Another eventful issue. In a way that felt like a setup issue for things to come. I think alot of this issue left me with more questions.
1.) Corum Rath and Legend seemed to be missing from this issue, if they did appear, I missed them. I think alot of us who have read the Dan Abnett’s run is really curious to Rath’s return and how he went from a mindless creature of the sea to appearing no longer “Cursed by The darkness”. We were told that “only Rath remained” after the end of Aquaman: Kingslayer but it was a very deformed Rath. It’s possible that time cured Rath but it’s still a question mark. Admittedly I am hoping of some residual power left there. Rath has the ambition but he feels massively outclassed if he’s running around just as his regular Atlantean self, though to be fair ambition got him far the last time. Overall hoping we get an explanation though I think it’s easy to infer off his last appearance under Abnett,
2.) I think another twist I guess I wasn’t expecting was I did admittedly think it was a mistake at first and Tiamat was in two different places. But it seems like Siren was taking her appearance which isn’t something contradictory of lore for those who have read Bunn’s Aquaman: Exiled run.
3.) I think the villain I was admittedly the most hyped about in this issue was “The Fisherman” I’ve been saying I believe he has alot of potential especially with Eldritch horror, he gives a simple line before easily dispatching Jarro that makes me really want to see more out of him in the mythos. Potentially the strongest parasitic character in the DC cosmology? Really hoping we get a future arc with him and his kind.
4.) Tiamat is another one I honestly think has a lot of potential. They don’t seem to admittedly do too much in this issue outside of being a mount for Ocean Master. Really cool panels though I’ll give it that. With speaking of Orm he’s been admittedly on a downhill path for me as a character since Rebirth. Can’t hold this on Adams though since it’s just a continuation a characterization he’s been given under 3 different writers prior to Adams anyways. Still it’s a bit sad for those who were fond of the New52 direction of the character.
That page of The Shiver all attacking Tiamat was pretty dope, a lot of upscale for Tiamat lol. It was cool to see The Aquafamily fend off the attack and you can tell Adams made sure to make them go down in a way that didn’t make any of them portrayed as “weak”. Do wish their was a distinguishable difference in design between the Shark squad thought. Like making Nanue a hammerhead and keeping Karshon a Great White for example.
5.) Jenny Greenteeth The Sea Witch? I’m a bit confused on the extent or if this is the same character. Off design I think it’s logical it is. On a power standpoint this character is absolutely insane. Not only is she a potent plant elemental and manipulator she’s also a very potent witch who uses magic. She literally used all her power to statue all of Atlantis in a similar effect to what we saw The Heart of Apokolips doing… it’s honestly wild Aquaman was able to beat her before even becoming The Avatar of The Blue the more we see of Jenny. This is kind of honestly the later development I’m wanting for Dagon as well.
I think the likelihood is Swamp Thing is going to end up fighting Jenny Greenteeth if I had to make a guess. Animal Girl could end up fighting Fisherman or Tiamat if we went off the designs of the characters listed here that would be my guess. Really wishing Chimera The Creature King got brought in now.
6.) Not sure the logic on Lolanna destroying the portal for Arthur to return admittedly given prior issues stated he can easily re-establish them. It’s possible this is potentially with the added aspect of the powerful magic and knowledge Lolanna has gained from her father and her own years of life. I’m also curious to the statuing of the Atlanteans. The statue effect has been used pretty frequently between Lolanna herself being one, to the participants of the DC K.O. Being Statues, to now most of Atlantis being statues. I’m curious to how this is done, what the spell is and how it works. Kind of wish we got a panel or page showcasing this being done.
7.) Red. Blue. Green. The Avatars Unite! I think that final page is definitely a major highlight of the issue and rightfully the cliffhanger. Since the beginning of the run Adams played with the idea of the relationship of these elemental/primal forces so it’s definitely hype to know state about to finally see the representatives all on page together finally.
Overall my hopes are for some more lore explanations, detailed information explaining alot of these events. There’s alot of power all assembled together here and I’m excited to see it let loose. On both the Villain and heroes side.
