The Aquaman Shrine

Justice League #5 - March 2012

2012-01-28T12:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "Part Five" by Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Scott Williams.

It was a big week for Aquaman--due to a quirk of the schedule, both Aquaman #5 and Justice League #5 came out the same day. After Aquaman's huge, er, splash last issue, let's see what happens this month.

The book opens with The Flash trying to outrun Darkseid's eyebeams, which isn't easy--he even has to push Superman out of the way! Barry pulls off a clever move, vibrating through a Para-Demon, allowing it to take the blast.

Superman then gets hit, and his unconscious body is dragged into the sky by another Para-Demon, leaving The Flash to curse and fume, and desperate to rouse his erstwhile teammates:

Green Lantern goes mano-a-mano with Darkseid, which doesn't work out too well for him. Despite this, Hal will not give up, even to the point of risking his life. Batman steps in and stops him, and tries to talk sense. He goes so far as to remove his cowl(!), and reveal his real identity to Lantern, who responds with "Who the hell is Bruce Wayne?"

Batman tells Lantern to meet up with the others, and takes off. He raises his arms, begging a Para-Demon to grab him--which is exactly what happens. Lantern does what Batman suggested, and hatch a loose plan to go after Darkseid. Sadly, his rallying cry needs a little work:

On Apokolips, we see Batman free himself from his Para-Demon, landing in front of another dimensional portal. He enters, and finds himself in front of what looks like Hell itself: "This wasn't part of the plan." To be continued!

After Aquaman's huge presence in issue four, this one can't help but feel like a bit of a let-down: he basically just stands around, and only has a line or two. But since we're obviously headed for a Big Finish, I'm sure Arthur will get more to do next month!

I felt the art was off a little this month--there are four inkers credited, including regular Scott Williams--so the book felt a little inconsistent to me, visually. And I really wish the nice, poster-ish cover hadn't been a victim of the "If two tones are good, fifteen thousand tones are better" school of comic book coloring. But oh well.

This issue also comes with a bonus feature, some character sketches of Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and, yes, Aquaman:

Random Panel of the Day #372

2012-01-28T11:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman (Vol.8) #5 - March 2012

2012-01-28T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "Lost" by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis.

This month's issue of Aquaman starts off with a bang...or, more precisely, a THOOMM:

"Uh-oh", indeed!

We then flash back to half a day earlier, with Aquaman unable to sleep. Mera wakes up, and asks him what's wrong. Before the conversation can go further, his phone goes off--turns out it's the U.S. Navy!

The Navy has been examining an artifact found embedded in the wall Aquaman brought with up with him in his battle with the Trench. Now it's emitting an ear-piercing screech, so the Navy calls Aquaman for help.

Back to the desert: Aquaman pulls a huge hunk of jagged shrapnel out of his leg, finds his trident, and keeps walking, finally collapsing in exhaustion. We then flash back again:

Armored soldiers show up and attack, and Aquaman charges after them. They hop into their jet, but that doesn't stop the Sea King: he jumps straight into the air and grabs on.

Back in the desert, the delirious Aquaman starts having visions, disturbing visions:

Arthur's Father starts berating his son, casting doubts about Mera and his son's decision to live on land. This starts to clue Aquaman in that this isn't real, and he finds the strength to get up and try and walk some more.

We then see Aquaman rip his way into the armored jet, and he gets a shock when he punches one of the soldiers: it appears these attackers' suits are filled with water! Aquaman immediately surmises they are Atlantean, but before anything else can be discovered, Aquaman is hit by some sort of force beam and knocked out of the jet, which ended up dumping him in the desert.

Now that we've come full circle, we see Aquaman discover the Atlantean glyph in the desert, as well as one of the solider's helmets. Placing the glyph into the water, an amazing vision appears before him:

This mysterious being talks of a great enemy, seemingly relating a history of Atlantis. Aquaman watches the messenger get attacked by some force, and then silence.

Just then, a fleet of Navy helicopters hover over Aquaman, and soon news of the rescue is all over the news:

...to be continued!

After some issues that seemed to go by very quickly, Aquaman #5 was a lot more dense, with a couple different story threads being dangled. I kinda wish Aquaman had figured a way out of the desert by himself, but even that feels purposeful; and in any case it's been done. So I guess it's just as well.

For some reason, the ending page feels ominous to me; maybe it's the worried look on Aquaman's face in response to a seemingly innocuous note. Maybe I'm reading into it. (By the way, I love the little "A" charm Salty The Aqua-Dog (as he will now be known as) is wearing on his collar. I really hope DC Direct makes those for real, I'd get one for our dog Johnny)

I continually get a thrill the way Aquaman's powers are displayed here; his ability of near-flight, his super-strength; and his enhanced hearing. This Aquaman is more of a take-charge bruiser when he's playing superhero, and the Shrine likes him that way!

Finally, I love the painterly look used on the Atlantean messenger; it's a nice effect that's pleasing to look at and helps make him/it stand out from the rest of the goings-on in the book. Month in, month out, the art team of Reis/Prado/Reis delivers the goods.

Random Panel of the Day #371

2012-01-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman iPhone Wallpaper

2012-01-27T00:03:00.000-05:00

This beautiful custom iPhone wallpaper was made by artist Jojo Mendoza, and its part of a whole set of Justice League-inspired ones...even Martian Manhunter!

Check out his DeviantArt page to download the set for iPhone, iPad, or your desktop! The Shrine did!

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Jake Johnston)

Random Panel of the Day #370

2012-01-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

DC Super Friends My Busy Book

2012-01-26T00:03:00.000-05:00

Shrine Correspondent Russell Burbage sent in these scans of a DC Super Friends: My Busy Book, which is an over-sized book-and-toy set that comes with mini-plastic figures (see above) and a book that doubles as a series of interactive playsets.

I love the detailing of these figures--even though they're tiny, you can see Aquaman here has got scales, the yellow "A" belt, the whole thing!

This is really cool little set, the kind of thing I would have gone nuts for as a kid, and then paid a ton of money for years later on eBay.

Thanks Russell!

Random Panel of the Day #369

2012-01-25T13:05:00.000-05:00

Aquaman in Lobo Convention Special #1

2012-01-25T00:03:00.000-05:00

Tying the time he appeared in The Adventures of Bob Hope for Strangest Aquaman Cameo, here's the Sea King literally swimming through 1993's Lobo Convention Special, by Keith Giffen, Alan Grant, and Kevin O'Neill.

I had no idea Aquaman was in this book, until it was pointed out to me by eagle-eyed Shonna Zimmermann, who is our newest F.O.A.M. member! Thanks Shonna, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Random Panel of the Day #368

2012-01-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman Volume 4 House Ad - 1991

2012-01-24T00:03:00.000-05:00

This is another house ad for the 1991 Aquaman series, this time using one of Kevin Maguire's superb covers, that ran in Previews. If I were a villain, I'd be scared if I saw that coming at me!

This was sent in by my Fire and Water Podcast co-host The Irredeemable Shag. Thanks Shag!

Random Panel of the Day #367

2012-01-23T12:03:00.000-05:00

DC Comics: We Can Be Heroes

2012-01-23T10:44:00.013-05:00

DC Entertainment has announced an unprecedented humanitarian effort launched today to combat hunger and starvation in Africa: We Can Be Heroes!
From DC's Source Blog Official Press Release:

The Justice League characters were chosen by DC Entertainment both for their global recognition as well as their demonstration of strength in unity and numbers. The campaign’s graphic identifier features the iconic Justice League characters—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg—outlined in silhouette against the African continent. Each of these characters is a super hero in his or her own right, but when they band together as the Justice League, they become an unstoppable force for good and right in the universe—a key message of the We Can Be Heroes campaign. While many individuals may feel powerless to effect change on their own, as part of a global campaign such as this, their efforts, combined with those of other donors, can create a world of change.

Key elements of this campaign will include a generous donor-matching program by DCE and the creation of an online community to generate awareness of the African population's struggle to survive. The Aquaman Shrine encourages you to visit the joinwecanbeheroes.org website to consider your participation level and be sure to click on the Justice League link for more info on how the Sea King fits into the campaign! We are sure the Aquaman would find this a cause worthy of our attention.

The Fire and Water Podcast: Episode 11

2012-01-23T08:03:00.001-05:00

The Name That Aquadog Contest, FINAL!

2012-01-23T07:03:00.001-05:00

The results are in, and the winner of the Name That Aquadog Contest is...Salty!

It was a tough race, with many good suggestions all earning varying levels of support. With over 350 votes cast, it was one of our most popular polls!

In the end, "Salty" won out ("Buoy" running a very close second). "Salty" was first suggested by F.O.A.M.er Simone Mularkey, and her reasoning "...as in a salty sea-dog" proved too good to resist.

Simone's prize for coming up with the winning entry is a copy of, appropriately enough, Capstone Books' DC Super-Pets: Heroes on the High Seas!

The Shrine has already tweeted the winning name to DC Comics and Geoff Johns, so if Aquadog doesn't end up being named "Salty", don't blame us!

Thanks to all who entered, and congrats to Simone for submitting the winning name!

Challenge of the Super Friends, Episode 2

2012-01-23T00:03:00.001-05:00

Episode 2: "Invasion of the Fearians"

The Legion of Doom, having escaped capture by the Super Friends after sending them into space, is back with another nefarious plan!

In the Legion of Doom's headquarters, Captain Cold announces a plan--he has been talking to a race of Venusian invaders called The Fearians, who want to conquer Earth but are willing to strike a deal:

The Venusians need Earth to be more environmentally hospitable, so they ask the LOD to do the deed. In return, after the Fearians take over, they will hand over complete control of the planet's human population to Legion of Doom!

Step One of this plan involves Captain Cold. After freezing large parts of the planet, he of course draws the attention of The Flash. After failing to capture Cold, The Flash takes to unfreezing the world's cities:

But The Flash does not factor in all the steam he's creating by doing so, which raises the temperature of the entire planet! And this guy's a scientist?

Step Two involves Black Manta, and follows the same formula: he draws Aquaman into combat, and seemingly easily loses the fight, only to escape:

Manta has set massive fires all over Earth's coast cities, so Aquaman has his finny friends create huge tidal waves to put them out. But they do the job too well: the waves flood all the cities, covering populated areas in water!

Aquaman communicates what has happened to the rest of the Super Friends:

Batman announces a plan, but he is interrupted by yet another disaster, this one the work of Sinestro.

I think you can guess what happens: Green Lantern shows up, and ends up making the Earth's environmental problem worse in his attempt to stop Sinestro. By this point, the Earth is now more humid, more tropical, and more of its surface is covered in water! Time for the Fearians!

The Fearians invade, and their leader stops by the Hall of Justice. They (he? it?) encases the heroes in an unbreakable bubble, allowing the Fearians time to change the planet even more.

Green Lantern uses his power ring to trick The Fearians into thinking they've escaped, which draws them back. They accidentally free the Super Friends, who then turn around and and defeat The Fearians. Problem solved!

Oh, wait--there's still the ecological disaster, and the Legion of Doom, who have taken up in Capitol Hill (insert political joke here). Soon, they find themselves face-to-face with the Super Friends!

Once again, they are defeated:

...we don't see how Manta ended up face down like that, gosh darn it.

Anyway, also once again Lex Luthor is one step ahead, and manages to escape with all his villainous pals back to their hideout, leaving the Super Friends to issue yet another firm but-not-quite-as-convincing warning that they will be watching:

...not The End!

The Fearians' plan is not well thought-out, despite each Fearian having (presumably) three brains each. Also, the Legion of Doom didn't think this through much either: do they really think a horde of invading aliens is just going to hand the planet over? C'mon, guys.

This episode opens with a touch of character detail that would become a hallmark of the show: the members of the Legion of Doom are always within a hair's breadth of fighting with one another. After all, what do people like Bizarro and The Scarecrow have to talk about, really?

Aquaman's presence this time around is much more significant than the last episode (it would have to be), and even though he falls into the same dumb trap, I never tire of seeing him tussle with Black Manta.

This episode's Aqua-Content: Medium

Adventure Comics #160 - Jan. 1951

2012-01-22T00:03:00.001-05:00

Comics Weekend "Aquaman's Sea Cops!" by George Kashdan and John Daly.

It's Adventure Sunday!

The Sea King forms The Aquaman Corps, way before those sissypants Oans!

One of Aquaman's young recruits spots Tim Weed heading for a nearby pier. The Sea King sends a message (via electric eel--patent pending) to all of his team, including his finny friends.

Weed's boat is surrounded by a fence made up of swordfish, but he declares he is running an honest business retrieving sunken treasure. Aquaman lets him go, but secretly follows him back out into the water, where he sees Weed heading inside a buoy--a-ha!:

...and with that, so ends another adventure with Aquaman!

I don't feel this story was one of the Golden Age Aquaman's best; it's too wordy (I actually started to get bored working through all the balloons) and Tim Weed seems fairly colorless. It makes me wonder why, when someone like Batman already had a huge Rogues Gallery, Aquaman was so rarely given a colorful foe to battle?

I mean, of course Aquaman only had six pages per month, as opposed to Batman who was the star of two full-length books (three, if you want to count World's Finest), but still it seems like such a wasted opportunity to have Aquaman just battle yet another fedora'd crook when he was capable of so much more. Especially when you think how science-fiction was getting more and more popular by the 1950s; it would have been perfectly reasonable to have the Sea King take on aliens, robots, etc.

That said, John Daly's art job is, as always, terrific; I especially love panel four on page five, and the clever splash page.

Random Panel of the Day #366

2012-01-21T15:03:00.001-05:00

Young Justice - "Fail Safe"

2012-01-21T12:03:00.000-05:00

Episode Sixteen: "Fail Safe" - Airdate 11/4/11

It's Young Justice Saturday!

by Andy Luckett

A giant ship shadows the moon's surface as it makes its way toward Earth. Rushing out to meet it are Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart, backed up by Batman and his Brother Eye satellites. After fair warning by the Justice League members, the ship fires upon the Lanterns, destroying their ring-created shields and vaporizing them. Batman calls on the second wave of the League; Superman, Captain Atom, J'onn J'onzz, and Captain Marvel, but they too (along with Batman)are destroyed one-by-one.

The alien ship continues to Earth, sending out smaller warships that decimate our cities. In Central City, the Flash and Zatara rescue Iris West, but soon all three meet a grisly fate. In Taipei, the Hawks, Green Arrow and Black Canary also succumb to the invaders. Among the other heroes reported dead include Aquaman, Icon, and the Atom. Wonder Woman and Red Tornado die defending Smallville, Kansas as the alien mothership lands there. This, of course, leaves the Young Justice team shocked but ready to do their best to defend the planet. Using satellite imagery, they determine that one scout ship has broken off from the pack and landed in the Arctic, presumably drawn by the power signature of Superman's Fortress of Solitude. The team decides to attack this ship and find its weaknesses.

In the Arctic and wearing white camouflage uniforms, Young Justice engages the craft, disabling its defenses. Superboy climbs on top to tear off the main cannon, but as it powers up Wolf jumps in to save Superboy's life. Soldiering on, Superboy and Miss Martian program the bioship to integrate the new cannon into itself, which leaves the team vulnerable to the new alien warships approaching. Artemis, running back to the bioship, tries to hold them off but is hit and vaporized before the team's horrified eyes.

Heartbroken, the remaining members travel back to the Hall of Justice to make their stand. After Superboy and the bioship destroy three alien warcraft outside the Hall, Aqualad meets with General Eiling, the man running the military resistance in the area. Aqualad plans to take a bunch of the alien's cannons and then strike using them. Once the team gets inside the Hall, Miss Martian senses a familiar presence. When she moves part of the broken statue of J'onn J'onzz, she finds…J'onn J'onzz, alive but disoriented. The others theorize that perhaps J'onn was phasing and in an immaterial state when the alien beam hit him, passing through his body but confusing his mind. J'onn can only remember a vague notion that he has something very important to tell the team.

Kid Flash and Robin examine the alien cannon attached to the bioship and discover the beam it emits is made of Zeta radiation, meaning that it could be a teleportation beam rather than a disintegrator, which in turn could mean that the victims are alive and being held by the invaders. As another wave of ships attacks, the bioship is hit and disappears, causing the team and the soldiers to fall back.

With nowhere else to go inside the Hall, Aqualad decides to transport the survivors to the Cave HQ at Happy Harbor. J'onn can authorize the transfers, but only one person at a time. Aqualad wants the soldiers to go first, but Eiling asserts that the six YJers are too valuable to endanger. As J'onn starts the process, the aliens breach the Hall and begin firing. As soldiers fall around them, including Eiling, Superboy goes back and saves a soldier, then makes the teleport himself. Aqualad gets J'onn through, and as he turns to jump, is hit by the beam as well.

