quite the trend right now. oh well. I never seem to be on trend, or rarely. Hey, not everyone can be.
Usually, a country will either try and resolve a situation peacefully or maybe go to war, but they don't seem to take the approach of locking up the president or King of a nation. I think this was a strange reaction. It just seems like a set-up to me and if an embassy blows up, usually the government tries to figure out who did it, not closing it down and cutting off diplomatic ties. Anyway...
I think this was a good story. I had fun reading it and I will continue on with it. I think Aquaman is still one of my favorite in the DC wheelhouse. Well, if they don't continue to ruin her character, Wonder Woman is my favorite, but they have messed with her and she's not as shiny, but the movie got her right, to bad the NEW 52 did not.
I don't really understand why comic books set up their good guys to fight each other over and over. It seems people love seeing the good guys fight each other as much as they like seeing them fight bad guys. I get tired of it. It's quite the trend right now. oh well. I never seem to be on trend, or rarely. Hey, not everyone can be.
Usually, a country will either try and resolve a situation peacefully or maybe go to war, but they don't seem to take the approach of locking up the president or King of a nation. I think this was a strange reaction. It just seems like a set-up to me and if an embassy blows up, usually the government tries to figure out who did it, not closing it down and cutting off diplomatic ties. Anyway...
I think this was a good story. I had fun reading it and I will continue on with it. I think Aquaman is still one of my favorite in the DC wheelhouse. Well, if they don't continue to ruin her character, Wonder Woman is my favorite, but they have messed with her and she's not as shiny, but the movie got her right, to bad the NEW 52 did not.
July 22, 2018
Next to Superman, the best Rebirth volume I've read yet. I like Abnett's take on the character. Humans either fear him or think he's a joke. And Aquaman and Mera's relationship is actually pretty great. I really liked the political tensions of the book and the war brewing between Atlantic and the U.S. Superman's confrontation with Aquaman was absolutely fantastic.
Received an advance copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Received an advance copy from DC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2017
Best word to describe this one is okay. Started out pretty lame but actually got better as it went. Really want to see where Abnett goes with the Black Manta story.
May 9, 2022
This was so good omg!
We pick up with Arthur acting as the delegate for the embassy but what happens when the place is attacked by Manta and so he has to deal with him and then the whole thing with the deluge (rogue atlantean terrorist cell) happens and the relationship between US and Atlantis worsens and we see him go to prison for it and then the big fight and trying to break up from there and then Superman vs Aquaman and Mera which was one of the coolest things ever and finally Black Manta's new allies in NEMO and whatever that is..
This was such a cool volume and kinda goes the political angle and does well to play with the elements of diplomacy and Patriot act and what not and shows the fragile state of global politics with Atlantis in play and I love it! Plus Aquaman fighting Superman was so awesome and shows his power at full display here and I love the exploration of whats going on his mind and his actions initially and Abnett does well to create the tension and drama and finally the subplots with Manta were excellent and really well done! And the art is just too good, one of the best Aquaman volumes ever.. easily! A must recommend!
We pick up with Arthur acting as the delegate for the embassy but what happens when the place is attacked by Manta and so he has to deal with him and then the whole thing with the deluge (rogue atlantean terrorist cell) happens and the relationship between US and Atlantis worsens and we see him go to prison for it and then the big fight and trying to break up from there and then Superman vs Aquaman and Mera which was one of the coolest things ever and finally Black Manta's new allies in NEMO and whatever that is..
This was such a cool volume and kinda goes the political angle and does well to play with the elements of diplomacy and Patriot act and what not and shows the fragile state of global politics with Atlantis in play and I love it! Plus Aquaman fighting Superman was so awesome and shows his power at full display here and I love the exploration of whats going on his mind and his actions initially and Abnett does well to create the tension and drama and finally the subplots with Manta were excellent and really well done! And the art is just too good, one of the best Aquaman volumes ever.. easily! A must recommend!
February 7, 2017
Well hey, this wasn't half bad.
