DCU Comic Book Reviews

AQUAMAN:  SWORD OF ATLANTIS #50

Cold Water

May 2007

Written by Tad Williams

Layouts by Shawn McManus

Finishes by Walden Wong

Cover by Mario Alberti

Synopsis

While Issitoq the Narwhal prepares himself under the tutelage of the Pardoner, Arthur Joseph Curry (aka Aquaman) learns under the guidance of the Dweller In The Depths.  Suddenly, the Dweller receives an urgent request to go to the ruins of Atlantis.  Along the way, Aquaman rescues a Coleoid Humanoid.  Aquaman calls him Topo, who joins the trio to Atlantis.  In the hidden city of Dyss, the Sea Bishop tells the Narwhal that he must destroy Orion of Atlantis so that their master may live.  On Ymirsheim, scientists find an energy signature that may be nuclear.  In Atlantis, Mera introduces Garth (aka Tempest) who just arrived from Sub Diego, who does not remember anything from the past year.  Suddenly, he is beset by a seizure and he spouts out an ancient prophecy of Urlok.  Uncertain about the future, the Dweller swims away.  Aquaman follows.  He finds the Dweller, but the two are attacked by the Narhwal, who wins the battle and kills the Dweller.  When Aquaman sees the Dweller, he plunges his broken sword into a rock with an oath of vengeance.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I am not sure, really, how to judge this book.  On the one hand, it was extremely long and much of the story went longer than it really needed to.  I realize this is issue #50, which is big deal, but I am not sure the story really called for the extra 16 pages.  There was also a lot of stuff going on, from the Narwhal to Garth to Topo to Sub Diego and other minor details.  But, on the other hand, man there was a lot of stuff going on here, with some cool things happening and some interesting mysteries (hatches?) to people and places that will unfold within time.  I also liked the ending, with Aquaman and the sword and the oath to make the Narwhal pay.  It may be standard sword and sorcery plot elements, but given the relationship between the two for the past year, I think it works. 

Williams certainly shook up the dynamic of the book, even beyond the apparent death of the Dweller.  His addition of Topo was a nice change of pace (loved the ink jokes) and certainly plays with the superhero genre and having a sidekick.  Speaking of which, seeing Tempest back is nice, but I am not sure about his current status.  Why can’t Garth come back just as he is?  It is also nice to see the return of Sub Diego, even with a brief mention.  I am curious to see what the rising of parts of the city mean for Sub Diego or what Williams has planned for it (or its people, such as Lorena).  I am also willing to bet that the hatches will be a great way to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific without having to worry about, you know, actually swimming.  I am, however, disappointed to see King Shark disappear so quickly.  He was my favorite and the relationship with the new Aquaman and the eventual seeds for the betrayal offered potential for some great stories. 

All writers, no matter who they are, when they come on board a long-running series will undoubtedly wish to put their own stamp on the characters and the mythos of the book.  It is obvious that Williams has definitive ideas of what he wants to do.  But I also think it is a credit to Williams that he is able to blend his own ideas fairly well into the established continuity of the book, not only recently with Busiek’s but also before that.  Except for the reference to Topo, Williams keeps it to the current book, as he brings back Garth and Sub Diego in fell swoop.  Just by this issue I can tell that Williams has plans and the fact that I am not quite sure where those are going to lead suggests that this title will be one worth following. 

My only complaint is with the artwork.  I like McManus’ work, but I don’t think his exaggerated, cartoonish style works for this title.  I thought it worked great for Shadowpact, but for Aquaman it is not the right style.  Many call this book Conan underwater and as such it needs to feel gritty, dark, and menacing.  Yes, Williams has inserted some humor and there are some light moments than Busiek’s work, but Narhwal and the needing with Aquaman’s sword and the (maybe) death of the Dweller fit the sword and sorcery epic feel; sadly, the art doesn’t to it the justice it needs.  Of course, if WIlliams continues to let the book become more fun that it has been, than McManus would be the right person.  But for the moment, it doesn’t. 

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