Back at Happy Harbor but down to only four members, Young Justice decides that if the victims of the alien cannons have been teleported and are still alive, then they must be held inside the mothership in Smallville. Robin wants to use Superboy as a diversion to allow the others to get inside the ship, but Miss Martian hates the idea, saying Robin is sending him on a suicide mission. Superboy, however, realizes his ability to provoke the aliens, so he agrees, saying "It's what Superman would do."

Before they begin, the team sends out an inspiring message across the world, mobilizing other young heroes; such as Tula, Garth, Red Arrow, and Zatanna, to take up the fight. At the mothership, J'onn and M'Gann take first position and phase inside, as Superboy begins his assault outside. As he stirs up the ants nest, Robin and Kid Flash make it inside and begin searching the complex. Sadly, Superboy is hit. Kid Flash reminds M'Gann that he was probably only teleported but J'onn, his mind clearer, states that he knows the alien beam is a disintegrator and not a teleporter. The others are dead. Kid Flash has trouble believing this, saying that the Zeta radiation must mean teleportation, but Robin tells him his scans of the ship find no signs of human life. The plan now is to destroy the mothership.

The four make their way to the power core, where Robin makes his way in and drops a payload of grenades into the core. As they turn to leave, the doors close, sealing them in. Miss Martian and J'onn phase outside the ship under command from Robin, and he and Kid Flash are killed in the explosion as the mothership is destroyed. Outside, a terrified and exhausted M'Gann looks on as another mothership descends out of the night sky to Earth. "We have to get out of here now", she says. To which her Uncle replies, "No, we have to end this now", before driving his fist through her chest.

At this latest shock, M'Gann awakes within the Happy Harbor team HQ. All of her teammates are alive and well, recently awakened also. Batman and J'onn are present as well, wondering what happened with "the exercise". Batman explains that the events of the alien invasion were an immersive psychic training exercise designed to test the team's reaction to failure. It was designed so that no matter how well they did, the scenario would continually get harder and more tragic.

However, the member's minds knew that what they were experiencing wasn't real, which is why they were able to roll with the deaths of the League and of Wolf. When Artemis was "killed", however, Miss Martian's subconscious mind reacted too strongly and tried to take control of the program. M'Gann's psychic influence was so strong that when each member "died", they actually began to slip into comas rather than wake up as intended. At this point J'onn realized he would have to step in and end the exercise before Artemis or one of the others slipped into irreversible territory. When he projected his mind inside, the psychic noise of the others; i.e., their grief, pain, rage, etc, confused him and made him forget his purpose. Once Aqualad, Superboy, Robin, and Kid Flash "died" he was able to regain his place and stop his niece by shocking her awake.

Naturally, each member of the team is mentally and emotionally strained and exhausted by this ordeal, but M'Gann is truly devastated, feeling guilt over her subconscious mind forcing the others into comas. J'onn is also surprised at the power of M'Gann's mind, saying that it dwarfs the power of his own or any other he has ever known. We leave the team shaken and damaged.

Let's get the big potential criticism of this episode out of the way. Yes, this is a variation on the "nightmare scenario, it was all a dream" storytelling device that we've seen before. That said, it carried enough different ideas and details that I can easily overlook the familiarity of the premise. More than anything, it reminds me of The New Batman Adventures episode "Over the Edge", in which (Spoiler Alert!) Batgirl, under the influence of the Scarecrow's Fear Toxin, hallucinates the Bat-team's identities being exposed, her own death, and the deaths of Batman and her father Commissioner Gordon.

That episode carried a "new status quo/what's happening here/hit you in the gut" feeling to it, and so does "Failsafe". We break right into the carnage with the deaths of Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two of the most powerful League members but taken out with almost no effort. Then four more of the heavy hitters (Supes, Captain Marvel, J'onn J'onzz, and Captain Atom) drop like dominos and we move on to the rest of the League getting taken down. Things keep getting worse as Artemis and Wolf buy the farm, and then false hope comes with the teleportation theory, and on and on.

I always appreciate in stories when characters act reasonably intelligent in harsh situations, and that's what the Young Justice team does here. You could argue that this is only a simulation, but the "participants" are still the mental projections of the team members, and the choices they make must to some degree parallel the ones they would make in a real life situation. Aqualad really steps up to the plate, keeping the team's spirits up through the deaths of their mentors, coming up with solutions for problems, and coordinating the team's talents effectively. But the biggest show of his character has to be the moment when he demands that the soldiers go before himself and the team into the teleporter. Not only that, but he also pushes Superboy and J'onn in ahead of himself, at the cost of his "life".

This may be my favorite episode of this show since "Downtime", the Aqua-centric one from earlier this season. Call me a sucker for "worst case scenario" adventure storytelling, but I just find exploring the what-ifs to be a great way to really get to the heart of the characters and the concept.

Aquaman (Vol.1) #18 - Dec. 1964

2012-01-21T00:03:00.001-05:00

Comics Weekend "The Wife of Aquaman!" by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy.

Behold--another milestone in the legend of Aquaman!

Last week on Comics Weekend Saturday, the Shrine covered Aquaman #1, the first time the Sea King headlined his own title. When talking about a previous Aquaman comic, we've generally tried to look at the issues in order to preserve the storyline. But since many of these early comics didn't use continued stories, I thought it'd be fun to jump around a bit, and go back and revisit some of the big moments from the Sea King's past.

One of those moments is undoubtedly Aquaman #18, where Aquaman took a wife! Let's check out how it happened:

Mera's pursuer creates a giant purple monster (no, not that one), in an attempt to stop Aquaman and Aqualad. But thanks to some deft maneuvering, they cause it to slam into the beast the man is riding.

In the process, Mera is knocked unconscious, and they take her below the waves. Aqualad notices how much his mentor seems to care for Mera, and asks if he loves her. Aquaman answers yes, he is. That's heartbreaking news, since Aquaman must marry an Atlantean woman, which Mera is not. How to tell her?

Mera wakes up and tells Aquaman what has happened: turns out that the dimensional portal she used to visit Earth was about to close for years, and Mera, unable to bear the thought of not seeing Aquaman for so long, chose to use it one last time, and stay on Earth.

Following her through the portal is another member of her race, a man named Oceanus, who declares his love for Mera, and for power: he wants Mera to be his bride so they can conquer the Earth! Mera's answer is emphatic:

Mera wanders onto a beach, where she attacked again by Oceanus. Mera, despondent, no longer has the energy to turn down his offers, and meekly agrees to marry him, which thrills Oceanus to no end ("Ha! Ha! It's working, she's beginning to trust me!").

Oceanus' next step is to head straight for Atlantis and demand to be their king. This offer is, naturally, rejected, and Oceanus responds by using his powers to create a small army of hard water creatures, who attack and defeat the Atlanteans easily. As Oceanus declares himself their new king, the people wonder, where's Aquaman?

Above the waves, Aquaman and Aqualad spy an SOS coming from a signal fish, which they take to mean there's trouble at home. Once there, they face off against Oceanus' creations:

Aquaman and Aqualad are about to be killed by Oceanus, but Mera stops him, demanding time to humiliate Aquaman they way he humiliated her. Oceanus is delighted, and agrees. Soon, our heroes are turned into servants, having to wait on Oceanus and Mera hand and foot.

Mera demands a large, grand temple be built for the wedding, so the Atlanteans (including Aquaman and Aqualad) are put to work. Later at night, they escape and try and capture Oceanus, only to be fooled by a hard water simulacrum. Oceanus, waiting in the wings, pulls a weapon on them, and is about to shoot.

He is stopped by Mera, who grabs the weapon and confesses she's been lying to Oceanus all this time. Oceanus, little rat that he is, quickly folds:

...The Beginning!

With this issue, Aquaman made superhero history, in that he became (I think) the first superhero to get married. Sure, the Silver Age Hawkman and Hawkgirl were married, but they were a couple from their introduction. This is the first case I can think of where a character was introduced into a superhero's series, only to have them marry the main character.

As drawn by Nick Cardy, Mera is simply gorgeous, a statuesque beauty--who also was, in her own way, a superhero. Truly a match made in heaven! The Aquaman fan in me wishes the wedding wasn't so truncated (it's all of one panel, with Superman and Martian Manhunter rudely talking during the ceremony, to boot), but this kind of character stuff was always given short shrift in favor of action. Having said that, this issue is a marvelous adventure, filled to the brim with fun moments, all beautifully brought to life by Cardy.

This issue brought to you by Tootsie Rolls!

DC Interactive Logos, Pt. 2

2012-01-20T15:11:00.002-05:00

Continuing in the vein of the earlier post, here's an Aquaman and Mera version of the promo shots DC's been sending around featuring various and heroes with the new logo.

Click the graphic to embiggen and download!

Random Panel of the Day #365

2012-01-20T15:03:00.000-05:00

DC Interactive Logos

2012-01-20T12:03:00.001-05:00

DC made big news the other day, unveiling these new interactive logos, replacing the updated DC "spin" icon that debuted back in 2005.

Some of the new icons are clearly, intentionally visually tied to characters (Flash, Green Lantern, Watchmen), and the Shrine couldn't help but notice a certain Sea King is not represented! Considering that Aquaman is currently one of DC''s top sellers, we thought that was unfair, so:

...you're welcome, DC!

Aquaman Mini-Series Preview

2012-01-20T00:03:00.000-05:00

I've been digging through issues of the old comics magazine Amazing Heroes, which did a yearly Preview Issue, talking up all the new releases.

In the 1985 preview, they ran this article on the upcoming Aquaman mini-series by Neal Pozner and Craig Hamilton. If you look at the beginning of the listing, it says the series it "concludes with the 50th issue." Oh, if only!

Random Panel of the Day #364

2012-01-19T12:03:00.000-05:00

Super Friends Fight Club by Frank Cho

2012-01-19T07:03:00.001-05:00

This oh-so-wrong piece by Frank Cho of the Super Friends and the cast of Space Ghost Coast to Coast has been around for years, and I could never quite decide whether to post it or not. I mean, it's really offensive in so many ways (I count at least five), but is admittedly very clever in its profane-ness, and it sure is pretty to look at!

So when our newest F.O.A.M. member Shester Aguiar sent it in a few days ago, I finally decided to lighten up and post it. Forgive me.

Thanks(?) Shester, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Aqua-Pillow

2012-01-19T00:03:00.000-05:00

Courtesy F.O.A.M.er Ray DeForest comes this super-adorable custom-made Aqua-Pillow, which he bought on Etsy. You, too, can sleep like a King!

Thanks Ray!

Random Panel of the Day #363

2012-01-18T12:03:00.000-05:00

Capstone DC Super Villian Endpapers

2012-01-18T00:03:00.000-05:00

Courtesy author Laurie S. Sutton comes this advance shot of the endpapers used inside Capstone Books' new line of DC Super Villains books. One of the books in the series stars Black Manta, who looks here like he's about to be pasted one by the Sea King.

Laurie wrote two books in the series--Sinestro and The Ring of Fear and Cheetah and The Purrfect Crime--all of which come out in the Spring! Thanks Laurie!

Aquaman on the Web: IGN's Best of 2011

2012-01-17T22:03:00.001-05:00

IGN has tallied the votes in its "Best of 2011" poll, and Aquaman came in at #3.

While the Shrine is of course disappointed he and it didn't make it to #1, the Sea King nevertheless had a great showing, beating out such stiff competition as Detective Comics, Justice League, and Amazing Spider-Man.

A heart congrats to Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis for creating such a fan-favorite book right from the start!

Random Panel of the Day #362

2012-01-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman #8 April Solicit

2012-01-17T10:17:00.003-05:00

AQUAMAN #8

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
1:25 B&W Variant cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADO
On sale APRIL 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T

Part 2 of "The Other League"! As a deadly hunter continues his murderous quest for the Atlantean trident, an unknown chapter of Aquaman’s life is revealed! Before he was a part of the Justice League, Aquaman was Arthur, the man from Atlantis, and leader of a mysterious team of adventurers. Armed with weapons forged in Aquaman’s past, these men and women were on their way to becoming the most powerful people on Earth – until it all came crashing down.

Note: Aquaman 7 & 8 cover solicits are using previously published interior art rather than the actual covers as a means of avoiding spoilers as to membership of The Other League...very tricky guys, very tricky...But we assure you Ivan & Joe are designing some really cool characters that are going to surprise everyone!

Aquaman Art Gallery: J. Cowan

2012-01-17T09:03:00.001-05:00

I thought we'd run lots of original Aquaman fan art today, so here's another piece, by artist J.Cowan--a redesigned Aquaman costume! I like the retention of the classic color scheme, but rearranged to give Arthur (or whoever this is) a sleeker look. Also, I have to imagine this super-skin-tight outfit would help retain Aquaman's sizable female and gay fan base!

You can find more of JC's work on his deviantART page. Thanks J!

Aquaman Art Gallery: Dennis Doucette

2012-01-17T00:03:00.000-05:00

This funky Aquaman pin-up/plug for the Shrine is courtesy F.O.A.M.er Dennis Doucette.

Apparently Aquaman is standing outside a Target telling people to visit the Shrine, which will be great for us! Thanks Dennis!

Random Panel of the Day #361

2012-01-16T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Name That Aquadog Contest, Round 2!

2012-01-16T07:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, we've got our entries in the "Name That Aquadog" Contest, distilled down to the best 15 choices from last Monday's post . Vote in the poll and pick your favorite!

Challenge of the Super Friends, Episode 1

2012-01-16T00:03:00.002-05:00

Episode 1: "Wanted: The Superfriends"

After concluding the Shrine's look at The All-New Super Friends Hour, it was only a matter of time until we got to another iteration of the show, arguably the most popular: Challenge of the Super Friends!

This episode opens, as almost of all of them would, in a murky swamp, where the Legion of Doom's headquarters is located. The angrily-voiced Lex Luthor introduces all the members to one another: Bizarro, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Giganta, The Scarecrow, Sinestro, Solomon Grundy, The Toyman, plus unlikely seat-mates Gorilla Grodd and Black Manta:

Batman's arch-nemesis The Riddler is also a member. Introduced in a scene that completely blew by me as a kid, but now seems like some sort of sly in-joke by the animators, The Riddler opens up a "deck" of pictures of the Super Friends, just before setting them ablaze:

It goes by very quickly, but you can clearly see Zan and Gleek--who, along with Janya, are nowhere to be seen in this show. Challenge of the Super Friends will turn out to be an angrier, darker show than its predecessors, and at the risk of reading too much into it, this little in-joke feels like a signal that we're in unfamiliar territory here: this is no place for amateurs!

Anyway, Luthor has developed some sort of weapon that attacks the Super Friends while they sleep (how, we don't know, and shouldn't ask). He turns it on, and it heads straight for Superman, who is at the moment, hard at work in his civilian guise of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for The Daily Planet:

The beam finds Clark and, as if sleep-walking, he changes into Superman and heads straight for Fort Knox, stealing all of the gold inside (which is, conveniently, kept in one large pile in the middle of the room). They pull the same trick on Batman and Robin, who rob the U.S. Mint (that's a long drive from New Jersey to Washington D.C.).

Such a robbery is child's play for the Dynamic Duo of course, but its even easier ever since Robin got a lightsaber:

Robberies like this are committed all over the world by the sleeping Super Friends. The next morning, they all convene at the Hall of Justice, where they relate each other's strange "dreams." This is our first glimpse of Aquaman, who sadly won't have much to do in this episode:

The Super Friends turn themselves into the authorities, and are jailed. They promise not to break out, but then realize they've fallen into a trap: the prison guards are really Bizarro and The Cheetah!

With the flip of a switch, a strange paralyzing beam hits the heroes, and they are helpless as the entire jail cell rockets off the floor, out of the building, and into outer space towards the sun!

While the Super Friends are gone, The Legion of Doom breaks into the Hall of Justice, and Luthor sets up a dish (requiring no more than two plugs, the HOJ must run on Macs) that shoots a beam to the Justice League satellite. That beam is shot back down all over the world, turning people into Bizarros and Cheetahs!:

The LOD gives the order for their mind-slaves to steal everything that isn't nailed down, and soon they are flooded with wealth--cash, gold, jewelry, etc.

Meanwhile, the Super Friends use teamwork to escape their flying jail cell, and return to Earth. They stop all the various Bizarros (Bizarri?) and Cheethas from further looting--except for Batman and Robin, who are suckerpunched by a Bizarro Alfred, who ties them to their Batmobile and sends them hurtling off a cliff.