I had never read a Aqauman solo title before. I keep hearing to read Jeff's run and I plan on it but till then I decided to check this one out. At first i was unsure, the Rebirth issue was just "Meh" but the rest of the volume stayed pretty interesting.
I really enjoyed the interaction with Aquaman and the "land-dwellers" which made for interesting reflection of today's society of "trust" and "image" based on reports and news. People are scared of Aquaman. Don't trust him. It's mostly thanks to the reports about him when really he's just trying to be a badass king and hope that America gets that. The back and forth conversations, the political side of it, and the end result are all pretty good.
The start of it is okay at best. The first two issues are really just one big fight scene with Aquaman and Mantis. it starts off fun enough but honestly seen it before, done it better. It's just okay here and the whole time I kept thinking this start could be better. Yes, the end of the battle leads to interesting paths for both hero and villain but the start could have had more of a punch.
Overall I quite enjoyed my time with this volume. Not love, but enjoyed, and that's a surprise for me. This and Red Hood are the two surprise reads for me in enjoyment. I will check out volume 2!
I had never read a Aqauman solo title before. I keep hearing to read Jeff's run and I plan on it but till then I decided to check this one out. At first i was unsure, the Rebirth issue was just "Meh" but the rest of the volume stayed pretty interesting.
I really enjoyed the interaction with Aquaman and the "land-dwellers" which made for interesting reflection of today's society of "trust" and "image" based on reports and news. People are scared of Aquaman. Don't trust him. It's mostly thanks to the reports about him when really he's just trying to be a badass king and hope that America gets that. The back and forth conversations, the political side of it, and the end result are all pretty good.
The start of it is okay at best. The first two issues are really just one big fight scene with Aquaman and Mantis. it starts off fun enough but honestly seen it before, done it better. It's just okay here and the whole time I kept thinking this start could be better. Yes, the end of the battle leads to interesting paths for both hero and villain but the start could have had more of a punch.
Overall I quite enjoyed my time with this volume. Not love, but enjoyed, and that's a surprise for me. This and Red Hood are the two surprise reads for me in enjoyment. I will check out volume 2!
June 9, 2017
This one started off rough. Rough art, painful dialogue but it did turn it around some by the end. No where near Johns stuff but has a chance to be good.
July 20, 2018
If you're worried Aquaman's Rebirth debut doesn't live up to the lofty standards set by Geoff Johns' New 52 debut, let me put your fears to rest.
It doesn't.
There. Now that we've got that out of the way, you can appreciate The Drowning for the perfectly decent book it is. The story moves along at a brisk pace and the stakes are high right out of the gate. We don't have to wait long for the inevitable Black Manta fight, and it's a good one. And if you like a healthy dose of political conflict with your escapism, Abnett has you covered. The story focuses on Aquaman and Mera building ties between Atlantis and the surface world, but with plenty of action to keep things exciting. The King of Atlantis is dishing out diplomacy and punches in equal measure! So is Mera, for that matter. She's packing more of a punch this time around.
It's not the greatest Aquaman story out there, but The Drowning is still a pretty solid Rebirth debut.
It doesn't.
There. Now that we've got that out of the way, you can appreciate The Drowning for the perfectly decent book it is. The story moves along at a brisk pace and the stakes are high right out of the gate. We don't have to wait long for the inevitable Black Manta fight, and it's a good one. And if you like a healthy dose of political conflict with your escapism, Abnett has you covered. The story focuses on Aquaman and Mera building ties between Atlantis and the surface world, but with plenty of action to keep things exciting. The King of Atlantis is dishing out diplomacy and punches in equal measure! So is Mera, for that matter. She's packing more of a punch this time around.
It's not the greatest Aquaman story out there, but The Drowning is still a pretty solid Rebirth debut.
January 7, 2017
[Read as single issues]
Dan Abnett's first run on Aquaman pre-Rebirth was solid, and laid some of the groundwork for this storyline also. Now free to do as he wants with the character, Abnett dives right into the politics of Atlantis, as well as the relationship between Arthur and Mera, plus some Black Manta stuff for good measure.
