DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #2

To Die By The Light Of The Sea

March 2003

Written by Rick Veitch

Pencils by Yvel Guichet

Inks by Mark Propst

Cover by Alex Maleev

Synopsis

Aquaman is flooded with memories, this time of his “father” and the lighthouse.  After receiving new clothes from J’onn J’onzz, Aquaman wanders through Ireland until he comes across a lighthouse.  Meanwhile, the sorcerers of Atlantis are conjuring a monster to disrupt the satellites of the surface dwellers.  Back at the lighthouse, old man McCaffrey heads out on his boat just as a storm approaches.  The Atlantean monster breaks the surface and disrupts the GPS tracking system of an oil tanker, which is lost in the rain.  McCaffrey offers to guide them in, but Rodunn injures the old man.  The oil tanker reports McCaffrey’s condition.  Aquaman heads out to save him, but is immediately beset by sharks and Rodunn’s men.  Aquaman is able to get away from them and to the monster.  Using his water hand, Aquaman is able to defeat the monster.  When he gets to McCaffrey’s boat, he tries to use his water hand to save the old man, but he fails and McCaffrey dies.  Aquaman then calls out for help and the Lady of the Lake helps her water bearer and the McCaffrey lives. 

Review

This is the second issue in a row which began with memories or visions by Aquaman that become important down the road.  It works here, but if this becomes a habit it will tires out easily.  But, as I said, it works here because Veitch is obviously trying to get to the core of Aquaman and who he is and obviously his past is something that will be explored to achieve this end.  I am not sure I like the idea that losing “daddy” was the root of his personal issues, but I am willing to suggest that perhaps it was a part of everything that has happened to him.  I guess I just don’t believe that trying to find cause can be linked to a specific event or action.  However, losing one’s father at a time when your worldview is being shaped will have a major impact, especially for a child who had been abandoned, so as I said, for Aquaman, coming to grips with Arthur Curry’s death is key to coming to an understanding of who he is. 

I like the appearance of the Lady of the Lake in this issue.  Aquaman tells himself that he does something he never does:  asks for help.  The lady then tells him that when you reach the end of self-reliance, you reach the water of truth, which Aquaman had been to in the last issue.  Aquaman always struck me as someone very proud and someone who would not ask for help, so this shows to me that the lake’s effects have remained with Aquaman and slowly, surely, he will come to that understanding of himself and his place in the world. 

I am curious to see where the new Atlantis will lead and if Aquaman will ever retain his throne.  At some point he must have a confrontation with Mera.  She has not been seen since the Obsidian Age but supposedly the one behind all of Rodunn’s shenanigans to kill Aquaman.  I wonder if all of this new sorcery will create a rift, with someone like Vulko requesting Aquaman to return to deal with the abominations created by these new sorcerers.  However, I must admit, the job by Tubold and Skuld sounds interesting!-- MRB

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