Of course, they escape at the last minute, and using their Bat-Computer figure out where the Legion of Doom is hiding. After Superman stops Luthor's beam, the Super Friends go undercover as Bizarros and Cheetahs, waiting until they are back inside The Hall of Justice to reveal themselves:

Aquaman? No, not quite--a mis-colored Superman!

Anyway, the Super Friends take on their villains (with nary a punch thrown; this was still the age when network censors strictly prohibited any kind of person-on-person violence in kids' cartoons). Superman then turns the mind-controlling beam on the Legion of Doom, who helpfully stand together in a group.

Things look bad for the villains, until later, when Luthor reveals he built a fail-safe into the weapon which, when used on the Legion of Doom, transports them all back to their hide-out, where they are free to conceive another nefarious plot against the Super Friends!

Our heroes are steely in their resolve, insisting that wherever the Legion of Doom might surface, they will be there to stop them:

...not The End!

As a young comic book fan, I absolutely adored Challenge of the Super Friends. Never before had a cartoon so faithfully reproduced its comic book source material: instead of just featuring DC's Big Five, Challenge pitted almost the entire Justice League against the Legion of Doom, giving us characters rarely--and in some cases, never--seen in animation.

Looking back on these shows as an adult (hollow laugh), I of course see how completely insane and bare bones they are: characterization among the heroes is nil (any hero's dialogue could come from any other hero, and that includes Wonder Woman), and the plots are insane: science and physics are gleefully tossed aside when needed, and the Super Friends seem to almost go out of their way to not make sure the villains are actually caught, leaving them to fight another day.

But after the apple-cheeked, sitcom-esque antics of the previous Super Friends series, Challenge of the Super Friends still feels like the comic books come to life, with all their good and bad qualities intact. I still love this show.

Aquaman gets literally nothing to do here--at first he's seen sitting, then standing, that's it--but he'll take a greater role in later episodes. But for now, I have to say:

This episode's Aqua-Content: Low

Adventure Comics #158 - Nov. 1950

2012-01-15T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "Portrait in Peril!" by Jack Miller and John Daly.

It's Adventure Sunday!

Art imitates life this week, and Aquaman is in the middle!

Young Renfrew has gone completely bonkers, as many artists have. Aquaman notices he's been put under glass, and begins tapping on the glass, sending out a sort of Morse Code message to his finny friends!

The fish help Aquaman escape the vacuum bell, and Aquaman starts to wonder what's going on with Renfrew. Meanwhile, the young man tries another tactic--"shaming" Aquaman into helping him:

...and with that, so ends another adventure with Aquaman!

Wow, Aquaman is truly a badass here, deciding to scare Renfrew to death so he could turn that terror into art. And he does it with a smile!

It's interesting to me that, amid the row of Aquaman portraits, Black Jack is not shown--surely someone caught the two of them in a fight, since it seemed to occur every three days. Was this the writer's conscious choice to just forget the character?

Speaking of writing, this is the first Aquaman story by (then-)new comics scribe Jack Miller. Miller would go on to become one of Aquaman's most historically significant writers, but that's for future Adventure Sundays...

Random Panel of the Day #360

2012-01-14T15:03:00.000-05:00

Young Justice #11 - Feb. 2012

2012-01-14T12:03:00.000-05:00

"The Pit…" by Greg Weisman, Christopher A. Jones, and Dan Davis.

Hey there, everyone, Andy Luckett here again with a review of Young Justice issue 11. We begin a new story this issue as the team gathers at Mount Justice in Happy Harbor. Red Tornado is present, but doesn't have a mission for the team, explaining that is Batman's job. Speaking of Batman, he and Robin are currently in Cape Canaveral, FL, foiling yet another of Ra's Al Ghul's "up with nature, down with humanity" schemes.

After taking down the low-level henchmen, Robin catches up to Batman, only to find him compromised by Ubu, Ra's lieutenant. After Robin helps Batman take Ubu down, Talia arrives and starts their whole "I love you but don't make me stop you" dance once again. Turns out the particular rocket that Ra's is attempting to launch into space is being overseen by Carol Ferris as well.

After Batman persuades Talia that to stop him she'll have to shoot him, she can't and he goes after the rocket. Ra's himself is standing on the platform near the top of the nosecone. Ra's gives a speech about why the ecological balance of the Earth must be reestablished, even offering to spare Gotham City if Batman will join his crusade. The Dark Knight's response:

While Batman has distracted Ra's, Robin hops up and disables the shuttle's nosecone. Ra's loses it at little about that, jumping desperately at Robin in an attempt to recover the nosecone lens. Unfortunately, he misses and takes a header right off the platform, landing dead at his daughter's feet:

Talia and Ubu scoop up Ra's remains and head for the nearest Lazarus Pit, leaving the Dynamic Duo to clean up the mess. Sadly, as this has occurred, Batman and Robin receive news that Kent Nelson, aka Dr. Fate, has died. At his funeral, the whole YJ team, their mentors and members of the Justice League and Society are in attendance. After the ceremony ends, something unexpected occurs:

On Infinity Island, the entrance to a glowing green Lazarus Pit opens, and Ra's al Ghul lives again! Of course, since any recent occupant of a Lazarus Pit comes out super insane, Ra's attacks Ubu before recovering his senses. He tells Talia and the Sensei of the League of Assassins to prepare both the Garden and the Serpent plans, but not to activate them yet. Talia believes that these plans are far too drastic, and that her father will change his mind as the effects of the Pit wear off further. The Sensei is not so sure. As they both turn to leave, something wicked this way comes...

...to be continued!

As I'm sure you can tell by now, this issue was wall-to-wall Bat-action. More of a character spotlight story than any so far, this issue reads like a random issue of any Bat-book. The rest of the team make only two appearances: on the opening page with Red Tornado, and at Kent Nelson's funeral. Aqualad appears in both scenes but has no lines, making his appearance a mere walk-on role. Aquaman also shows up during the funeral scene, but that's the extent of Aqua-presence this time.

So while this issue really seems out of step with being part of a team comic book, I'm hopeful that Greg Weisman and his team will dovetail the rest of YJ into foiling Ra's plans next issue. That said, there is a lot of interesting stuff in this issue. First of all, it tells us the story of what Robin was up to during the events of the TV episode "Denial", in which Kent Nelson was killed. But more importantly, beyond the Ra's al Ghul vs. Dynamic Duo "A" plot, we also have the intriguing detail of Artemis' arrest at Nelson's funeral (couldn't they have waited till they got back to an HQ?). And beyond that, there's the whole Clayface-hiding-in-the-Lazarus-Pit wrinkle. Hopefully all of this will come to some satisfying conclusion at the end of this story, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Aquaman (Vol.1) #1 - Feb. 1962

2012-01-14T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "The Invasion of the Fire-Trolls!" by Unknown and Nick Cardy.

Behold--the very first issue of Aquaman!

Despite having recapped a couple Aquaman comics every single week for almost five years, the Shrine had never quite gotten around to looking at 1962's Aquaman #1, the first time the Sea King was the star of his own title. Let's see how he and his pal Aqualad fare against the deadly Fire-Trolls:

Quisp has arrived to warn Aquaman of the Fire-Trolls, and the Sea King and Aqualad bravely try and stop their rampage. Nothing seems to work, and Aquaman watches as the Fire-Trolls head for land.

Aquaman sees a U.S. Missile Base is in the Fire-Trolls' path of destruction, and gets the Army to bring out their weapons to fire at the monsters--but even that doesn't stop them! Aquaman then gets another idea, to try and freeze them, with Quisp offering to help:

After a house ad for a Batman Annual, an ad for stamps, a short feature called "Shorty", and Peter Porkchops in "The Secret of the Happy Pig!", we resume our story:

Aquaman sends an army of crabs to distract the Fire-Trolls while Quisp moves into position. One of the creatures splits off from the other two and Quisp blasts it with the freezing solution, which also seems to have only minor effect!

The Fire-Troll slaps the solution, covering Aquaman and Aqualad in it, freezing them! Before they are crushed by the Fire-Troll stomping in their direction, Quisp shrinks our heroes to bug size. The massive quake created by the Fire-Troll knocks them out of the way, but now they have another problem--they've been away from water for almost an hour, and are essentially miles away from the ocean!

On the way to find some water, they fight off a scorpion. Aquaman figures there will be water in a nearby abandoned jeep, but more trouble awaits:

During the break, there's Henry Boltinoff's "Homer Goes Skin-Diving:, as well as a non-fiction text feature called "Wonders of the Water World" (you gotta love those old Post Office mailing permits!). Now back to the story:

Aqualad grows very weak. Aquaman flags down a pelican flying overhead, and slaps it with his tunic, causing it to open its mouth, dropping the water contained therein on them, resuscitating both heroes!

Aquaman and Aqualad then escape the angry pelican, and start to notice that Quisp's effect is wearing off. They reach the ocean, where Quisp tells them what the Fire-Trolls have been doing: namely, stealing rockets!

Quisp overheard the Fire-Trolls talking, and learned that they plan to use the explosives to open up other submerged volcanoes, freeing other Fire-Trolls which will lead to them ruling the world!

Aquaman asks why Quisp shrunk them, and when he(?) says that wasn't intentional, the Sea King gets an idea. Shortly, Quisp finds the Fire-Trolls and tells them Aquaman has more of the freezing solution, which lures them to the surface. While they are busy smashing everything in site looking for the solution, Aquaman has some flying fish carry him over them, where he douses them with the chemical!

Then Quisp zaps them, causing them to shrink as Aquaman and Aqualad did:

The End...for now!

This first issue of Aquaman is a roller-coaster of a story, and very of its time: some giant monsters come out of nowhere, our heroes face them, experience a daunting setback, only to rally at the end, defeating the menace and wrapping the whole thing up with a joke.

No one seems to know who wrote this story (even DC's Showcase collections don't list a writer), but it moves at a breakneck pace and Aquaman is brave and resourceful. Lots of real-life details are worked in, and Nick Cardy brings the whole thing to life with this solid work. He would only get better from here.

Interesting to consider the Fire-Trolls come from some deep volcanic...trench under the sea, like some more modern day bad guys he's faced lately. The seven seas are a dangerous place!

One final note: If you look closely, you'll see that there's no indication this is the first issue of Aquaman anywhere on the cover--"NOW In a magazine of his own!" is the closest thing readers got to clue them in this was the first issue. That's because, back then, newsstand vendors were suspicious of giving up precious rack space to any new comic book that didn't have an established track record, so comic companies did all they could to hide that this was a new series. My, how times change.

Random Panel of the Day #359

2012-01-13T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman Volume 4 House Ad - 1991

2012-01-13T00:03:00.001-05:00

This grim, downbeat ad for the then-new Aquaman series (by Shaun McLaughlin and Ken Hooper) was a one-sheet handed out by DC staffers to attendees of the 1991 Dragon*Con, the only time I've ever heard of such direct marketing for a comic book title.

The ad itself is fine (if, as I said, a bit of a downer)--I like how it repositions the Sea King a bit, establishing that this new book will be more than just "Aquaman vs. Black Manta and/or Ocean Master" all the time. But what's with that "Returns in October" chicken scrawl?

Thanks to my Fire and Water Podcast co-host The Irredeemable Shag for sending this in to the Shrine!

Random Panel of the Day #358

2012-01-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

More of DC's New 52 for 2012!

2012-01-12T06:21:00.010-05:00

Note: The following piece below was scheduled to run today before we learned late last evening that DC Comics planned to announce today six new titles to their publishing line beginning in May: The 2nd Wave of the New 52! See the update at the end for the full scoop!

Today we're running a special post: "Twelve for 2012" -- featuring the twelve super-heroes we'd most like to see appear in DC Comics' New 52 this year!

While there's no argument the New 52 initiative has injected some much-needed youthfulness into the the 75+ year-old DCU, it also seems to have decreased the character census with many fan-favorites having seemed to disappear without explanation...With an anticipated announcement from DC regarding the next wave of #1s due to come at any time, we'd thought we'd share some of our most hoped for returns!

Many of you will notice that we did not include any characters whose legacy stems from Earth-2 -- that's by design knowing that a Justice Society relaunch is in the works for 2012 and we're assuming that many of the now-absent characters like Power Girl, Wildcat, Manhunter, etc. may find a home there!

What say you F.O.A.M.ers, do you like our choices? Who would you like to show up in the New 52 this year? Sound off and leave your suggestions in the comment section!

UPDATE: DC Comics has just announced six new ongoing titles premiering in May! They are Batman Incorporated (Vol. 2), Dial H (for Hero), Earth 2 (featuring the Justice Society), Worlds Finest (featuring the duo of Power Girl & the Huntress), G.I. Combat, and the Ravagers (a team book starring four teen super-heroes --hmm, Aqualad - Kaldur'Ahm anyone?).

USA Today has the full press release and stay tuned for more information as it breaks Aqua-fans!

UPDATE #2: Additional information on the above titles, plus the names of titles being canceled as of their 8th issue can also be found at USAToday. The unfortunate cancellations are OMAC (boo - one of our faves!), Mister Terrific, Hawk & Dove, Static Shock, Blackhawks and Men of War -- keeping DC's "New" still at 52!

The Argyle Sweater - 1/1/12

2012-01-12T00:03:00.002-05:00

This strip--which ran on 1/1/12--marks the Sea King's sixth appearance (that we know of!) in the comic strip The Argyle Sweater, by Scott Hilburn.

I have to admit, I don't really get the joke here--Supes made a snow angel, Batman made a snow bat, and Aquaman made a snow fish...so what is that shapeless green blob supposed to mean? Maybe I need to read something more my speed, like Beetle Bailey.

Thanks to F.O.A.M.er Anna Scherer, who is always catching these appearances!

Random Panel of the Day #357

2012-01-11T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman T-Shirt

2012-01-11T00:03:00.000-05:00

Newest F.O.A.M. member Simone Mularkey sent in this Aquaman t-shirt, featuring a classic pose drawn by...I'm not sure. It looks a bit Jerry Ordway to me, but I also see some Ty Templeton in there. Anyone have the answer?

In any case, a handsome shirt! Thanks Simone, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Random Panel of the Day #356

2012-01-10T12:03:00.000-05:00

JLA Puzzle

2012-01-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

Newest F.O.A.M. member Michael Bailey (who runs the awesome Fortress of Baileytude blog) sent in this pic of a JLA puzzle which he got for Christmas. He wrote "As soon as I saw it, I thought of the Shrine!"

I'm pretty sure this was part of a line of JLA puzzles that focused on just two or three characters at a time. Check out those spiffy dolphin saddles Aquaman is rocking!

Thanks Michael, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Random Panel of the Day #355

2012-01-09T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman 2011 Header Contest--FINAL!

2012-01-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

The votes are in, and here are the results of the 2011 Aquaman Shrine Header Art Content:

Out of 295 votes cast, Luke Daab's entry for April came in at #1 with 126 votes, representing 42% of all the votes cast. For a while it was neck-and-neck with John Trumbull, whose August header came in at #2 with 66 votes. Finishing third was November's header by Brent Almond, with 33 votes.

The Shrine has decided to expand the prize giveaways by offering Luke, John, and Brent both the Deepwater Disaster and Heroes on the High Seas books, congrats guys!

Our other eight contestants--all of whom delivered wonderful, unique pieces of art that adorned the Aquaman Shrine throughout 2011--will get a copy of either book of their choosing. So Daria, Zachary, Chad, Andrew, Michael, Elizabeth, Russell, and The Schafer Clan, please email the Shrine and let us know which book you'd like--you've all earned it!

The Shrine really loved seeing what everyone came up with, and I thought the diversity of style, approach, and feel made the Shrine look extra special in 2011. Thanks to everyone who participated!

The Name That Aquadog Contest!

2012-01-09T00:03:00.002-05:00

As we saw in Aquaman #4, Arthur and Mera have adopted a dog and made him a member of their superpowered nuclear family. The issue ends with no name being chosen, save the probably unsuitable "Aquadog."

So, thanks to an idea by my Fire and Water Podcast host The Irredeemable Shag, the Shrine is launching a "Name That Aquadog" contest!

The rules are simple: between now and 10 pm Sunday, January 15, leave a comment on this post with your suggestion for what you think Aquaman and Mera should name their new pup. We'll take the top ten (or fifteen, if we get a lot of good ones) best ideas and put them up in a poll, where they will duke it out!

And while it's safe to assume Geoff Johns already knows what he plans to name the dog, who knows? Maybe one of you will come up with something so good he and DC will take us up on it...

Good luck, Aqua-Fans!

Adventure Comics #156 - Sept. 1950

2012-01-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "Aquaman Versus the Sea!" by Don Cameron and John Daly.