Abnett really digs into these characters to find out what makes them tick and how they view the world around them, so when it all gets turned upside down around them, we're as shaken as they are. And this is just the beginning of what Abnett has planned, if more recent issues are any indication.
The art is split between Brad Walker, Phil Brionnes, and Scot Eaton, who blend together nicely enough, though they have their own unique styles that are obvious from issue to issue.
This is a little slow to get started, but now that Aquaman has shed his 'joke character' status, we can get away from worrying about that and really dig into the nitty-gritty with this Game Of Thrones In Atlantis level stuff.
Dan Abnett's first run on Aquaman pre-Rebirth was solid, and laid some of the groundwork for this storyline also. Now free to do as he wants with the character, Abnett dives right into the politics of Atlantis, as well as the relationship between Arthur and Mera, plus some Black Manta stuff for good measure.
Abnett really digs into these characters to find out what makes them tick and how they view the world around them, so when it all gets turned upside down around them, we're as shaken as they are. And this is just the beginning of what Abnett has planned, if more recent issues are any indication.
The art is split between Brad Walker, Phil Brionnes, and Scot Eaton, who blend together nicely enough, though they have their own unique styles that are obvious from issue to issue.
This is a little slow to get started, but now that Aquaman has shed his 'joke character' status, we can get away from worrying about that and really dig into the nitty-gritty with this Game Of Thrones In Atlantis level stuff.
February 4, 2017
I received this from Edelweiss and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This is easily the best volume in the Rebirth imprint. Action, intrigue, plots and subplots, and outstanding artwork make this a complete must-read. And to think I was putting this one off because it was "just" Aquaman.
Wow! This is easily the best volume in the Rebirth imprint. Action, intrigue, plots and subplots, and outstanding artwork make this a complete must-read. And to think I was putting this one off because it was "just" Aquaman.
February 4, 2017
I feel like I've read this story before. Recently, in fact. In essence, this story is very similar to Aquaman, Volume 3: Throne of Atlantis, pitting Atlantis and surface world against each other with Aquaman supposedly in the middle, but really favoring the surface side enough that I can't fault those of his subject who reject his rule. And yet, I actually think this is the better implementation. Throne of Atlantis tried to vilify Atlanteans in general, and former king Orm in particular, for reacting exactly the way that I would expect a sovereign nation that had lost property and probably lives in an unprovoked, unannounced attack. That one left me with a slightly icky feeling, because nobody in the book who was not expressly coded as evil showed one bit of concern for Atlantis. This time, both sides seem considerably more reasonable, though I sincerely doubt that the US would close the British embassy in DC if it had been the subject of a terrorist attack by an American citizen, but whatever. That aside, characters reacted roughly as I would expect them to react.
The art, however, is not to my taste. The characters all look too angular for my taste, and it just didn't come together for me.
The art, however, is not to my taste. The characters all look too angular for my taste, and it just didn't come together for me.
July 28, 2022
This "Rebirth" Aquaman volume shows more tension between Atlantis and the surface world, which I guess will always be a recurring theme. Black Manta shows up and Aquaman has a chance to put at end to things, but instead it looks like Manta is going to be big trouble down the road. We also find out someone is attempting to spark a war between Atlantis and the United States, and whoever it is are land dwellers. Plus as a bonus, we get Superman Vs. Aquaman!\
The art is okay but not as good as some of the New 52 issues, particularly with Ivan Reis. The colors in the Aquaman comics are always the most interesting part because the underwater scenery in particular always makes for nice visuals.
This volume is more of the start to a longer storyline rather than one we see reach a conclusion here, but at least it's a nice start. It didn't blow me away like the New 52 Aquaman series did at first, but it's still pretty good.
The art is okay but not as good as some of the New 52 issues, particularly with Ivan Reis. The colors in the Aquaman comics are always the most interesting part because the underwater scenery in particular always makes for nice visuals.
This volume is more of the start to a longer storyline rather than one we see reach a conclusion here, but at least it's a nice start. It didn't blow me away like the New 52 Aquaman series did at first, but it's still pretty good.
December 19, 2018
Although it references a lot from past events from the New 52 run, this latest Aquaman series reboot is actually pretty accessible and does a great job of orienting new readers.
