DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #11

By The Rivers Of Babylon

December 2003

Written by Rick Veitch

Pencils by Yvel Guichet

Inks by Mark Propst

Cover by Tony Harris

Synopsis

At Mizen Head Lake, Batman visits the lighthouse looking for Aquaman.  Before leaving, Batman tells McCaffrey and Sweeney the waters are not safe.  Meanwhile, Aquaman and Black Manta journey to the Tigris River looking for the final river goddess.  What they find is the source of all water to Earth and the place where all civilization arose called the Fountainhead.  The Thirst is already there.  He has each of the drained river goddesses place themselves in position to block the flow of water.  Before the Thirst can drink, Aquaman takes the chalice away from him and is ready to restore the vitality of the Lady Of The Lake, but Black Manta shoots Aquaman in the back causing him to lose the chalice,.  Angry, Aquaman hits Black Manta with his water hand.  Suddenly Aquaman starts to change as he and the Thirst merge to become the Waterbearer.  In New Atlantis, Captain Grynt threatens Vulko.  Man O’ War and Tempest protect Vulko, but Tubold and Skuld’s creature has been unleashed and no one can stop it.

Review

“Y’see, deep down, in my most secret heart, I’m still a totally depraved sonofabitch whose main goal in life is to watch you die.  Slowly and painfully.  Just like your kid.”

Hey, I think I just read the same comic four months in a row.  Let’s see if I can recall the plots of the others:  Aquaman races to find the river goddess, arrives after the Thirst, is unable to defeat the Thirst, who drains the goddess and wins the day.  In the meantime, McCaffrey and Sweeney and visited by a member of the Justice League while Hagen deals with Vulko’s plot to retake Atlantis.  It is one thing to slowly progress a story, it is quite another to keep repeating the same scenes. It has reached the point that I am no longer interested in anything other than to learn when and how Aquaman actually defeats the Thirst.  Even Black Manta’s turn back to evil had no interest, or even shock value.  It was to be expected and, at least in my opinion, a little disappointing.  I was really hoping that he would remain a good guy, but I know that in comics such a change is difficult to do. 

I also think that this issue ended on the wrong cliffhanger.  I thought the bit with the monster or creature or whatever it is was less interesting than Aquaman’s transformation. -- MRB

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