It's Adventure Sunday!

Aquaman fights a foe that he never expected...the sea itself!

Of course, Aquaman isn't really in trouble--its the work of his finny friends, who try and slow him down so he doesn't swim away with the race.

As some of the other contestants take the lead, Hartwick cheats to slow them down, as well. Kathie hits an electrified noose(!), which knocks her out:

...and with that, so ends another adventure with Aquaman!

Aquaman really needs to stop signing contracts willy-nilly. He seems to constantly get hoodwinked, bamboozled, or flim-flammed by one crook or another. Wouldn't it have been easier to grab some pearls off the ocean floor and turn around and sell them, and then use that cash to donate to the charity, so everyone can skip going through this whole silly race?

Anyway, another fine art job by John Daly, solidly colored. I particularly love the splash page!

Young Justice - "Humanity"

2012-01-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

Episode Fifteen: "Humanity" - Airdate 10/21/11

It's Young Justice Saturday!

by Andy Luckett

Hey there again, everyone, Andy Luckett here with a review of "Humanity", the fifteenth Season One episode of Young Justice that aired on October 21, 2011. We catch up with Red Tornado, who after his attack on the team at their headquarters is suspected as the mole. He has returned to the laboratory of Professor T. O. Morrow, his creator and the inventor of his siblings, Red Torpedo and Red Inferno:

Morrow compares Tornado's return to that of the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, but it is revealed that Reddy has been stripped apart, only his eyes and ears functioning. Meanwhile, back at Young Justice's Happy Harbor base of operations, Black Canary oversees the day's activities, as Captain Marvel waits on the injured Kid Flash (who broke his arm facing the Injustice League last episode):

Zatara shows up, bringing along his daughter Zatanna, who's about the same age as the other YJers. Robin is immediately taken with her, acting more like Wally than himself. Zatanna surprises the others by revealing she can hear their "private" psychic conversation. Superboy, Aqualad and the others again ask Black Canary why they have not found Red Tornado yet, to which she reveals that the League is still working on it:

Not content with that answer, the YJ team decides that they'll go out looking for Tornado themselves, under the guise of taking Zatanna on a tour of Happy Harbor. While Zatara is concerned, Black Canary assures him that the team is trustworthy. Robin's theory is that since Batman and the League have searched for Tornado in all the logical places, the YJ team should figure out somewhere illogical. They decide to visit Professor Ivo in Belle Reve Penitentiary to get Morrow's whereabouts from him.

Ivo is, of course, initially resistant, insisting he doesn't know where Morrow is. Before Miss Martian can probe his mind, Zatanna casts a backwards spell to make him spill the info. Needless to say, the others are impressed. Meanwhile, Morrow decides to tell the immobile Tornado about the origins of himself and his siblings. Morrow's first creation was Red Torpedo, an android masquerading as a human hero of the oceans, but his personality didn't function properly.

Next was Red Inferno, who debuted as Firebrand but was "killed" in action. Finally Morrow decided to drop the pretense that his creations were human and just create an android that came as advertised. Red Tornado infiltrated the Justice Society and became a hero, thus overriding Morrow's command that he betray that team.

Going by Ivo's information that Morrow is hiding underneath Yellowstone Park, the team arrives just as Morrow's latest android, the Red Volcano, goes online and proves to be more ruthless than the others. He attacks Morrow, pulling his arms off and revealing him to be an android himself! After Morrow deactivates, Volcano takes over and commands Tornado to destroy the Young Justice team. Tornado does engage the team in battle, initially defeating each of the team members. Red Volcano arrives, but realizes that the whole fight was a scam, and that Tornado warned the team beforehand.

Volcano battles the team himself, using the earth as his weapon and activating the dormant volcano underneath Yellowstone. The team takes him on, but their moves are ineffective since Volcano possesses all of Tornado's memories. However, Zatanna has some success battling him since neither he nor Tornado have met her before. At the same time in Morrow's lab, the rebuilt Red Tornado convinces his other siblings that even though they are not and never were human, they can still be heroes once again.

Tornado, Torpedo, and Inferno team up together and take the fight to Red Volcano, submerging him into the volcano he created and melting him (along with themselves). The only survivor is Tornado, whose lower legs have melted off. Working together with Kid Flash and the others, Tornado successfully vents the pressure from the volcano and prevents a gigantic natural disaster. Back at Happy Harbor, Reddy reveals that he left the team to find Morrow and his siblings and stop them. Thus he was never the mole.

In the epilogue, Reddy visits the real, human T.O. Morrow, who is now an old man clinging to life. He decides to care for him, since even though he was evil, he is still Red Tornado's creator.

This was a necessary episode, I think, since it ties up the lingering question of Red Tornado's allegiance and finishes the saga of his strange synthetic family. While Morrow doesn't make much of a villain, he does act as a foil to reveal Tornado's pride and confusion at having a father who created him for nefarious purposes. However, I would've liked to see more of Red Volcano, whose imposing physical stature, capacity for cruelty, and raw power make him quite a challenge for the YJ team. He was dispatched a little too easily in my estimation.

As far as character spotlight, this episode really served to bring Zatanna into the fold. I thought it was kind of funny that Robin went right into flirting with her, since Miss Martian is dating Superboy and Kid Flash and Artemis are on their way. It seems like Saved by the Bell on this show sometimes the way they pair up the ladies and the dudes. Unfortunately, Aqualad still doesn't have anybody who isn't back in Atlantis and dating his best friend. Bummer.

Speaking of Kalder, he doesn't get much to do this episode other than initiating the mission to find Red Tornado and participating in the final battle with Red Volcano. But anyway, we shall see what happens next week, as the Young Justice team faces one of its greatest challenges.

Random Panel of the Day #354

2012-01-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Lois Lane Animated!

2012-01-07T07:03:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago the Shrine ran a recap of Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane #29, which featured Aquaman in a very hot-and-heavy guest appearance.

Thanks to blogger Kerry Callen, here's a nifty animated version of that issue's cover, part of a whole series of classic comics he has given the gift of animation to. I love how impatient Aquaman and Batman are--they really want a shot at Lois! (I'm a Lana man, myself)

Thanks Kerry!

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #55 - Sept. 1961

2012-01-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "The Monster That Loved Aqua-Jimmy!" by Unknown and Al Plastino.

Aquaman didn't just get involved with Lois Lane and her adventures--no, sir! He also had time to help out Superman's best pal (which says more about Superman than anything else) Jimmy Olsen, in the cub reporter's kookiest adventure yet:

Aqua-Jimmy sees a prehistoric creature trapped in a ice block, which has started to crack. Within moments the creature is free, but its not angry. Quite the contrary, it takes an immediate liking to Jimmy and starts following him around like a puppy.

After the creature sees some flying fish leap out of the sea to eat some insects, it copies that behavior, only with a low-flying plane! After Jimmy helps rescue the pilot, Aqua-Jimmy scolds the beast, which hurts its feelings.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes a nearby island, causing a fire. Jimmy commands some swordfish to help put out the blaze, which causes the creature to follow suit again, creating more havoc!

Clearly, this little story is not one of Aquaman's all-time greatest moments. He appears in all of two panels, and in both of those he looks like a complete dork: first wearing the same helmet the Ghostbusters put on Louis Tully, the second being carried around by Superman the same way he did for Lois. But hey, they call can't be Justice League #4.

I discovered this story while doing research on what guest appearances Aquaman made in other DC books (here's video of me, hard at work), and I'm really quite impressed how many times Aquaman showed up in the Superman Family of books. Sure, most of those appearances were pretty goofy, but then so were most of the Superman comics of the 50s and 60s!

Random Panel of the Day #353

2012-01-06T12:03:00.000-05:00

Aquaman Sales - December 2011

2012-01-06T11:54:00.003-05:00

Hey Aqua-Fans, check it out! Not only is Aquaman on the cover of the #1 best-selling comic of December, but his solo book placed at #14, the highest ranking the series has yet achieved--which means its gaining readers as it goes on!

Congrats all around to DC and specifically the Aqua-Team of Johns, Reis, Prado, and Reis!

Aquaman Art Gallery: Shag

2012-01-06T07:03:00.003-05:00

I have absolutely no idea what's going on in this piece (click to embiggen)--you've got Aquaman and Aqualad on their trust seahorses, alligator pool boys, naked chicks, a ghost car, some sort of deep-sea diver, and some sort of u-party boat!

That said, I love it--its a beautiful piece, and its sheer weirdness appeals to me, so I'm happy to post it on the Shrine.

Another thing about this piece that is a mystery is who did it and who sent it to me--I remember someone emailing to me for the Shrine, but now I can't find the email so I don't know who to credit this piece to! So, if you're the one who sent it to me, or you know who did this piece, please leave a comment so the Shrine can provide proper credit!

Update: As per the comments, the artist of this piece is Shag, which I should have guessed, since I am familiar with his work! Retroactively, the piece makes more sense now.

Update 2: The Shrine got an email from the kind gent who sent in this piece, newest F.O.A.M. member Gon Fernandez, claiming proper credit. Thanks Gon, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Aquaman Art Gallery: Steven Morrow

2012-01-06T00:03:00.000-05:00

This spiffy Aquaman illustration is by artist and new F.O.A.M. member Steven Morrow!

This was done as a private commission by Steve, who then sent it in to the Shrine, along with a link to his blog, which features a b/w version of the piece, as well. I love the slightly bored, comical look on the Sea King's bearded face--obviously not much is happening in the seven seas today. Speaking of, the background elements--the fish, the coral--are really beautifully rendered, which really adds to the piece.

Great illustration, thanks for sending it in Steven, and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

Random Panel of the Day #352

2012-01-05T12:03:00.000-05:00

Justice League Japan by Cliff Chiang

2012-01-05T09:51:00.002-05:00

Earlier last year, the uber-cool Project: Rooftop posted some redesigns of the Justice League done by artist Cliff Chiang (who is currently doing stellar work on Wonder Woman). Chiang described his efforts as "a mix of DC, old school anime and kaiju." Dig the Aquaman, who looks like he got crossed with Ultraman, another one of my childhood favorites.

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Chris Bern)

Showcase Ad - 1961

2012-01-05T00:03:00.000-05:00

I loooove finding these old ads for Aquaman comics--in this case, Showcase #32, the fourth and last of the Sea King's "try outs" in that book, which immediately led to his first solo title. Still only 10 cents!

Random Panel of the Day #351

2012-01-04T12:03:00.000-05:00

DC's Fabulous Females

2012-01-04T00:03:00.000-05:00

I was rifling through a mess of DC Comics scans, on the hunt for any and all Aquaman material (such is the life of someone who runs an Aquaman blog).

I was pretty confident that this issue of DC Special, "The All-Girl Issue" (ahem), would not feature the Sea King in any way. But then I got to the first page, and:

Sadly, Mera isn't represented in this book, which would have made Aquaman's inclusion are a little more organic, but what the hey--I was just pleasantly surprised to see him here at all!

The Aquaman Shrine Nominated for an Eagle Award!

2012-01-03T16:01:00.003-05:00

Great Neptune! The Aquaman Shrine has been nominated for an Eagle Award in the category of Favorite Comics Related Website!

Click this link to take the survey--there you can register several Aquaman-centric votes, like for favorite comic book, favorite writer, favorite artist, favorite single issue, and favorite TPB collection (Death of a Prince), as well as one for the Shrine!

Also, as if this news wasn't exciting enough--Ace Kilroy, the online web comic by myself and Dan O'Connor, has also been nominated for Favorite Web Comic, so please vote for Ace, too!

Thanks to whoever got us on the ballot, and thanks to the folks at the Eagle Awards. Vote early, vote often!*

*I'm kidding. You can only vote once.

Random Panel of the Day #350

2012-01-03T12:03:00.000-05:00

AquaSketch by Neil Vokes

2012-01-03T00:03:00.000-05:00

Every year my LCS All Things Fun has a Midnight Madness sale, held just before Christmas Eve. And every year, I attend and get an Aquaman sketch from Neil D. Vokes, a superb artist who lives not too far away from Shrine Central.

We've been doing this for six years now, so when this year's bash approached, I wondered who from the Aqua-Family Neil should take on. Then it dawned on me--Neil excels at drawing monsters and other scary creatures, so why not ask him to do the new Aquaman bad guys The Trench?

Neil agreed, and by the end of the night handed me my sketchbook with this beauty inside--it looks like this particular member of the Trench has really gotten the best of Aquaman! Oh no!

In past years, I've posted Neil's piece on the Shrine immediately (sometimes before Neil even got a chance to get home!), but since viewership is generally pretty down during the Xmas/New Year's nexus, I decided to hold off until today, to give Neil's work the attention it deserves.

Here are the other wonderful pieces Neil has done for me over the years, starting in 2006 with the Sea King himself:

Awesome stuff, now I gotta think about who to get next year! Thanks again Neil!

Random Panel of the Day #349

2012-01-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Fire and Water Podcast: Episode 10

2012-01-02T09:03:00.000-05:00

The Fire and Water Podcast: Episode 10
The official podcast of The Aquaman Shrine and Firestorm Fan

Happy New Year! Shag and I start the show discussing some Firestorm and Aquaman highlights from 2011! Next, we tackle Aquaman #4 (by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado) and The Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #4 (by Ethan Van Sciver, Gail Simone, Yildiray Cinar, and Norm Rapmund)! Finally, we wrap up the show with some of your listener feedback!

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firewaterpodcast@comcast.net

Also, you can leave a comment on our sites:
The Aquaman Shrine - Firestorm Fan

Subscribe via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-fire-and-water-podcast/id463855630

Outro music by Daniel Adams and The Bad Mamma Jammas!

Dearest Firestorm (Love, Multiplex) by Bryce Jensen from SpinTunes

Thanks for listening! Fan the Flame and Ride the Wave!

Aquaman 2011 Header Contest!

2012-01-02T00:03:00.001-05:00

A year (okay, eleven months) in the making, here are all our 2011 Aquaman Shrine headers, custom made by various Aqua-Fans!

On the right, we have a new poll where you can vote for your favorite of the headers (listed in the order they appeared, February-December--click the graphic to embiggen). The #1 vote-getter will receive a prize pack consisting of copies of Capstone's Aquaman: Deepwater Disaster and DC Super Pets: Heroes on the High Seas, in their hardcover editions:

The other ten entrants will receive a copy of either book of the creators' choice (just email the Shrine and let me know which one you'd like, o generous fans!). The Shrine considers all eleven entries winners so we think everyone deserves a reward for their hard work!

I really enjoyed getting seeing what everyone came up with, and was very proud Aqua-Fans would put so much effort into creating something for the Shrine. As you can see above, the approaches and styles are all very different, which gave the Shrine quite a different look all through 2011! Our thanks to you all!

Adventure Comics #154 - July 1950

2012-01-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

Comics Weekend "Aquaman's Sea Circus" by George Kashdan and John Daly.

It's Adventure Sunday!

As Superboy performs something altogether alien to this generation, Aquaman gets involved in a circus...what, again?

Aquaman pretends to go along with this jamoke's nasty plan, and becomes the main attraction of the circus. The first act involves singing fish (some of them with little hats tied to their heads...no, really), the second a swordfish duel, the third flying fish and the trapeze, and much more--all of it completely insane.

Aquaman is brought on for the grand finale:

...and with that, so ends another adventure with Aquaman!

If this story seems familiar, it is--Aquaman ran his own circus in Adventure #128's "The Sea Circus." Back in the day, the circus was much more of a mainstream form of entertainment, so I guess repeating the basic idea wasn't that big a deal. I actually liked this story a lot more, because Aquaman is dedicated to saving the lives of his finny friends, an angle I always enjoy being explored.

Surface Dwellers never seem to tire of Aquaman headlining some form of For Profit entertainment--whether it be a circus, a movie, or a TV show. Then how come he could never land a cover of a cruddy comic book?!?

One last thing: starting with Adventure Comics #152, Aquaman would alternate his slot in the book with The Shining Knight (nothing against SK, but...boo!). This would continue for a year or two until Aquaman reclaimed the space all to himself.

Aquaman After Dark

2011-12-31T15:03:00.004-05:00

Normally, the Shrine rounds out the calendar year with pics of Aquaman getting repeatedly hit in the head. But this year I thought we'd do something a little different, but hopefully just as illuminating: a bunch of panels featuring a buff, shirtless Aquaman!

So open up iTunes, hit Play on "It's Raining Men", and enjoy:

Happy New Year, everyone!

Random Panel of the Day #348

2011-12-31T14:03:00.000-05:00

The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011: Happy 70th Birthday Aquaman!

