There once was a time with Aquaman was a punchline in the public eye. However, a few prominent films and some critically acclaimed comics helped redeem the character. There are few today who would dismiss Arthur Curry as only being able to breathe underwater and talk to fish. However, the new DC All-In Aquaman series still takes steps to define the King of the Seven Seas as a person beyond his powers.
The story opens in the thick of the action, with Arthur Curry moving to save the passengers of a downed airplane, crashed at sea. This is only the first act of a busy day. Beyond his duties as part of the Justice League, Aquaman has also recently reclaimed the throne of Atlantis. Throw in finding time for his wife, Mera, and their newborn daughter and he’s quite busy. And that ignores the challenges of the new water-shaping powers he is struggling to master.
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, and Arthur fears he may not be able to balance the many metaphorical hats he wears apart from his crown. However, the King of the Seven Seas is given little chance to rest before his kingdom is threatened. The nature of the threat is unclear, but it is apparently tied to an ancient magical artifact and the evil New Gods leader Darkseid.
Aquaman #1 focuses on the man over the throne
Previous volumes of the Aquaman series leaned heavy on the lore of Atlantis and the politics of the sunken kingdom. While these stories have their fans, casual readers found the tales inaccessible and the main character unrelatable. Jeremy Adams presents a different take on Arthur Curry in this first issue, humanizing the hero in a way few writers have attempted. While Arthur may be a statesman and a superhero, he would much rather be the latter and welcomes any excuse to avoid meetings. Thankfully, the climax sets the stage for him to prove himself, before he becomes too morose thinking on how he can be so many things to so many people.
The artwork is similarly nuanced. John Timms is one of the most underrated artists at DC Comics and his work on Aquaman #1 is typical of his usual high level of quality. Each panel is full of intricate details, yet never becomes cluttered. The colors of Rex Lokus offer subtle shading and the perfect finishes.
Aquaman #1 shows why Arthur Curry is no joke and why the character has endured since the Golden Age of Comics. It also sets up a thrilling mystery with the promise of epic adventure to come. Throw in some eye-catching artwork, and you have one of the most promising new titles of the DC All-In era.
Grade: 8/10
Aquaman #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on January 8, 2025.