It presents Arthur Curry as constantly torn between juggling his life as a superhero and as the leader of a nation with shaky relations with the United States. And it threatens to blow up when his arch-enemy Black Manta decides to strike and Arthur has to answer for it. The story focuses on what really sets Aquaman apart from the rest of the Justice League members, as his dueling loyalties sometimes comes into conflict with one another. And of course as usual, Mera is a badass.
It presents Arthur Curry as constantly torn between juggling his life as a superhero and as the leader of a nation with shaky relations with the United States. And it threatens to blow up when his arch-enemy Black Manta decides to strike and Arthur has to answer for it. The story focuses on what really sets Aquaman apart from the rest of the Justice League members, as his dueling loyalties sometimes comes into conflict with one another. And of course as usual, Mera is a badass.
March 11, 2017
Why the low reviews? I liked this! Granted, it's my first Aquaman, so I knew nothing of him.
I liked how he gave himself shit for being the 'fish guy'. Illustrations were good. Story was good. Ended with a cliffhanger, but that's fine because I plan on reading more.
I liked how he gave himself shit for being the 'fish guy'. Illustrations were good. Story was good. Ended with a cliffhanger, but that's fine because I plan on reading more.
July 15, 2019
Well, he doesn‘t look like Jason Momoa! You can probably tell, I am clueless about Aquaman, besides what happened in the DC movies... and it works well even for noobs like me. And I even recognized the bad guy, thanks to the movie...
The colouring is pretty bright and it‘s all very glossy. I think it works well with the superhero genre.
Unfortunately the artwork is inconsistent, probably because the artists seem to change with every single issue. From Issue 4 the artwork declined in quality and the main characters changed too much in appearance in my view. The faces of Aquaman and Mera especially became a lot less defined, generally flatter and different. And Mera‘s eyes just turned empty and zombie-like.
The last part was better again in terms of artwork. Yet again another artists. I am pretty sure it‘s all for a logical reason, but reading these issues in one volume back to back makes for an uneven experience. The changing artwork distracted me from the story.
The story as such was ok. Nothing too complex or terribly imaginative.
The colouring is pretty bright and it‘s all very glossy. I think it works well with the superhero genre.
Unfortunately the artwork is inconsistent, probably because the artists seem to change with every single issue. From Issue 4 the artwork declined in quality and the main characters changed too much in appearance in my view. The faces of Aquaman and Mera especially became a lot less defined, generally flatter and different. And Mera‘s eyes just turned empty and zombie-like.
The last part was better again in terms of artwork. Yet again another artists. I am pretty sure it‘s all for a logical reason, but reading these issues in one volume back to back makes for an uneven experience. The changing artwork distracted me from the story.
The story as such was ok. Nothing too complex or terribly imaginative.
February 9, 2018
"A member of the Justice League . . . he is certainly a superhuman. But dry-landers do seem obsessed with the idea he talks to fish."
I cracked opened Vol. 1 The Drowning with no real expectations (I'm just trying to read any and all DC Rebirth titles available at my library system), and a long-standing opinion that Aquaman deserves the 'other guy' status in the JL as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are the ones really out there saving the day.
But Abnett & company do a commendable job with this introductory volume. The jokes and misinformation about the character are acknowledged / explained, and then story briskly moves on in a more serious, topical manner (believe it or not) about international tensions, diplomacy problems, and terrorist factions between the undersea world and the continents. Maybe I'm making this sound too serious, but some of the real-world parallels were an asset.
I cracked opened Vol. 1 The Drowning with no real expectations (I'm just trying to read any and all DC Rebirth titles available at my library system), and a long-standing opinion that Aquaman deserves the 'other guy' status in the JL as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are the ones really out there saving the day.
But Abnett & company do a commendable job with this introductory volume. The jokes and misinformation about the character are acknowledged / explained, and then story briskly moves on in a more serious, topical manner (believe it or not) about international tensions, diplomacy problems, and terrorist factions between the undersea world and the continents. Maybe I'm making this sound too serious, but some of the real-world parallels were an asset.