2011-12-31T12:03:00.003-05:00

We wrap up our look back at The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011 with--what else?--Aquaman's 70th Birthday Celebration, which ran on September 25:

Today is a very, very special day in the history of Aquaman--it's his 70th birthday!

And when we say 70th birthday, we don't mean the birthday DC Comics has seen fit to give him within their continuity--that's January 29. No, we mean that on this day seventy years ago--September 25, 1941--More Fun Comics #73, Aquaman's debut appearance, hit newsstands (you can see the book for sale in the above picture, two rows up and about four books to the left of the crowded news vendor).

So, with Aquaman hitting the big 7-0, and his new series only days away from debuting, the Shrine thought it a tribute fit for a king to reach out and collect birthday greetings from various writers, artists, and performers, all of whom have been involved with the Sea King in some way over these seven decades.

Some chose to offer old Arthur a birthday message; others reminisced about their time when they were creatively involved with the King of the Seven Seas. The one thing they have in common is that all of them have contributed, by their talent, vision, voice, or craft, to the seven-decade legend of Aquaman:

Dan Abnett, writer, Wonder Woman and The Furies: "Happy 70th Birthday to the Sea King...and sorry about what happened to Mera on my watch."

Norman Alden, voice actor, Super Friends: "I just tripped down a tall building and you know, after 70 years, I am kind of losing my taste for that stuff.

But really and truly I have to let the cat out of the bag and celebrate Aquaman's 70th and my 87th! The guys I worked with [on Super Friends] were the top of the line.

Rob, what this world--and Aquaman--needs is more friends like you. God bless you."

Art Baltazar, cartoonist, Tiny Titans, DC Super-Pets: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR! I'm here hanging out with Topo, Ark and Storm! So glad to work along side you and your Super-Pet pals, sir! I hear Aqualad is on his way to the party and he's bringing the Tiny Titans! We better save some cake! AW YEAH AQUAMAN!"

Tony Bedard, writer, Emperor Aquaman: "Happy Birthday, Your Majesty! I have to admit it was the 1960s Superman/Aquaman cartoon that hooked me on you, but I've always seen you as a first-stringer, and I prefer Happy Aquaman to Angry Aquaman any day! I spent my childhood pretending I was you every time I went swimming, and I still think that riding a giant seahorse is the manliest thing in the world! Long Live the Sea King!"

J.E. Bright, writer, Aquaman: Deepwater Disaster and Heroes of the High Seas: "Dearest Aquaman--Were you aware that you share your birthdate with Baroness Vivien Helen Stern CBE? Like you, Baroness Stern was voted into royalty, and like you, she has dedicated her life to criminal justice. Although she's certainly more academic and land-based than your adventurous aqua-self, perhaps there was something circling in the stars on September 25, 1941 that should make villains beware!
XOXO
J. E. Bright"

Kurt Busiek, writer, Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis: "Happy 70th, Aqua-guy! Whether you're the son of a scientist given powers via Atlantean secrets, the child of a lighthouse-keeper and an undersea princess, the all-Atlantean scion of an ancient sorcerer or whatever--as long as you're rocking the orange and green, you'll always be the King of the Seas!"

Nick Cardy, artist, Aquaman: "It was interesting for me to draw it [Aquaman], I enjoyed doing it. With Aquaman, I innovated a lot of things--the fish I used were actual fish. Sometimes I put too many fish in the water, and that can take more time than it does drawing the figures! But I really, really enjoyed it."

J.M. DeMatteis, writer, Adventure Comics and Action Comics: "My first regular superhero gig in comics was writing Aquaman in Adventure Comics (with art by the great Dick Giordano), so the Sea King has a very special place in my heart. I'll never forget the day editor Len Wein called and gave me the assignment: I felt like I'd finally arrived. Happy Birthday, Aquaman: here's to another 70!"

Dan Didio, writer, Co-Publisher, DC Comics: "Happy 70th Birthday to Aquaman, one of the true long lasting greats in DC's Pantheon Of Super Heroes!"

Sholly Fisch, writer, DC Super Friends and Batman: Brave and the Bold: "Your Royal Highness: After 70 years of guarding the seven seas, you've survived death (more than once), cancellation (more than once), and even chairing Justice League Detroit (thankfully, only once). All the best for the next 70 years...even if living underwater does make it hard to blow out the candles!"

Ramona Fradon, artist, Adventure Comics and Super Friends: "Aquaman was a wonderful feature for kids. While he had no personal super powers, his ability to communicate with sea creatures made him as effective as any other super hero, and his ingenious way of utilizing their abilities made them come to life for young readers. I have had more than one adult fan tell me that they had been inspired by reading Aquaman to become marine biologists."

Laura Gjovaag, creator, The Unofficial Aquaman Website: "Happy Birthday, Arthur! Seventy years is just a beginning. Who doesn't enjoy a tale an outcast orphan, a story of a person trying to find his place, the age-old journey of a hero? And when that story is told, you provide a tale of majesty, learning to lead, and being in command. The setting you provide has more potential than most heroes...you have mastered land and sea. Live on in our imaginations, Aquaman. In another 70 years you'll just be getting to middle age."

Patrick Gleason, artist, Aquaman: "Wow! Aquaman you are OLD!

But hey, don't sick a giant octopus on me yet! I'm just saying that I think that stands as a testament to the very real, and important legacy you hold in comics. Now blow out your candles...oh wait we're underwater. Glub, glub! Happy Birthday old chum!"

Bob Greenberger, editor, The Atlantis Chronicles, Who's Who in the DC Universe: "Aquaman entered my life when I began reading the JLA comic in the early 1960s but was delighted to learn more when he gained his own animated series, leading me to add his comic adventures to my expanding reading list. It wasn't until the 'Search for Mera' storyline that I really got to see his potential. I still recall that summer, away at camp, and desperate for the next issue to see what happened. That run, of course, introduced me to the fabulous art of Jim Aparo, who made the Sea King his own.

Since then, he has been interpreted and reinterpreted; denigrated and lauded. It's great to see that a new Aquaman series as part of the Rebooted DCU and to celebrate his 70th. DC isn't much for appreciating its history these days but true fans know and will be celebrating."

Mike Grell, artist, Adventure Comics: "Aquaman and I have a history that goes way back to the very beginning of my career in comics. Julie Schwartz had just looked at my portfolio and called Joe Orlando in to his office to see if there was some work he could throw my way. Joe took a chance and give me a seven page Aquaman backup story called "As The Undersea City Sleeps" by Steve Skeates that would appear in Adventure #435.

When I turned in the pencil pages, Joe pointed out that I had drawn the splash page with a shot of Aquaman angling away, body bent forward in a pose that not only blocked his face from view, I had him mooning the reader. Having survived the Dr. Wertham witchhunt of the '50s Joe felt it his solemn duty to test the Comics Code Authority at every opportunity, so he let it go just to see what would happen. Luckily it passed without incident--but--there was one panel that didn't even get past Joe.

The script called for Aquaman to be seated on his throne, but I had drawn his butt hanging down too far. Joe had me correct it, but not before showing it to Julie and just about everyone else who came by his office. Thirty-nine years later, that panel still bugs me.

That's how I became known as 'The Guy Who Drew Aquaman On The Toilet.'"

Yvet Guichet, artist, Aquaman: "I remember Obsidian Age built up quite a fresh thirst for the Waterbearer before he was reintroduced into the channel of DC lineups back in 2002. Arthur's revamp then was easily a thing of legend. When he needed a new look I had no idea when I designed his new digs how it would be taken off some guy instead of maybe grown? Sort of the way his water hand magically grew into place...then it would have done some unique things too like the hand did. One of those things should have been spawning the new look on his action figure, no? Happy 70th bro!"

Mark Gutleben, actor/performer, Sea World Superheroes Show: "Performing for the kiddies [as Aquaman] was fun. There were times when kids thought I was the Real McCoy! It was very exciting."

Ken Hooper, artist, Aquaman: "I remember getting the job--Kevin Dooley called and asked if I would like to draw the new Aquaman series, in 1990. I remember thinking, oh, Lord...the water guy...boring.... I owned all of one Aquaman book my entire thirty-year life at that point. Thanks, though, to Kevin, and, even more so, to Shaun, it was never boring. Never. And we had such grand plans..."

Michael Jelenic, Producer, Batman: Brave and the Bold: "Wishing you, Aquaman, an 'Outrageous' 70th Birthday...or as you like to call it: 'The One Where Aquaman Turned Seventy Years Old!'"

Phil Jimenez, writer/artist, Tempest: "So anyone that knows my work knows how important Aquaman and his world have been to me. I promise not to get too sentimental on his birthday, but I will say this--I can think of few characters out there who are as cool, and as underestimated, as Aquaman; few comic book worlds as awesome as Aquaman's homebase of Atlantis and the undersea "universe" he protects; few characters in comics as grand and Shakespearean; and very few that inspire such passion and vision in their fans (including one Neal Pozner, who found exceptional truths in Aquaman he was able to explore in the famous miniseries he wrote (and wherein he designed Aquaman's famous blue/white costume) in the mid 1980's).

And let's face it--no other super-hero has a kid partner as sweet and as awesomely powerful as Tempest, a personal favorite of mine (for obvious reasons).

I think the other Super Friends should have felt jealous of Wonder Woman every time she got to fly Aquaman around in her invisible jet. Just sayin'!

So happy birthday, Aquaman. You and yours inspired my best work in the business and my most personal work to date -- and for that I thank you. I wish you the best birthday this month, and many, many more to come!"

Dan Jurgens, writer, Aquaman: "I was first exposed to Aquaman as part of the Superman/Aquaman Hour, which was a relatively cool Saturday morning cartoon. That sent me scurrying for the actual comics and I loved what I found. For me, Aquaman was always something of a regal, majestic character. He was a king, for crying out loud!

I had a great time writing the book. Unfortunately, by the time I took it on, it was in really bad shape. Still, with great covers by Michael Kaluta and wonderful interior art by Steve Epting, we gave it our best.

Fortunately, the King of the Seven Seas is in good hands with Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Aquaman deserves nothing less!"

Paul Kupperberg, writer, Aquaman and Adventure Comics: "People make fun of Aquaman. They joke about his ability to 'talk' to fish, that his superpower is swimming, and about how the bad guys can escape him by just getting out of the water. Thanks to a couple of generations raised on Super Friends, the non-comics reading public may know who Aquaman is, but they don't take him seriously, not like they do the big guns. But for all his being better known as a punch line than a superhero, Aquaman has an endurance that few characters of his vintage can boast.

Beginning as a back-up feature in a 1941 issue of More Fun Comics, Aquaman was one of only a tiny number of comic book superheroes to survive the Golden Age and be continuously published, virtually without interruption, straight through to today. The others were Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Arrow, a handful of heroes in a sea of romance, western, crime, funny animals, and horror comics. Whatever it is about the King of the Seven Seas that saved him from the cancellations suffered by the majority of the 1940s heroes (including such luminaries as the Flash, Green Lantern, and the Atom), Aquaman's maintained it for seven incredible decades, still King of the Seven Seas, and now a major player in the DCU.

Laugh that off!"

Erik Larsen, writer, Aquaman: "Happy 70th Birthday to you, Aquaman. I had a fun visit."

Paul Levitz, writer, Adventure Comics, Publisher, DC Comics: "Congratulations, Aquaman--despite all the tragic tales, you've been one of comics' most consistent heroes over all these decades, swimming against the tides. And thanks for being the very first super-hero I got to write, over half your career ago!"

Original 70th Birthday Illustration by Stewart McKenny (DC Super Friends)!

Shaun McLaughlin, writer, Aquaman: ""Happy Birthday, Artie. You were my favorite super-hero as a kid and you opened some doors for me. I hope the next 70 years treat you kindly."

Darell McNeil, layout artist/animator, Challenge of the Super Friends/All-New Super Friends Hour: "I animated and laid out Aquaman and his Superfriends for three years at Hanna-Barbera on 'All-New Super Friends' and 'Challenge of the...' and I wanna toss a birthday sea bass to the once and future King of the Seas on his 70th. (Doesn't look a day over thirty....at least when I was drawing him!)"

David Michelinie, writer, Adventure Comics and Aquaman: "Congratulations, Aquaman! Few kings manage to reign for 70 years, even in the off-and-on manner that seems to have defined your rule. And yet here you are, after seven decades of battling monsters, pollution, political corruption, even that insidious bane of the publishing industry: cancellation. You still stand regal, hardy and whole (well, except for that pesky missing hand thing), giving truth to the classic Mel Brooks line, 'It's good ta be da king!' Happy Birthday, Arthur!"

Paula Nelson, actress/performer, Sea World Superheroes Show: "One of my most memorable Mera moments was of 'saving' the finale pyramid from disaster after one of the male superheroes had fallen. Only the guys supported the bottom of the pyramid, but I was confident my shoulders were strong enough to handle it. After all, I had been an Aquamaid (seriously, that's what we were called) at Cypress Gardens--World Water-Skiing Capital--and there women would step in if needed. I successfully filled in for one of the mighty male superheroes and was seriously scolded by the Justice League for doing so! 'Out of character', they said. Quite the contrary, I felt most Mera-like!

Aquaman,

Happy 70th Birthday to my favorite King of the Sea!
Here's to a bright, adventure-filled, BP spill-free year ahead.
Forever yours,
Mera"

Chuck Patton, artist, Justice League of America: "Happy Birthday, 'Your Majesty', from your pal Chuck Patton"

Joe Prado, artist, Brightest Day and Aquaman: "Happy 70th Birthday, Aquaman! Keep doing what you've always done! Being awesome and protecting us from menaces from the deep, deep seas! Keep your spirit, and brace yourself for a new era of adventures, my friend! And hey! Kick Manta's butt, and give Mera a kiss! :)"

Rod Reis, color artist, Aquaman: "To defend only a city like Gotham or Metropolis is very easy. To defend 70% of the planet Earth, live under water, talk to fishes and ride seahorses a true King is needed. Congratulations Arthur Curry, Happy 7-0 Aquaman! I am honored to color your magazine."

Alan Ritchson, actor, Smallville: "Happy 70th Aquaman! You will always be the king to me! I'll never forget your time on Smallville kicking Clark Kent's butt underwater! I loved knowing that I had the chance in some small way to remind everyone how great you really are! Having had the opportunity to portray the Sea King on Smallville, I was also welcomed into the best part of the comic world, the Aquaman family, the best fans in the world. Thanks AC and here's to another 70 years of greatness!"

Bob Rozakis, writer, Adventure Comics and Action Comics:
"Your pants, they are green
The ocean is blue
Happy 7-0, Sea King
Happy Birthday to you!"

Alex Saviuk, artist, Action Comics: "I can remember my excitement when Julie Schwartz asked me if i would like to do some Aquaman stories as back-up features in Action Comics. The oceans and what lies underneath have always intrigued me, and it was a real treat and an honor to follow in the footsteps of Ramona Fradon, Nick Cardy, and Jim Aparo in chronicling the Sea King's amazing adventures! I believe the mantle has now been passed on to Ivan Reis and Joe Prado and from what I have seen so far, Aquaman couldn't be in better hands! (although if Ivan and Joe ever need a break , I would love to step in for just one more adventure!)

Original 70th Birthday Illustration by Dan Schoening (Aquaman: Deepwater Disaster)!

Steve Skeates, writer, Aquaman: "Hereabouts there are not many heroes these days, even in comics. But Aquaman had been a hero from before even I was born, so I knew he was strong enough to survive my strange writing style--more into form than into content, sometimes silly, often too verbose. What I didn't know was that he would soon become both my best friend and my imagined self, and, as such, would make me not only a better writer, but a better human being as well. Don't ask me how that works; just allow me to thank the Sea King for being who he was."

Laurie S. Sutton, Editor, Arion: Lord of Atlantis
"Happy Birthday Wishes to King Arthur, Sovereign of the Sea, the one and only Aquaman! I had the great pleasure of chronicling the tails...er, tales of your Atlantean ancestors in Arion: Lord of Atlantis. This was a dream come true for me because I grew up reading your undersea adventures, which inspired me to write my own comic book stories and eventually become an editor at DC. Without Aquaman, I'd probably be working for Marvel. (Oh, wait, I did that. But don't worry, I never had eyes for Namor.) I lift my glass of Aquavit and offer a toast to His Marine Majesty--here's to 70 more years of aqua-tastic adventures!"

