DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #8

Paint It Black

September 2003

Written by Rick Veitch

Pencils by Yvel Guichet

Inks by Mark Propst

Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) pulls himself out of the Rhine covered in toxic waste.  His senses are jumbled and he can’t think straight.  The Thirst takes the gold from the Rhine and then drains the Rhine sister of her essence.  Meanwhile, Tempest uses sorcery to flush out the toxic waste from Aquaman’s body just in time for the Thirst to take another finger from Aquaman.  At that moment the Black Manta attacks Aquaman and Tempest.  Still angry at Black Manta’s role in Artie Junior’s death, Aquaman knocks him out.  Tempest suggests Aquaman use his water hand to heal Black Manta.  Aquaman places his hand on Black Manta’s head and realizes that Black Manta was autistic, but suffered through traumatic, experimental treatments that created Black Manta.  Aquaman heals him and for the first time Black Manta can think straight. 

Review

I am beginning to tire of this entire story line with the Thirst and the inclusion of one of Aquaman’s oldest foes, Black Manta did not help matters.  This is despite the fact that I liked the background of the Black Manta and why he turned out the way he did.  It was not necessarily an origin story as much as it was an explanation and I had no problem with it.  But I am getting tired of the Thirst, but I think a lot of that, I am beginning to realize, is the writing style of Rick Veitch.  There are a lot of exposition pieces of dialogue and it weighs down the story.  Consider for a moment pages 5 and 6.  Re-read everything that Tempest says and then look at what he is doing.  Do you really think someone can recite the plot of the story while in the middle of a battle?  I realize that sometimes dialogue and fighting are combined for space issues.  But how difficult is it to shows the fight, have Tempest or the warriors win, and then let Tempest say a few words to Aquaman to explain what happened to him.  And I think a few words are all that are needed.  Also consider for a moment that the first four pages that describe Black Manta’s childhood are repeated at the end.  Did we need it said twice?  I read the first part; I think I can figure it out on my own.  Now that I think about, it is quite insulting.   -- MRB

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