DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #17

American Tidal, Part 3

May 2004

Written by Will Pfeifer

Pencils by Patrick Gleason

Inks by Christian Alamy

Cover by Alan Davis & Mark Farmer

Synopsis

Aquaman has just found the survivors to the earthquake that destroyed and sank half of San Diego.  Somehow they have been able to survive under water.  Aquaman tells them that they can never leave the water again or they will die.  At the JLA watchtower, Lorena awakens.  Martian Manhunter tells her what happened.  Lorena tells him to take her back to the water; she wants to help.  She finds Aquaman, who tells her the best way she can help is to help others.  As they are talking, a dolphin swims by.  They have found something that may explain the earthquake.  Aquaman and Lorena find a large machine that had been placed in the water.  Inside, Aquaman finds a creature with hundreds of eyes and it is still living.

Review

I realize there is no real answer to this question, but I feel I must ask anyway:  why could this not have been the start of the new Aquaman series instead of the debacle with the Thirst?  So far, this story arc has been intriguing enough to keep coming back for more.  More importantly, there are tons and tons of stories that can come out of this.  Well, that is unless, the machine and the eye creature lead Aquaman to finding a way to revert all of the water-breathers back to being air breathers.  I am not exactly thrilled with that possibility.  As I said before, there are a lot of story possibilities, including many surrounding the people living under water and how they will build new lives for themselves.  As the king of Atlantis, Aquaman is a natural to lead these people.  Even in his commanding presence as he talks to the people, you can sense (and credit goes to the artists) his compassion at the plight these people have gone through.  I am a little surprised that no mention of has been made to the sinking of Atlantis as a counter to what is going on with San Diego.  I am very much looking forward to more of this story arc, after Aquaman defeats this monster thingy, of course.  My first guess about the creature was that the earthquake in some way damaged it as well as San Diego, but looking at the cover for next month, I get the sense that what was in this issue really is the creature. -- MRB

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