DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN:  SWORD OF ATLANTIS #45

Watery Grave

November 2006

Written by Kurt Busiek

Pencils by Butch Guice

Inks by Butch Guice

Cover by Butch Guice

Synopsis

The Ocean Master has just thrust his sword deep into the gut of Arthur Joseph Curry, the new Aquaman.  Angered, The Dweller threatens to kill the Ocean Master, but Dan Dorrance of the Sea Devils convinces him to tend to Aquaman.  The Dweller calls upon his powers and heals Aquaman.  Meanwhile, the battle against the Ocean Master and the armored warriors from the surface world is not going well.  Aquaman, however, develops a plan.  Leading the armored warriors into a cave, they plan to set of depth charges to create a cave-in, but the plan is foiled when the Ocean Master finds the explosives.  However, the cave still collapses thanks to help from whales.  With the armored warriors trapped, the tide of battle turns and the Ocean Master escapes.  Later, Mera realizes that the Dweller is King Orin, the original Aquaman.  He tells her that he must continue on his path for whatever purpose he is meant to accomplish, which at the moment is to help the new Aquaman.   On the surface, at Tri-Dent Industries, an unknown person asks Dr. Curry about his son...   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This was a very good ending to the beginning arc of the “new” series.  It answers a number of lingering questions from the first several issues as well as provides Arthur Joseph Curry with that moment he needs to convince him he really can handle becoming the new Aquaman.  Not only do we learn why King Shark returned to Aquaman and the Dweller but we also get some intrigue to his true motives.  What is the old saying, “keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”?  It is a nice touch and helps to explain away why a villain such as King Shark would remain close to Aquaman.  Moreover, it allows Busiek or any future writer the opportunity to either play upon this relationship in future issues before King Shark either turns on Aquaman or turns on his father. 

The entire battle sequence from the beginning to end was gripping and the use of the third dimension within the under water environment was clever way for Aquaman to win a battle in which he was physically outmatched. 

While we also finally learn a bit more about the old Aquaman, we still don’t know a lot  about the mission he is on and what he knows about Aquaman and what he is supposed to do, but I like that fact.  Like all good sword and sorcery stories, there is prophecy to fulfill, but what exactly that entails and what the hero needs to accomplish is a mystery.  It is the journey, part of which we saw in this issue as the new Aquaman learns more about the type of person he really is. 

I am uncertain about the final ending revealing that Arthur’s father is really alive and being questioned (tortured) at the hands of some corporation.  One would guess that the corporation that has Dr. Curry is connected in some way to the Ocean Master and the armored warriors.  To be honest I am not sure why the ending does not sit well with me.  It seems like an unnecessary complication.  I realize that whatever mission Orin may be on and Arthur’s quest for self-discovery could be (and probably will be) tied to Dr. Curry.  But it still seems like too much.  I’d prefer to see the new Aquaman deal with life under the sea before getting involved with his father and whatever else may be happening on the surface.