[Read as single issues]
The threat of NEMO and Black Manta is behind him. Now, Aquaman can turn his attention back to Atlantis...right?
Wrong. Dead Water returns, and a supercomputer tries to murder Aquaman because he wants to be friends. And of course, while all that's happening, there's a coup in Atlantis. God damn it, can't Arthur have one day off?
These nine issues bring Aquaman right up to the next big storyline which is currently unfolding, and while they seem a little insignificant on their own, combined together you realise quite how clever Abnett has been, dividing Aquaman's attention away from Atlantis to the point where it all crashes down around his ears. Plus, the threats he's facing are unique - we've seen Dead Water before, but this time we get a lot more background on where he came from, and Warhead from the first arc is definitely not something I've seen before, and not a character that would have worked for anyone but Aquaman. It all makes the final two issues, the titular Crown Of Atlantis story, even more impactful as you see all these victories Arthur has won fall apart around him.
The Aquaman art team of Brad Walker, Phil Briones, and Scot Eaton bid farewell on this volume, turning out another solid 9 issues, all on time and never dropping in quality at all. Their styles are fairly safe and 'house standard', but they get the job done, and never distract from the action. I'm curious to see where they head off to next.
A trio of stories that move Aquaman into the next phase of Abnett's story, all very good on their own and even better when viewed as a whole.