Roy Thomas, writer, All-Star Squadron: "I'll admit that, when as a kid in the late 1940s I paddled around the local swimming pool, it was always Sub-Mariner, and never Aquaman, that I pretended to be. However, I came to see over the years that Aquaman was (is) a great character in his own right, not just a copy of Prince Namor. I have a particular fondness for the work of Ramona Fradon and Jim Aparo on the character, although Nick Cardy and others have certainly had their moments. And I always loved the fact that, unlike Namor, Aquaman could speak to fish. For a couple of years there I really wanted a pet octopus I could name Topo! So--Happy 70th, Aquaman!"

A bunch of people (besides all those quoted above) were instrumental in the assembling of this special birthday post. The Aquaman Shrine gives special thanks to Correspondent Joe Slab, artist Bill Walko (who drew the above superb Aqua-Family pin-up, commissioned especially for this post!), Marc Tyler Nobleman, Eric Nolen-Weathington, John Karl Schwirian, and Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics, which (accidentally) inspired this whole thing in the first place. Every single one of them was invaluable in the creation of this post!

As we all know, Aquaman is starting his 71st year in a big, big way, with the debut of his new series this Wednesday, Sept. 28th. The Shrine cannot imagine a better way for the King of the Seven Seas to reclaim his rightful place in popular culture, and in the world of comics, than with this new series, written and drawn some of DC's top talent. And thanks to each and every person you see quoted above, the Sea King was able to be in the right place at the right time when this new generation of creators was ready to come along and grab the trident!

Happy Birthday Aquaman!

This post respectfully dedicated to the work of Jim Aparo, Otto Binder, John Daly, Dick Giordano, Bob Haney, Paul Norris, Neal Pozner, and Mort Weisinger.

Thanks Aqua-Fans, see you all in 2012!

Aquaman (Vol.8) #4 - Feb. 2012

2011-12-31T00:03:00.004-05:00

Comics Weekend "The Trench Part Four" by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis.

The story of The Trench ends with this issue, starting with Aquaman and Mera alone in the deep, deep dark:

Mera at first wonders if The Trench are extraterrestrials, since they have come across some sort of underwater craft. But Aquaman discovers ancient Atlantean symbols on it, figuring out that its from Atlantis before it sank. He wonders what Atlanteans were doing this deep underwater, but those thoughts are interrupted by Mera, who notices that their fish companions have peeled off, their fear overriding Aquaman's telepathic commands. Not a good sign!

The two have a debate over The Trench, which Mera offering that they are simply "mindless creatures" who can't be allowed to survive, but Aquaman is not so ready to, as he puts it, "kill off an entire species."

A spawn of the Trench swims by, a sick, mutated creature clearly the result of endless in-breeding. They follow along, and it leads them to a pretty horrifying discovery:

The walls of the cavern are covered with the pods containing the Trench's future meals. Since the human captives cannot be freed so far underwater (only Aquaman and Mera are tough enough to survive such depths, yo), Arthur quickly decides that the whole wall needs to be brought to the surface.

The Trench doesn't like this one bit, so they attack. Mera needs time to get them to safety (lest the pressure changes kill them all), so that means Aquaman has to keep the Trench from catching up to her. Aquaman shows a surprising amount of compassion for these creatures, even as they attempt to eat him alive.

The Queen Trench then makes her move, leaving Aquaman little choice:

Mera worries about her husband, but within moments Aquaman comes tearing out of the conflagration. Having triggered a volcanic eruption, Aquaman follows that up with an example of tremendous strength: he pushes a huge chunk of sea floor into the crevice, crushing the surviving Trench and sealing the fissure forever(?).

On land, Aquaman frees everyone from their icky pods. The cops are impressed that Aquaman and Mera managed to rescue so many people, and apologize (somewhat) for their earlier super-dickery. Aquaman is then approached by a young fan, expressing a sentiment most of us endorse:

Back at the lighthouse, Aquaman is still feeling unsure about killing so many of the Trench. Mera tries to cheer him up, and they are interrupted by the sheriff's deputy. Along with Deputy Wilson is the dog that Aquaman rescued from a pod, who now has no owner since she was one of the few people killed by the Trench.

Aquaman and Mera agree to take in the dog, and Wilson suggests a name:

The End...for now.

This issue also comes with a one-page teaser for upcoming events:

...to be continued, of course!

After complaining for three issues straight about how slowly this story was being told, I am know doing a 180 and suggest that this wrap-up goes too quickly! (That sound you hear is Geoff Johns pounding his head on his desk. His giant, gold-plated desk) In a lot of ways, Johns and Co. did their jobs too well: The Trench seemed like such amazing, menacing bad guys that watching them get so soundly defeated so quickly feels a bit anti-climactic.

That aside, there's a ton of stuff to like, if not love, in this issue: I personally loved Aquaman's attempt at showing mercy, even to creatures that almost all of us would consider complete monsters. I loved the detail of Aquaman's finny friends high-tailing it out of the trench, suggestions from their king notwithstanding. Also, as someone who has suggested many, many times that Aquaman's superhuman strength needed to be more emphasized, seeing him push an entire cliff face off a ledge made me go "Wow!", something I don't find myself saying much anymore. Finally, I love the addition of the dog: a nice, humanizing element for the characters, making them even more of a traditional "nuclear family." Just don't let it near Black Manta, that's all I ask, Geoff.

And of course, the art is top-notch. There are not one but two double-page spreads, giving us some real spectacle. Rod Reis' colors are phenomenal, darkening the whole Trench sequence but still managing to make the visuals clear, not an easy trick. The whole first 2/3rds of this issue feel dark, claustrophobic, and remote, a reminder that Aquaman and Mera are far, far away from anyone else who could help them, which (to me) adds to the tension. We're still early on in the run, but I'd say the team of Reis/Prado/Reis are on their way to joining the pantheon of The Great Aquaman Artists, which is no easy feat, considering some of the legendary figures who have had runs on the character.

One final note: I really loved the final "teaser" page. Its not really part of this issue's story, and that's what I liked about it--it felt very old school comic books, and had a kind of a "gee whiz, isn't this exciting?" feeling. I'd love to see this kind of thing in other DC books--though if its a feature that remains specific to this book, that's fine with me too. It'll just be one more thing making Aquaman arguably the best book of the New 52.

Random Panel of the Day #347

2011-12-30T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011: Interview with Geoff Johns!

2011-12-30T00:03:00.000-05:00

This interview with comics superstar Geoff Johns was important to the Shrine for several reasons, some more obvious than others.

First, it was our first (and hopefully not last) talk with Johns, who has done more for the Sea King's presence in the DCU than any other writer in the past quarter-century, maybe more. Second, it garnered the Shrine a whole lot of new fans. And Third, it was the first time DC Comics acknowledged what we were doing here in some sort of substantial, formal way: it was they who initiated and arranged the interview, signaling to us that they recognized all the work we'd been doing in regards to Aquaman.

So here's our talk with Johns, which originally ran on October 26:

The Aquaman Shrine is very excited to present an interview with the one and only Geoff Johns--who, as every single person reading this knows, is currently writing Aquaman and Justice League, among other DC titles!

DC Comics itself played matchmaker for this interview, and gave me the chance to briefly chat with Geoff on the phone the other day. As you might expect, we talked about Aquaman...

Aquaman Shrine: Thanks for doing this, Geoff. I've wanted to talk to you about Aquaman ever since you talked about how much you loved the character on the audio commentary track you did for Challenge of the Super Friends.

Geoff Johns: [laughs] Yeah, I guess I always have.

AMS: And of course you've only become much more important to the character since. I want to talk about the new book and Justice League, of course, but I first wanted to ask: why Aquaman?

GJ: I don't know, I think--I don't know what kid doesn't like to play Aquaman in the swimming pool or lake. Aquaman always appealed to me as a character--I think the world of the ocean is really interesting and fascinating, I've always liked the those unsolved mysteries--Atlantis, the Loch Ness Monster, things like that--and I always thought that the character was an underrated superhero. I really got to love the character when Peter David wrote him even more. The character just appeals to me on a number of different levels--from a storytelling level to a conceptual level to just probably a world level.

AMS: You mentioned Peter David, and I was going to ask--do you have some favorite Aquaman runs? Is David's your favorite era of the character?

GJ: It's certainly the run that I grew up reading and I really got into it--it was the first Aquaman book that I bought regularly, because he didn't have a lot of titles when I first started buying comics. I've liked the character even in supporting roles in a lot of stuff, but that's the only Aquaman title that I read consistently.

AMS: Okay, now you're writing Aquaman both in his own book and in Justice League, which of course takes place five years in the past. In your mind, is there a sense of writing him differently in each of those books?

GJ: Yeah, certainly--he'll be written the same in both titles once Justice League is no longer five years in the past. But, in the past, Aquaman is--I don't want to say defensive, but he's a little more aggressive, a little more trying to prove himself and now, when we pick him up five years later, he knows exactly who he is, exactly what he wants, and doesn't care what anyone else says about him, he just does what's right, what he thinks is right.

And he's a guy whose life is all about making those hard decisions--he's been born with a responsibility he didn't ask for, but he shoulders nonetheless. He doesn't complain about it, he just does it. For me, its a really inspiring character trait, and you can't help but respect the guy and I love that he doesn't care what anyone else thinks, it just rolls off his back like water.

AMS: [laughs] Yeah, like he did in the diner.

GJ: Yeah, yeah.

AMS: One of the things I took away from you writing Aquaman in Blackest Night, then Brightest Day, and of course in the new book, was that the character is sort of being brought back to prominence in and out of the DCU, restoring him to the level of the other big characters.

GJ: One of the things I remember was talking to Dan [Didio] about, really early on, was--I knew we were going to do an Aquaman series at some point in the future, but before we did all that was something I really wanted to do was build up Aquaman prior to him having a series, and that started with Mera in Blackest Night.

Mera was a character that was kind of off to the side, but I thought was fairly well known and had a lot of potential that had yet to be tapped and that was really exciting to explore. So putting her center stage even before Aquaman was back, and having her--she really did break out in Blackest Night, it was great--

AMS: Absolutely.

GJ: People started to gravitate towards the character, and understand the character, and appreciate the character, and have her grow and change, and really stand on her own was really important for me, because I wanted to introduce her as her own character before we brought Aquaman back and I think it just makes Aquaman stronger to see another character like that in his world.

So that was that, and making them obviously prominent in Brightest Day, and I think far and away the most successful storyline that was in Brightest Day was really that Aquaman storyline, and I think Ivan, Joe and I building off of that and now doing another take, in a monthly book.

AMS: I was going to say, when Blackest Night was happening, people coming to the Shrine, saying "Wow, this Mera character is great!" You single-handedly put her--maybe not back on the A-list, but on the A-list of DC's female characters. I wouldn't have been that surprised, at the time, if Mera had come out of that with her own series.

GJ: Yeah, I was really happy with the response to her in that title.

AMS: Yeah, you had people going to conventions in Mera cosplay. You never saw that before.

GJ: Yeah, that's my hope--you can kinda tell by the comic con crowd what kind of characters resonate. There's still tons of Green Lanterns out there, all sorts of stuff, but I saw Aquaman and Mera at the New York Comic Con. The more Aquaman shirts, the more stuff you see, you can kinda gauge the success of the character. It goes well beyond the book, but the book hopefully triggers that passion and one of things I was really proud about with Aquaman was, a lot of people who didn't know the character, or had no opinion--or maybe not a great opinion--saw something different when they read that book. And of course Ivan and Joe bring a visual to that title like no one ever has.

AMS: What has it been like working with Ivan and Joe and Rod? They've been great with us, we met them at the New York Comic Con. What's it been like working with them on the new book?

GJ: Oh, it's been great. If you look at it, we've been working with Aquaman and Mera and the characters since Blackest Night. So we did Blackest Night together, we did Brightest Day together, and now we're working on Aquaman together, so we've been in this world, and we've been talking about our passion and love for Aquaman, and what happens with this title, is that it kicks it up a notch, in that we can focus solely on him and the world around him, and really get into it.

He's been prominent in a couple of high-profile events for DC like Blackest Night and Brightest Day, and now coming off of that, tied into the New 52 more importantly, its become a great entry point, a great starting point, for us to hit the ground running with Aquaman #1.

Its great--Joe and Ivan bring such as much love and passion to comic books and the art form as anybody, to work with them, and to have a character like Aquaman get this kind of treatment, that shows how popular Aquaman is, that these guys want to spend their time and their life working on the character.

AMS: Yeah! I was thrilled to see Aquaman was one of the top-selling New 52 books.

GJ: Yeah, I think it surprised a lot of people, in-house and out. It did over 100,000, and I know it seemed to get a good response, so we hope the book will find an audience.

AMS: In your mind, whether you plan to state it in the book or not, do you have a timeline for Aquaman, in that you've decided what previous stories are in the history of this Aquaman?

GJ: I won't be delving into his past too much in the beginning; that's why we're introducing The Trench, we have a couple new supporting characters we're going to be introducing, one from the past in issue three, and in the stories we're telling, we're really going to try and move it forward, and not look backward too much. Those other stories that happened have happened, but we're not going to get into the history right now.

I hate to state in interviews what's going to happen before doing it in the comics.

AMS: Oh, sure. I've read interviews with you before where people want to know what's going to happen, and I don't! I just want to read it in the comics, read it as it unfolds.

GJ: One of the things I hope that happens is whether you've read every Aquaman comic or never read an Aquaman comic book, that this book is very accessible and enjoyable for anybody. The whole point of this book and particularly with issue #1 was we wanted to create a book--a lot of people have heard of Aquaman, and its available digitally and in comic stores, we hoped people would come in, and they're going to buy the Batmans and the Green Lanterns and the Supermans and stuff, but we were hoping some people would see Aquaman and go "Oh, I've never read an Aquaman before" or "I didn't even realize he had his own book, let me check this out", and there would be something in the first issue that would hook them, and get them to give the book and the character a try.

AMS: One last thing--is there anything in particular you want to mention to the Aquaman fans, since the Shrine is where they are the most centrally located? Anything we should be looking out for?

GJ: We're going to be adding a lot of new characters, a lot of new villains, we're going to be doing a new take on Atlantis, but I am going to be using some of the classic Aquaman villains. Eventually you will see Black Manta and Ocean Master of course, but we're going to revamping a pretty obscure Aquaman villain and they can try and guess who that's going to be!

AMS: [laughs]

GJ: Revamping a la Black Hand, you know we made Black Hand a really big character in the Green Lantern titles, and hopefully this character will have as much importance to Aquaman and his world.

AMS: Well, Geoff, thanks for doing this, and thanks for all you've done for Aquaman. You've really, you know, turned it around for him!

GJ: Well, thanks--hopefully we've have a really long...our hope is to have a really long, good run on Aquaman.

The Aquaman Shrine is thrilled we finally got to talk to Geoff Johns, who has done more for the Sea King and Mera than probably any single writer since...well, ever! Also thanks to DC Comics itself, for reaching out to us and giving us a chance to talk to Geoff. We've said it before, we'll say it again: Aquaman couldn't be in better hands right now.

Random Panel of the Day #346

2011-12-29T12:03:00.000-05:00

Super-Team Family: Aquaman and Sub-Mariner!

2011-12-29T09:21:00.002-05:00

No, this isn't the most awesome issue of Super-Team Family ever; its another killer cover mash-up courtesy the blog Super-Team Family: The Lost Issues (formerly Brave and the Bold: The Lost Issues). Better yet, there's Part Two coming tomorrow!

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Michael T. Jones)

The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011: Death of a Prince Intro!

2011-12-29T00:03:00.000-05:00

At the risk of really waxing my own car, I put this custom intro I wrote for the Aquaman: Death of a Prince TPB on the "Best of 2011" list because A)it proved very popular, both in comments and downloads, and B)its the kind of original content that I've always hoped the Shrine would do more of: long-form essays about various Aqua-related subjects. Frequently, as deadlines approach, we end up just writing about Aquaman Underoos or whatever, so these more ambitious pieces get put aside.

So while we haven't quite been able to keep up with #2, this intro I thought was a big step in the right direction. It first ran on July 12:

Back when the Shrine did a post about the Aquaman: Death of a Prince TPB, I quibbled over the fact that the book did not include any sort of introduction.

Since many of DC's collected editions do, and that this volume was clearly timed to appeal to all the new fans Aquaman has thanks to Brightest Day and Flashpoint, I thought it would have been appropriate to get any of the handful of writers who worked on the stories contained therein to jot down a few words. Then I ended by joking that if none of those writers was available, "...well, DC, you have my number."

It then occurred to me that, over the years, the Shrine had interviewed almost all the major creative participants in these stories, and in almost all cases explicitly asked about this 1970s Adventure run. The material was already there.

