DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN #19

American Tidal, Part 5

August 2004

Written by Will Pfeifer

Pencils by Patrick Gleason

Inks by Christian Alamy

Cover by Alan Davis & Mark Farmer

Synopsis

Aquaman, with the help of Lorena, have found the person, Geist, they feel is responsible for the destruction of San Diego.  Angered at the catastrophe that caused her parent’s death, Lorena pummels the man and is only stopped when Aquaman pulls her off.  Aquaman wants to know why he did it.  Geist says he did it to save everyone.  Eventually, the polar ice caps will melt and Earth will be underwater, so Geist introduced a genetic anomaly (unknowingly supplied by Aquaman, into the water supply to help allow humans to live in the oceans.  He got the DNA from Aquaman.  It would only be activated with a sudden infusion of salt water.  Aquaman wants to now who was behind the machine that caused the earthquake and sank San Diego.  Geist refuses to speak.  During all of this, Lorena passes out; she needs water to breathe.  Aquaman grabs her to take her back to the ocean.  And he also takes Geist with him so they can finish their talk.

Review

Overall, I am enjoying this new direction with Aquaman and the first, “origin” storyline has been intriguing.  I can’t help be reiterate my thoughts that the strength of this new direction lies in telling stories about the people living in Sub Diego and how they are adapting to their new environment.  So far, the first storyline is more interested in bad guys and learning the “truth.”  This is not a bad thing, but I still hold out hope that once American Tidal ends, we’ll get some got “slice of life” type stories. 

I am sure that within time it will be shown that Geist is actually a very good guy with good intentions and that the earthquake was not his responsibility.  Granted, it was his idea to change the human race into water breathers, but the destruction of San Diego and the death of all those people was not his decision.  In this way, the writers and editors can keep the storyline lingering in the background, allowing for future stories of Aquaman attempting to defeat the evil doers.  It is too tidy and too neat to for Geist to be the main villain and since the next issue is the conclusion, I am going to doubt Geist’s partners (or benefactors or superiors) will be caught and justice will be done. 

The science behind Geist’s plan to replicate Aquaman’s DNA is very fishy, if you pardon the poor joke.  I don’t very highly that anyone could even find the exact genetic code that cases Aquaman to breathe underwater and it is highly doubtful one’s DNA will change just by drinking water, much less be coded to change with a sudden shift in environment.  However, in this case, I am willing to suspend disbelief since I like the idea that Aquaman was part of the situation, even unknowingly.  Like all heroes, I am sure he will feel some kind of obligation to help because of his role.

  -- MRB

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