September 6, 2018
Aquaman Band 1 aus DCs Rebirth-Reihe bietet einen guten Einstieg für Neulinge in Sachen Atlantis. Aquaman versucht, den fragilen Frieden zwischen den Menschen und den Bewohnern Atlantis zu stabilisieren und eröffnet sogar eine Botschaft, aber das Unternehmen wird von einem alten Erzfeind torpediert und ein Krieg rückt so nahe wie damals zuzeiten der Kuba-Krise.
Parallel zur turbulenten Handlung erfährt man so einiges über Aquaman, Mera und die Bewohner Atlantis, so dass kein Leser ratlos zurückgelassen wird.
Fazit: Unterhaltsamer Neubeginn; die Artwork war partiell leider nicht ganz mein Geschmack, besonders die Zeichnung der Figuren. Insgesamt aber auch viele sehr gelungene Panels.
Parallel zur turbulenten Handlung erfährt man so einiges über Aquaman, Mera und die Bewohner Atlantis, so dass kein Leser ratlos zurückgelassen wird.
Fazit: Unterhaltsamer Neubeginn; die Artwork war partiell leider nicht ganz mein Geschmack, besonders die Zeichnung der Figuren. Insgesamt aber auch viele sehr gelungene Panels.
March 5, 2018
This was just ok..nothing flashy nothing really bad. Aquaman is either loved or feared/hared. In this he attempts to bring the sea and land closer together. Unfortunately problems arise and political issues need to be solved. Its my first Aquaman Vol but maybe not the best introduction. If anyone knows of any better series please let me know as I think his story could be inetersting if done extremely well.
January 22, 2020
3.5 stars.
I am very new to the Aquaman mytho, I only watched part of the movie and a bit of anime a bout him.
This volume does reminds me a lot of the movie, and I'm okay with most parts of it. But I'm skeptical about a few things in the story: suddenly Aquaman is envious of the population of the Trinity? ? And this Fisher King guy looks like the worst and most useless evil mastermind of all time (okay........if it turns out the Fisher King here is just a stand-in, not real Fisher King, I would understand, this guy in this volume is just too underwhelming).
I will continue to read this series when I have time.
I am very new to the Aquaman mytho, I only watched part of the movie and a bit of anime a bout him.
This volume does reminds me a lot of the movie, and I'm okay with most parts of it. But I'm skeptical about a few things in the story: suddenly Aquaman is envious of the population of the Trinity? ? And this Fisher King guy looks like the worst and most useless evil mastermind of all time (okay........if it turns out the Fisher King here is just a stand-in, not real Fisher King, I would understand, this guy in this volume is just too underwhelming).
I will continue to read this series when I have time.
May 3, 2018
Ohhhhh, Arthur...
I'm not really up on the whole "Rebirth" phenomenon, but this volume was familiar territory for me post-New 52 with Aquaman and Mera solidly an item, his tenure on the Throne of Atlantis (as always) tenuous, and Black Manta as devoted as ever to ruining poor Arthur's day.
I was a huge fan of Ivan Reis's art on the Geoff Johns run, but the crisp, action-packed style employed by the team on this book was of a very high standard, as well.
And, as always, the REAL series MVP is Arthur's fiancee, who strikes the right balance between sass and SMASH!
I'm not really up on the whole "Rebirth" phenomenon, but this volume was familiar territory for me post-New 52 with Aquaman and Mera solidly an item, his tenure on the Throne of Atlantis (as always) tenuous, and Black Manta as devoted as ever to ruining poor Arthur's day.
I was a huge fan of Ivan Reis's art on the Geoff Johns run, but the crisp, action-packed style employed by the team on this book was of a very high standard, as well.
And, as always, the REAL series MVP is Arthur's fiancee, who strikes the right balance between sass and SMASH!
March 7, 2018
I have always had a soft spot for Aquaman – the misunderstood hero – the constant lame jokes (thanks superfriends) the misunderstood powers. These elements has made him more interesting to me.
I really dug the first rebirth volume 1 – thought it was interesting mixing the political aspect of Arthur being King & his relationship to other countries especially the United States. It was political but done where it wasn’t too political if that makes sense.
