DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #5

The Thirst!

June 2003

Written by Rick Veitch

Pencils by Yvel Guichet

Inks by Mark Propst & Rob Leigh

Cover by Yvel Guichet & Mark Propst

Synopsis

In Prague, heavy rains have caused the rising waters to gouge out an embankment to reveal an ancient stone edifice.  Inside, there is a massive boat in which a figure sits on a chair holding a golden goblet.  As the ministry of antiquities celebrates the remarkable find, the statue comes to life and drinks from the goblet, in the process draining the life from the men who had found him.  Meanwhile, Aquaman tells Tempest he needs to go visit the Lady Of The Lake.  Using his hand, Aquaman swims to the secret sea and finds the Lady Of The Lake is slowly dying.  She tells him that because Aquaman used his watery hand in anger, a creature has risen that will seek to destroy the secret sea and all of its inhabitants.  In Prague, the very creature sends the dead men to row the oars and bring the boat out to the water so he can reach the secret sea.

Review

This was a very l-o-o-o-o-o-ng issue.  I realize it is the standard 22 pages, but it just seemed to take a long time to reach the end.  Part of the problem was the lengthy exposition given by Aquaman to Tempest regarding the history of the secret sea and what it means to be the waterbearer.  Although lengthy, at this point (five issues in) it really was needed to help fully understand what is going on.  To compound the exposition, however, are the last four pages, which were just plain overkill.  All of the monologue spoken by the Thirst (what a name!) is a variation of the same theme:  “I am evil and I will do evil.”  Nothing in his rant held my attention and it took a lot of effort to keep reading.  Actually, I though the single splash page of the Thirst saying, “I needed that,” was the last page of the issue.  Of course the pages with the Lady explaining (more exposition) who the Thirst is important, so it held my attention.  But, man, those last four pages… I think these four pages could have been cut and perhaps the issue would have been better served with more time spent with McCaffrey and Sweeney (neither of whom have first names, it seems).  I like the two land lubbers and wish there was more of them. 

I thought the brief bit with the gods Apollo (Superman) and Hades (Batman) corresponding to the DC superheroes was an interesting take.  I am a little surprised they didn’t try to shoehorn Wonder Woman someplace in there to fill out the holy trinity. 

All right, I need to ask.  What the heck is that car doing on the bottom right of page 11?-- MRB

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