Figuring what the hell, I decided to write an introduction to the Death of a Prince TPB, as if DC actually had asked me to do it. I hope you enjoy:

Introduction

In 1974, Aquaman was a man without a country. After a decade that saw him as the headliner of his own title, a founding and active member of the Justice League of America, the star of his own cartoon series (the back half of Filmation's Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure), and, for the first time in his three decade history, the subject of mass merchandising, the 70s crashed down on the Sea King like the pounding surf.

It started in 1971, when his solo book, coming off an extraordinarily successful run by writer Steve Skeates, artist Jim Aparo, and editor Dick Giordano (known affectionately as "SAG") was cancelled, a move so abrupt it didn't even give Skeates time to finish off a continued story he had planned. Strangely, Aquaman, as a title, was actually selling fairly well, the book being a victim as much as anything of inter-office politics.

That left Aquaman with no regular home, so he could only be found in the pages of Justice League of America. By 1971, however, that book had changed significantly from its early issues: gone were the days when Aquaman participated in every adventure, with marquee stars Superman and Batman relegated to minor appearances (not wanting their characters to be overexposed, the Superman and Batman editors of the time asked their characters only appear sparingly in JLA; a move that seems charming in its innocence nowadays). By this point, the League had added members, and many of the newer recruits were given more "screen time" than the Sea King. While his fellow JLAers were building up their rich histories in solo titles, Aquaman was relegated to guest appearances or one-off team-ups.

In 1973, DC's venerable Adventure Comics book was coming off a long run of unusual characters as the star: The Vigilante, Captain Fear, and Black Orchid were all given their shot, none of them lasting longer than a few months in the lead. In early 1974, the book was handed off to the Golden Age character The Spectre, for a run of stories still considered shocking even today: writer Michael Fleisher and former Aquaman artist Jim Aparo had the supernatural hero mete out harsh justice to crooks, turning them into glass, melting them, or converting bad guys into wood and then running them through a buzzsaw. In an age when the Comics Code still had a lot of power and rendered DC's mystery titles mostly toothless affairs, The Spectre feature harkened back to the heyday of EC Comics, where bad men got what was coming to them (indeed, Adventure's editor, Joe Orlando, worked on those self-same ECs). The strip was gutsy and unsentimental; and of course it didn't last.

In Adventure Comics #435, Aquaman returned to the title had been his home for years (running nearly uninterrupted from issue #103 to #284) as a back-up to The Spectre. He was once again written by Steve Skeates, but drawn by an artist new to comics looking to make an, ahem, splash: Mike Grell. Grell was thrilled at the opportunity: "He [legendary DC editor Julius Schwartz] looked at my portfolio and called Joe Orlando in. By now I had told this guy my story, and he told Joe this guy moved with his wife and his dog, and he was looking for work, and is there anything you can give him?

Joe looked at the stuff very carefully and said, 'Yeah, come on into my office.' And he gave me my first assignment, which was the Aquaman story, 'As The Undersea City Sleeps.' It was the launch of my career. It was one of the biggest breaks I ever got."

By the third segment, Skeates has been replaced by another writer, Paul Levitz. Like Grell, Levitz was a newcomer to superhero comics, and didn't really care who it was he was writing: "I have to say, it wasn't, 'Oh my God, I can get my hands on Aquaman.' It was much more at that moment in my life and career, 'I can write a superhero and not these mystery stories which I really liked to read as a kid? Please, sir!'"

Aquaman then disappeared from Adventure for a couple of months. When he returned, it was as the star of the book, featured on its cover (for the first time!) and again drawn by Jim Aparo. Co-written by Levitz and David Michelinie, "The Pirate Who Plundered Atantis!" is a fast-paced, brightly-lit seagoing adventure, with Aquaman alongside his bride Mera.

In the next few issues, Levitz (helped by a revolving door of co-writers, like Michelinie, Gerry Conway and Martin Pasko) brought in members of Aquaman's supporting cast (Aqualad, Aquagirl, Aquababy, Vulko), trip-hammered through the Sea King's Rogues Gallery: The Fisherman, Ocean Master, and Black Manta, developed ongoing subplots, and introduced the greatest playset Mego Toys Never Made, The Aqua-Cave. Steve Skeates returned for an issue, giving Aquaman a new foe, the Marine Marauder. With Adventure Comics #450, co-writer David Michelinie took over the strip, drafting established DC villains to take on the Sea King, like Starro the Conqueror and The Weather Wizard.

Despite the high turnaround in writers, these stories maintained a generally consistent tone and feel, much of it due to the work of Jim Aparo, operating at the peak of his artistic powers. A master at both character expression and slam-bang action, he made Aquaman look as iconic as he ever had. The sun always seemed to be shining in these stories, and with his family of solid supporting characters, it felt as though the rough patch Aquaman went through a few years earlier was now over, and he was about to reclaim his proper place in the nascent "DCU."

But then something happened.

In Adventure Comics #452, writer David Michelinie, had Aquaman's most fearsome opponent, Black Manta, deliver the most personal, shocking blow any supervillain has ever dealt a superhero: the murder of his son, Arthur Jr.

The story, "Dark Destiny, Deadly Dreams" still stands out, some thirty-odd years later, as one of the most startling moments in a superhero comic: never had a superhero suffered so greatly at the hands of one of his arch foes. Aquaman was the first "mainstream" superhero to even have a child. Now the character was breaking the mold yet again, this time in the most nightmarish way possible.

Amazingly, this move was not even considered particularly controversial in the halls of DC at the time. According to Michelinie, he was most likely simply paying off something Paul Levitz was building towards: "I don't think it was my idea--that possibility doesn't ring any bells. But I can't officially deny it, either. Paul Levitz was plotting the book for a while and I and other writers were doing scripts from his plots. So the most likely scenario is that the death storyline was something Paul was building up to and I just carried it through when I took over plotting the book."

While Aquaman was suffering the worst defeat any hero could imagine, as a character he was never in better shape: after this issue, it was announced he was being returned to his solo series, picking up where it had left off, at Aquaman #57!

Featuring the same creative team, Aquaman picked up right where Adventure left off: with the Sea King chasing after Manta, in a quest for vengeance. Over the next few issues, Aquaman history was made with several firsts: Mera was given her first solo shot as a back-up feature (written by Paul Kupperberg; remember that name), and artist Don Newton took over for Aparo, giving the character and book a different, but just as dynamic, look. At the same time, over in Adventure, Aqualad was starring in his own strip (also written by Kupperberg), another first in Aqua-history.

After a tussle with Kobra, the Mera strip ended, and Kupperberg took over the book from Michelinie. Mera rejoined her husband, the death of their son threatening to tear their seemingly-bedrock relationship apart. Aquaman #63 was a real family reunion: Aqualad returned to the fold, and Aquaman's half-brother Ocean Master showed up to again be a thorn in his brother's side. It seemed like all the various Aquaman Family strips (Aquaman, Aqualad in Adventure, and the Mera back-ups) were all coalescing around some big pay-off, a pretty coordinated piece of comic book scheduling, in an era before the advent of regular summer crossover "events."

Aquaman #63 ends on a down note, with Aqualad only then realizing Arthur Jr. was dead. In some ways, even more cruel was the little commercial paste-up DC put at the bottom of the page: "Next issue on sale during the first week of July."

This author waited a long time for Aquaman #64. But the infamous "DC Implosion", a financial catastrophe that led DC to abruptly cancel dozens of titles, forced Aquaman off the schedule, never to return. It seems that readers weren't the only ones surprised that the book was cancelled; its writer was, too! Paul Kupperberg: "I didn't know the axe was about to fall! Aquaman was my first regularly assigned gig when I took it over with #62 (July '78) from David Michelinie, a writer whose work I tremendously admired. I knew it wasn't the healthiest title on the schedule, but I really did expect to have a longer than two issue run on it. I didn't know the book was dead until after I turned in the script for #63."

While Aquaman kept swimming (back into the safe, warm waters of Adventure Comics), he would not return as the star of his own book for another eight years, and even then in just a mini-series. DC wouldn't deem the Sea King ready for another ongoing until 1991. After some moments of true success, and even more moments of failure, Aquaman would continue to struggle to prove he could be a solo star again. Now, in the 21st Century, thanks to his participation in high-profile "event" series such as Brightest Day and Flashpoint and a stable of talented writers and artists who love the character, Aquaman is ready to reclaim the throne as DC's premiere seafaring superhero, and one of the main pillars of the DCU.

It was the stories contained in this volume that helped cement Aquaman as a hero, a loyal and brave man of action, to a new generation. We hope this look back at some of his finest moments will do the same for you.

--Rob Kelly, July 2011

Rob Kelly is the creator and EIC of The Aquaman Shrine, an online daily devotional to the Sea King since 2006.

Might As Well Go All The Way Department: If you click here, you can download a PDF of this introduction, sized so it can be cut and placed directly inside your copy of Aquaman: Death of a Prince!

Random Panel of the Day #345

2011-12-28T15:03:00.000-05:00

The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011: Triptych by Reis/Prado/Reis

2011-12-28T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Shrine's experience at the 2011 New York Comic Con was spectacular. Not only did we get to meet two of the three of the superstar artists currently producing the new best-selling Aquaman book, but they embraced us with such warmth and generosity that it felt like the culmination of some childhood dream, back when I was reading Aquaman comics for the first time.

One of the examples of that generosity was a limited edition oversized print of the cover of Aquaman #1, featuring the pencils of Ivan Reis, inks by Joe Prado, and colors by Rod Reis (the latter two we interviewed just today!), signed by all three and given to me by F.O.A.M.er Ivan Costa, who was there representing Ivan Reis (who sadly couldn't make it). I was deeply touched by the gift, and couldn't wait to show it off on the Shrine! This post originally ran on October 18:

Not too long after I stopped at "Aqua-Corner", F.O.A.M.er Ivan Costa reached into a portfolio and handed me this, a 12x17" print representing each member of the current Aquaman team--Ivan Reis pencils, Joe Prado inks, Rod Reis colors, and signed by all three!

Ivan told they only printed and signed ten copies of this triptych, and were giving one to the Shrine. I was very flattered by this act of generosity, and of course proud as well. I thanked Ivan profusely, and then went on a hunt to find a rubber band so I could roll this thing up to keep it from getting damaged as I walked the con floor.

There are a couple more awesome NYCC stories, all coming later this week!

Aquaman Shrine Interview with Joe Prado and Rod Reis

2011-12-28T00:03:00.002-05:00

Today's a big day for the Shrine! Not only does Aquaman #4 hit the stands, but we're having a chat with two of the people responsible for Aquaman's resurgence: inker Joe Prado and colorist Rod Reis!:

The Aquaman Shrine: AQUAMAN has been one of the best received books of DC Comics' New 52: It has garnered overwhelmingly favorable fan-reaction, widespread critical acclaim, and a lot of new readers who are admittedly surprised to now call themselves Aquaman fans! Are you guys surprised by the initial success of the series? Was there any apprehension that the series wouldn't be received as positively as it has been?

Joe Prado: Dude! I was totally surprised by the fans' reactions! Especially because (and I can speak for myself, Ivan, Geoff and Rod here) we are Aquaman fans ourselves! For us the new series is an extension of a job well-done during Brightest Day! So, we ended up having so much fun working together with this fantastic character, that it was only natural to us to...well...continue to have fun working on Aquaman! Aquaman's world is so vast and so full of possibilities that it was a no-brainer for us. Honestly (and this is my opinion), I never doubted that Aquaman would be well-received by the fans! At the end of the day, it is a book made by fans--for fans!

Rod Reis: Working on an Aquaman comic book is always a risk and for years many authors have tried many new things and failed. When Ivan Reis said he wanted to draw Aquaman, the entire team accepted the challenge together. The expectations were the best because we had very talented artists on board.

The public reception was better than expected and it gave us a further boost to do the best job possible. For me as a colorist this is definitely a dream job. I'm loving it.

AMS: Were you fans of Aquaman as a character before working on the series? If so, what are some of your favorite past stories and creative teams? Who are your creative influences?

JP: Totally! I loooooove the Nick Cardy run on the series, as well as many others! Just to point a few: the Peter David Era, Neal Pozner & Craig Hamilton's mini-series, the Jim Aparo run, the Sub-Diego arc--so there you have some of my favorite Aquaman stories, and creative teams!

In terms of Aquaman, all the ones above are still influential to me. Now, artistically I'd say...well, a bunch of artists! George Pérez, José Garcia-Lopez, John Byrne, Jim Aparo, Tony DeZuniga, Alfredo Alcala, Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, Alan Davis, and most recently, Bryan Hitch, Steve McNiven, Steve Skroce, Michael Turner, Scott Kolins, Jim Lee, and of course, Ivan (Reis). 

RR: It was a long time since I read anything related to Aquaman in the comics, but I still followed the character in the cartoons. I didn't understand how the character was so great on TV but in comics always lacked something. For me, the Aquaman from Batman cartoon The Brave and the Bold is one of the coolest. I also found very interesting the "Sword and Sorcery" style on Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis.

My biggest influence recently is what was done with Aquaman in Brightest Day and Blackest Night.

AMS: Wow! Impressive knowledge of the Aquaman mythos! Many of the stories you cited are faves of ours as well and made the Shrine's list of "The Greatest Aquaman Stories Ever Told!"

More so than any other character, Mera has exploded in popularity since Geoff unexpectedly featured her in Blackest Night. What do you guys think the big appeal of Mera is all of a sudden? And Joe, what's it like working on AQUAMAN #6--the Mera spotlight issue--doing double-duty with both pencils and inks? Will Mera be just as beautiful as when Ivan draws her?

JP: Ah! Easy one! Mera's appeal? Dude, you mix a hot, strong-willed, kick-ass redhead in a swimsuit, and there you go! Damn! Mera really rocks! From where I see it, Geoff really transformed Mera into a strong character with a great personality and a mysterious past...

And having the chance to draw and ink #6 is awesome! I'm giving my best to not look bad in comparison with Ivan! Damn! Gigantic shoes to fill! LOL! I hope the fans dig it! ;)

The story is really, really cool! And you'll see Mera in a totally different way! Especially the way she uses her powers. Ah! And a little bit of her past too...!

RR: I really like the dynamic between Arthur and Mera. She is a big part in the success of the book and fans love when she takes off enemies' heads. I hope the female audience is able to identify with the character as well.

AMS: Rod: The coloring on AQUAMAN has been absolutely brilliant and fans are really taking notice of your work...too often a colorist's work goes overlooked--but not on this series! Are you taking a different approach to coloring AQUAMAN than your other books? Specifically, with AQUAMAN #4 (out today!) which takes place in the deepest part of the Atlantic Ocean, can you share about your technique & how this issue's colors are unique in a way that we may not have seen before?

JP: I know this one is for Rod, but hey! Wait until you guys see #5! Damn! Rod rocked on that issue as well! ;)

RR: Coloring Aquaman is a milestone in my career because from this job I'm thinking more about the style of coloring, looking for something very unique and cinematic to this book. This is very different from what I'm doing on Nightwing, where I've developed another completely different style. While on Aquaman I seek something bright and heroic, in Nightwing I do something more full of textures and way darker.

Another thing I can point out is that I talk a lot with my team, Ivan and Joe, to know the best way to improve the art with the coloring. For issue #4 the challenge was to color a non-illuminated environment and still make Aquaman pop out. I hope you enjoy the final result which is very impressive and cinematic, almost "Alien" mood…

AMS: The New 52's AQUAMAN is unlike any Sea King series before it...Arthur is no longer King of Atlantis, he is living on the coastline in his father's lighthouse and his relationships with Mera, his father Thomas Curry, and the people he is trying to protect are revealing to us the human side of Arthur Curry that we've never seen before...What is your favorite part of doing this new series and how do you plan to keep things fresh & exciting in future stories?

JP: Aquaman has been such a great book to work on! The collaborative process amongst the "Aqua-Team" is amazing! We are constantly bouncing off ideas, talking through email and on the phone. So for me that's a big part of what is making this book out to be so awesome! Everyone is personally involved on the project, and that's what comics are all about! It's a team effort! And personally, this is my favorite part.

You guys just wait to see what we have in store for you! Ivan and I are designing a new set of characters for the series right now! Something new, fresh and cool for the Aquaman Universe! I don't know if anyone saw one of Geoff's latest tweets, but he mentioned something called "The Other League"!

AMS: We did...and consider our curiosity piqued! (For those of you who missed it, here's the text version: "And been working on the second big AQUAMAN arc: THE OTHER LEAGUE. Starts with issue #7 with Ivan Reis and Joe Prado!" – Geoff Johns via Twitter)

JP: So guys, keep your eyes peeled, there's tons of cool plans for Aquaman, Mera, Atlantis, etc, etc, etc! Bottom line...Aquaman is awesome! ;)

RR: I love everything about this book, Geoff is doing an amazing job developing this new version of Aquaman where we learn more about the relationship with his father, a lot of stuff about his past, who sank Atlantis, and will have old enemies and new enemies too. Very exciting stuff coming up!