Enjoyed the focus on Arthur and Mera’s relationship well spun. And the Superman confrontation while feeling forced for a obligatory fight another hero I enjoyed it as well. 4 ½ stars.
I thought the artwork was very colorful and vibrant ;)
I really dug the first rebirth volume 1 – thought it was interesting mixing the political aspect of Arthur being King & his relationship to other countries especially the United States. It was political but done where it wasn’t too political if that makes sense.
Enjoyed the focus on Arthur and Mera’s relationship well spun. And the Superman confrontation while feeling forced for a obligatory fight another hero I enjoyed it as well. 4 ½ stars.
I thought the artwork was very colorful and vibrant ;)
September 5, 2017
Iv'e developed this weird love for Aquaman and Mera lately and this just made me so freaking happy.
November 21, 2018
Wat een GE-WEL-DIGE comic!!! Mooi instap punt, strakke verhaallijn, awesome graphics en goede dosis humor op z'n tijd. Loved it!!!
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March 20, 2020
An intense and surprising read as we see Aquaman, king of the seas and his beloved Mera entangled between land and water as he tries to unite them for the better, but pushes them for the worst. A- (91%/Excellent)
May 14, 2017
I've never read Aquaman anything before, so this was all entirely new to me. From that viewpoint, I thought this did a pretty good job of bringing in a new reader, but not necessarily talking down to me either. I liked that this was more of a political story rather than a superhero story (at least for the first few issues).
The best part for me was the first issue, where we're taken through how the world--both on the surface and in Atlantis--view Aquaman. I liked how we didn't know who was speaking (the monologue boxes are devoid of color--a nice touch). I also liked that it didn't just take us through Aquaman's origins, because that would have been boring. I did find it kinda interesting how the writer took the way the character of Aquaman is viewed in mainstream pop culture (dorky orange T-shirt-wearing guy who talks to fish) and applied it to how the in-universe American culture views him. I did, however, think this was kinda a missed opportunity to update Aquaman, maybe have him reflect the new Jason Mamoa version a bit more, which honestly would be pretty cool, though I know it would piss off lots of fans, and kind of goes against the idea of Rebirth restoring heroes to how they've been before, so maybe its best they left him alone.
The book began to fall a bit flat once the political storyline was abandoned in favor of an action one. I love action in comics--if I didn't, I would clearly be reading the wrong genre--but I do like for there to be good reasons for the action. I found the fighting in the second half of the book to be contrived and avoidable, and when superman showed up it really just felt like the old trope of having superheroes fight for the sake of it, which I really don't like.
I also really, really wanted to like Mera, and I did at first, but I found myself incredibly annoyed with her in the second half. I appreciate a headstrong female character, but there's a difference between that and stupidity for the sake of plot. Also, I just feel like this political and military escalation didn't seem very realistic? I don't know much about that sort of thing, but I had a hard time buying that the US government is that ignorant about Atlanteans and also the conflict of interest between Aquaman being in the Justice League and fighting for America and also the ruler of an independent nation kinda weird. It's something I could buy if they sold me one it, but they didn't sell me on it.
Overall, this kept my attention and I liked it for the most part, so I'll stick around for the second volume and see how it goes.
The best part for me was the first issue, where we're taken through how the world--both on the surface and in Atlantis--view Aquaman. I liked how we didn't know who was speaking (the monologue boxes are devoid of color--a nice touch). I also liked that it didn't just take us through Aquaman's origins, because that would have been boring. I did find it kinda interesting how the writer took the way the character of Aquaman is viewed in mainstream pop culture (dorky orange T-shirt-wearing guy who talks to fish) and applied it to how the in-universe American culture views him. I did, however, think this was kinda a missed opportunity to update Aquaman, maybe have him reflect the new Jason Mamoa version a bit more, which honestly would be pretty cool, though I know it would piss off lots of fans, and kind of goes against the idea of Rebirth restoring heroes to how they've been before, so maybe its best they left him alone.
The book began to fall a bit flat once the political storyline was abandoned in favor of an action one. I love action in comics--if I didn't, I would clearly be reading the wrong genre--but I do like for there to be good reasons for the action. I found the fighting in the second half of the book to be contrived and avoidable, and when superman showed up it really just felt like the old trope of having superheroes fight for the sake of it, which I really don't like.
I also really, really wanted to like Mera, and I did at first, but I found myself incredibly annoyed with her in the second half. I appreciate a headstrong female character, but there's a difference between that and stupidity for the sake of plot. Also, I just feel like this political and military escalation didn't seem very realistic? I don't know much about that sort of thing, but I had a hard time buying that the US government is that ignorant about Atlanteans and also the conflict of interest between Aquaman being in the Justice League and fighting for America and also the ruler of an independent nation kinda weird. It's something I could buy if they sold me one it, but they didn't sell me on it.
Overall, this kept my attention and I liked it for the most part, so I'll stick around for the second volume and see how it goes.
June 2, 2018
Ironically I found this volume to be somewhat dry since its main focus was on the diplomatic strain between Atlantis and the surface land, namely the United States. The political drama failed to be compelling for me, but each issue still remained interesting enough to hold my attention.
I do think this is a good introduction to Aquaman comics, I wasn't confused by anything happening or the characters' relations to each other, even though I have never read anything involving them previously. However, I found Mera's characterization to be fairly lacking, her motivations seemed entirely dependent on her feelings for Arthur and what he wanted, and I'm hoping that's just due to their current situation and different comics divulge more into her character.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading more of the series but due to this trade ending on an unresolved note, I'll probably end up reading the next one at some point.
I do think this is a good introduction to Aquaman comics, I wasn't confused by anything happening or the characters' relations to each other, even though I have never read anything involving them previously. However, I found Mera's characterization to be fairly lacking, her motivations seemed entirely dependent on her feelings for Arthur and what he wanted, and I'm hoping that's just due to their current situation and different comics divulge more into her character.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading more of the series but due to this trade ending on an unresolved note, I'll probably end up reading the next one at some point.
September 11, 2020
I recently interviewed the writer Dan Abnett and it was fucking awesome! Check out part 1 here https://youtu.be/vWI5mkTn8Ws and part 2 here https://youtu.be/A_VQ0ieJvhg
I liked this a lot!
Some of Dan Abnett’s best work, although definitely not Scot Eaton’s best. There were some epic panels, but it overall lacks the detail and advanced color palette of his X-Men stuff.
The story was interesting. The action, in many ways, played second fiddle to the diplomatic intrigue and struggles of a world leader struggling to maintain peace in the face of crisis. I loved Aquaman’s dynamic with Mera, and it was pretty dope to see Supes show up towards the end.
As an Aquaman newb, I definitely didn’t feel lost. The story was exciting and easy to follow. This seems like a good jumping on point, and I’m stoked to read the next volume!
I liked this a lot!
Some of Dan Abnett’s best work, although definitely not Scot Eaton’s best. There were some epic panels, but it overall lacks the detail and advanced color palette of his X-Men stuff.
The story was interesting. The action, in many ways, played second fiddle to the diplomatic intrigue and struggles of a world leader struggling to maintain peace in the face of crisis. I loved Aquaman’s dynamic with Mera, and it was pretty dope to see Supes show up towards the end.
As an Aquaman newb, I definitely didn’t feel lost. The story was exciting and easy to follow. This seems like a good jumping on point, and I’m stoked to read the next volume!
January 6, 2021
5 🌟
Liked seeing Aquaman and Mera. Hope Atlantis and the surface world make peace. Also hope that they will be able to stop the Deluge. Black Manta seems to be interesting. Would be fun to live in Atlantis.
Can't wait to read Aquaman, vol. 2: Black Manta Rising!!!!
Liked seeing Aquaman and Mera. Hope Atlantis and the surface world make peace. Also hope that they will be able to stop the Deluge. Black Manta seems to be interesting. Would be fun to live in Atlantis.
Can't wait to read Aquaman, vol. 2: Black Manta Rising!!!!
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