AMS: That's very cool to hear guys and please know that your genuine excitement for working on AQUAMAN clearly shows in the book! Speaking from a fan perspective, we are thrilled to have such an awesome team of creators (including Geoff & Ivan) at the helm of our hero's ongoing adventures!

Aquaman #4 is out today both in print and digitally from DC Comics so be sure to let us know your thoughts on the issue...and check out the Shrine on Saturday for our full recap on the Comics Weekend post!

A big hearty "splash" of gratitude to the Aqua-Team for taking the time to chat with us, thank you again Joe & Rod!

Random Panel of the Day #344

2011-12-27T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Aquaman Shrine's Best of 2011: Aquaman #1!

2011-12-27T00:03:00.000-05:00

The release of Aquaman #1 was, of course, a huge event for the Shrine, maybe even the single most significant piece of Aquaman history that the blog has been present for.

The build-up to the book was tremendous, and the Shrine is happy to say that the book for the most part has delivered on those expectations. The team of Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis have done something truly extraordinary: made Aquaman a top-selling character, having brought tens of thousands of new fans into the fold.

To commemorate the release of the first issue, the Shrine decided to run a review of it by all of the Shrine Correspondents--in addition to myself, we heard from Joe Slab, Russell Burbage, and Andy Luckett, all of whom shared their thoughts on the issue.

That in of itself also represented a huge change for the site: for the first time in its five year history, I decided to bring aboard some other Aqua-Fans to help me with the Shrine, to make it more fun, more diverse, and more comprehensive than ever before. Each of the guys have added to the Shrine in their own way, and I'm so glad I decided to loosen my grip and let some new voices in--the site is greatly improved thanks to their hard work and dedication.

This post originally ran on October 1:

Comics Weekend "The Trench Part One" by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado.

Well, after all the hoopla that met this book upon its arrival on Wednesday, this recap/review might seem a little anti-climactic. But the Shrine will soldier on, nonetheless...

After a brief introduction to the nasty-looking critters who we know as The Trench, we're dropped straight into an action scene out of a 1970s heist movie: three armed and masked men are making a hasty getaway in a stolen armored truck. Suddenly something drops out of the sky, and the crooks are shocked to see this waiting in front of them:

The crooks are less than scared, and speed up. Big mistake! Aquaman sticks his trident into the grill of the truck, heaving it over him, dropping it upside down! One of the crooks fires his automatic weapon at the Sea King, who nevertheless keeps approaching even as the bullets draw blood.

After tossing the one conscious crook into a nearby windshield, the local police are happy but bewildered. One of them asks Aquaman if he needs a glass of water:

Cut to: a seaside seafood restaurant, where Aquaman sits down--trident and all--and orders a meal. Rather than being awed or scared of this superhero in their midst, the patrons are curious, if even a little rude: they pepper Aquaman with questions, about his powers, his diet, his relationship with fish. Aquaman answers all questions, though he seems more than a little annoyed:

We see that Aquaman came to this same diner as a boy, brought there by his father. The nosy blogger, who keeps talking, even has the temerity to ask what it feels like "To be nobody's favorite super-hero?"

Aquaman scowls, grabs his trident, and leaves, but not before paying the bill:

Later, at their lighthouse home, Arthur talks with Mera, and shares with her the decision he's made regarding his future, one that does not involve Atlantis:

While Arthur and Mera enjoy their moments of peace and tranquility, a bunch of fisherman are the first humans to run afoul of The Trench, who seem like nothing less than monsters from the pit of Hell:

...to be continued!

Well, what to say? This is the first true Aquaman #1 in the Shrine's existence, so just having a book called Aquaman in my hands felt like some sort of vindication, in some weird way: after writing about, thinking about, and generally obsessing over the Sea King for so damn long--during times when it felt like DC itself didn't care--to have Aquaman presented here so forcefully and dynamically...well, it's pretty damn cool.

I still have my issues with how slooooow Geoff Johns tends to tease out his stories; I think it took my less than five minutes to read this book cover to cover, and after so many months of anticipation, I have to admit there was an ever-so-slight feeling of "That's it?" after I got to the last page. But I like said on the latest episode of our Fire and Water Podcast, that's simply how Johns writes. I can either just accept that, or not buy his books. Of course, this being Aquaman, the latter is not an option.

That aside, Johns' love of Aquaman practically jumps off every page in this book. Aquaman foils a bank robbery--with extreme prejudice--and then for his trouble gets abused by some annoying blogger (um...), and what's his response? To toss his waitress some gold coins which will change her life. That's my hero!

I was thrilled to get the sequence with Mera, and not just because it had Mera! No, its because of the declaration that this book will not be about Aquaman as King of Atlantis. The whole "heavy is the head that wears the crown" bit has been done to death. Done well, done poorly, but done. I've been saying for years Aquaman needed to get to more traditional superhero trappings if he was going to succeed as a comic book star, and not just a highly merchandisable property. And in just a couple of panels, Johns points in that direction. Bravo!

As a devoted (to say the least!) Aquaman fan, I didn't need to be told over and over in this story how put upon the Sea King is, and how the public's perception of him (both inside the DCU and out) is totally at odds with who he is. But when I had a few moments to think about it, I realized that Johns was not talking to the core Aquaman audience of about 20,000 fans or so (that's the number of people who bought the last book on any sort of regular basis), he was talking to the throng of new readers he (Johns) knew would be coming aboard for the first time. And, judging by Aquaman's sales numbers, that was a smart move, thematically and financially. So while I felt a twinge of "I know all this" reading Aquaman #1, I am totally ready for the ride, for the next issue and beyond.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the art: it's phenomenal. The team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado (with colorist Rod Reis, who, visually, knows when to be in your face and when to be in the next room with the door closed) are simply producing beautiful work here--they can handle both comic book-style action and more quiet character moments. Aquaman's pissed-off look when he takes a bullet in the temple is one for the ages. Aquaman looks like a movie star action hero, Mera is tough yet alluring, and the Trench are suitably scary. It may be a little early, but we may be on the road to having the team of Reis and Prado be mentioned alongside the Great Aquaman Artists, people like Nick Cardy, Ramona Fradon, Jim Aparo, Craig Hamilton, and others (your mileage may vary).

The Shrine has taken a lot of (IMO, well-deserved) shots at DC over the years for their seeming indifference to one of their most famous and enduring characters, but they seem to be making up for it with gusto. The Shrine has always said that if you just gave the Sea King a fair shake, he would deliver. I think seeing the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Aquaman #1--from new fans and old--shows we were right.

Finally, before we go, I thought this new book was significant enough that we hear from all the members of the Aquaman Shrine Staff, to get their thoughts on this momentous occasion in Aqua-History. Take it away, boys!

Russell Burbage: Let me talk about the things I liked about Aquaman #1 first....

The colors! Yes, the art is beautiful, but wow! what a job Rod Reis did from the darkness of the first pages to the wonderful oceans of the lighthouse scenes to the bloody water of the closing. Aquaman appears to shine, which is awesome. This guy is good. Is Rod related to Ivan?

The flashbacks! From the pirates' treasure scene (established with Tempest back in the old Titans book, but still cool) to the scene of Arthur and his father at this same restaurant and then later at the lighthouse...the scenes seemed to be almost in sepia the way they were illustrated (painted?) It established in an instant that Aquaman has ties to the land from even before he had ties to the ocean. Great!

The love! Arthur and Mera belong together. Period.

The villains! The trench is supposed to be around for four issues. That sounds just long enough for these walking piranha-men. That last page was chilling. Brr!

The action! Aquaman stopping a bank robbery...by *leaping* to the rescue! I have always thought Aquaman should be at about the power level of Captain America: not as strong as Superman or Wonder Woman, but stronger than any human allies. This scene very clearly showed he isn't a Shrinking Violet. Yes!!!

And now the two things I wasn't as thrilled with....

The humor. Okay, the joke is that Aquaman is treated as a joke, even in the DCU. I get it. I just thought it was a little bit thick.

The pacing. I have more to say about this, but I'll continue next issue. Just kidding. Yikes, that restaurant scene went on for seven pages.

Overall, I'm very happy with this issue. I know I am going to enjoy this series very, very much.

One question, though...what exactly is supposed to be happening when the blogger pisses Aquaman off? What is the "shingg" sound effect supposed to represent? I didn't get that panel at all.

Andy Luckett: Well, it was every bit as good as I hoped and expected, if not more. I picked up my copy of Aquaman #1 on Thursday afternoon, since I wasn't able to on Wednesday, and by that time I was chomping at the bit to read it. I'd read a lot of reviews of the issue, tiptoeing carefully around the spoilers, and I was gratified to see that the issue was almost unanimously liked, even by people who identified themselves as never having liked Aquaman. It appears that Geoff Johns succeeded in his goal of converting those who have picked on the Sea King in the past.

So yes, I loved the issue, even with the super-high expectations I had from reading a wave of positive reviews. I think it's a brilliant move on Johns' part to immediately address the elephant (or blue whale) in the room when a new take on Aquaman begins. That is of course his perception as lame and useless. In this issue, Johns basically lobs every criticism he can right to Aquaman's face, and he lets Aquaman take them on and then shrug them off, revealing the accusers to be ignorant and petty. It stands to reason that if all of the frequent criticisms of Aquaman are addressed and refuted, then the book is free to move on and show people how exciting and dynamic thiese characters can be. Hopefully people whose complaints have been silenced will then be able to fill that new void with an appreciation for how cool all of this is.

Let's break it down. The Trench bookend the issue, at first discovering a passage from their volcanic vent to the surface, and then realizing that "there's food up here". Yikes. While we don't explicitly see what happens to the fisherman pulled overboard near the end of the issue, its pretty obvious that he is devoured completely. The Trench are scary because A) like vampires or werewolves they're strong, fast, bloodthirsty, and driven by a need to feed, and B) like zombies, they look to be numerous. One or two would be bad enough but it looks like dozens or so. Aquaman and Mera are going to have their hands full. These things just look mean too, like anglerfish mixed with piranha and made intelligent; with lithe, agile bodies, claws and those needle teeth. I'm not really into gore, but I do love a good monster design, and these guys are definitely memorable and a new, horror-influenced foe for Aquaman to tackle. I have a hunch the next few issues might have the feeling of Aquaman dropped into an H.P. Lovecraft story.

The armored car sequence was great. First of all, Aquaman is shown leaping all the way from the ocean to the street where the chase is happening. This leaping is an ability I hoped they would use, as it has only been touched on before. But it makes sense: with legs full of super-dense muscle fiber from handling the pressures of the sea, Aquaman should have no problem propelling himself long distances through the air and landing safely. Secondly, his strength is nicely showcased by the trident-to-the-grill move. And then, Johns completes the trifecta by exhibiting Arthur's "nigh-bulletproof" skin. This fits with how I've always thought of Aquaman's powers; sort of like Superman when he was first introduced: he couldn't fly but was able to leap large distances, nothing less than a bursting shell could break his skin, and he was extremely strong but not able to juggle planets.

The way Aquaman reacts to the cop's comment about a glass of water is the same way he reacts to the annoying blogger in the diner. He's clearly irritated and angered by what they say, but he has enough self-control to stay calm and walk away from idiots. After all, he knows that none of these people could survive a blow from him, and he also has vowed to protect them. This issue clearly shows that Arthur is a hero that will take the abuse of those he protects because he is working toward a higher purpose. The eating seafood thing is an interesting idea to bring up. I've always thought of Arthur as a vegetarian, because it would be strange to eat something you've mentally interacted with. But I can get behind the idea; eating there reminds Arthur of good times with his dad, and it also shows his duality (of the sea but also of the land). I love the explanation of how Aquaman commands the sea life, however, that makes the power much more relatable. Actually talking to fish is just too nebulous and vague to wrap the head around.

The little bits of his origin we were given were nice as well. It was good to see Tom Curry again, having fun with young Arthur at their favorite restaurant. And the scene with Mera was very well-done also, getting across their bond, her support of him and his mission to be responsible for the interaction of two worlds. If anyone still complains about Aquaman being lame, at least he's got a gorgeous wife that adores him.

I think I enjoyed the art here more than the Aquaman bits in Brightest Day. Ivan Reis and Joe Prado are clearly excited about this gig and it shows. All the little details, like the tube worms hanging out by the Trench's, um, trench to the individual scales on Aquaman's shirt picking up the sunlight, really add to the whole. The reveal of Aquaman in front of the armored car is as majestic as one could hope for, and some of Arthur's facial expressions to the onlooker's comments are great. Even the background characters in the diner scene all feel fleshed out and part of the scene, not simply tools to fill the panel. If this level of quality in both writing and art keeps up, this is going to be one classic run.

I think that covers my rambling but excited thoughts for this issue. I know it sounds like I'm raving, but I honestly haven't enjoyed a single issue of a comic lately as much as I did this one (of course, I am a bit biased, I admit). It succeeds to me on every level; as a first issue, as an Aquaman story, as an explanation of why he's great, and as a superhero comic.

Joe Slab: Well it's been three years since I returned to comics, having taken a hiatus at the end of Infinite Crisis when the OYL story-lines were launched and Aquaman as I had known him disappeared from the DC Universe. I still followed news of the Sea King but only from a distance, on message boards and as a viewer of the Aquaman Shrine. Then in early 2009 I saw a house ad for Blackest Night in black & white, drawn by Ethan Van Sciver and featuring the tag line "The Dead Will Rise" and my inner fanboy jumped with excitement: "They're bringing Aquaman back!"

Since then we've been treated and teased by Black Lantern, White Lantern, elemental, and Emperor versions of the King of the Seven Seas but not until this week did we truly received Aquaman back into the comics fold properly. The new Aquaman series is by arguably the best, most marketable, all around creative team in comics today and this fan feels Aquaman deserves nothing less. He's paid his dues and so have his fans. With Geoff Johns at the helm and the art team of Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, & colorist Rod Reis, they did not fail to deliver a great introductory issue with Aquaman #1.

Taking on the issues that we've all been faced with at one time or another as Aqua-fans, Johns turns perceived weakness into character strength and shows us perhaps the most human Arthur Curry we've seen to date. The story hits all the right beats from the opening sequence showing just how powerful Aquaman really is, to the deadpan comedy of the diner scene (to his credit Johns actually gives the Sea King a legitimate reason for being there), to the flashback scenes with his father Thomas which I understand will be an ongoing theme throughout this series--it all worked for me!

The art was just scintillating and it is here where I think non-Aquaman fans will be won over. Reis & Prado clearly know what's at stake with this new series and one thing is for sure, Aquaman will never be canceled due to bad art if DC is smart enough to keep this team on board. Special credit to colorist Rod Reis who really makes this issue brilliant (I've heard that when viewed digitally with back-lighting its even more amazing!) and thanks to him for checking with us about the color of Mera's eyes because he got them right!

My only art criticism is that some of the smaller panels appear rushed & less detailed, for example Aquaman's hair at times looks like a Mattel-toy doll's, ready to snap off in one plastic piece with a flick of the thumb. But that is a small complaint at best.

One final point, in keeping with DC's New 52 theme of moving forward, Johns' writing deftly maneuvers around any specific mention of past continuity. We know that many of the elements of Arthur Curry's birth story as presented in Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman are now canon, but what we don't know is what has happened with Aquaman in the five years that the new DCU has been in business. My guess is that now the only time Aquaman has lost a hand has been at the hands of Black Manta in Brightest Day and that the Peter David era is but a memory, as is certainly true for the Grant Morrison era of the JLA, the Waterbearer run, and the Sword of Atlantis. The statuses of Arthur Jr., Garth, and Tula are conspicuously not mentioned as well, although we do know that Jackson & Lorena will be popping up eventually in the series. Dare we hope for the former too?

All in all, I would give the issue 4 out of 5 starfish (oh yes I did!) with it needing just 2-3 more pages of story and art to give it that complete feel that would have allowed me to give it the full 5. What say you fellow F.O.A.M.ers? Do we need to put a digital countdown clock up for issue #2 of Aquaman to pace the anticipation?

Aquaman on the Web: How Aquaman Got His Groove Back

2011-12-26T12:19:00.002-05:00

Check out this very solid, non-snarky article about Aquaman on TVGuide.com by Rich Sands: "How Aquaman Got His Groove Back."

Random Panel of the Day #343

2011-12-26T12:03:00.000-05:00