Written by: Jeremy Adams
Art by: John Timms
Colors by: Rex Lokus
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Cover art by: John Timms (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: January 8, 2025
Aquaman #1, by DC Comics on 1/8/25, finds the King of Atlantis returned to his throne with a new ability, but his troubles are just beginning when Atlantis mysteriously disappears.
Is Aquaman #1 Good?
Plot Synopsis
Aquaman #1 begins with a rescue scene. A plane headed for Metropolis experiences engine failure over the ocean. Aquaman heeds the call and rescues the plane by summoning a column of water to "catch" the plane. We learn through his dialog with Mera, his wife and Queen, that Aquaman received Mera's hydrokinetic powers in the aftermath of the Absolute Power event.
Later, Aquaman returns to Atlantis to fulfill his kingly duties, whether he likes it or not. As a man of action, Aquaman isn't fond of endless meetings and settling political squabbles, so he takes any opportunity he can to excuse himself from the administrative trappings of a King. The new mystery brought to his attention is an unusual pearl (the size of a basketball) found by Jackson Hyde and Garth. The pearl has magical properties that bear further study (see Flashpoint Beyond #1, The Flash #785, and Batman: Brave and the Bold #18 for background on the pearl).
Aquaman puts the mystery aside to return to his monotonous schedule. During a meeting with nobles, Aquaman receives word about an attack on Daytona Beach, Florida. When the King of Atlantis arrives, he finds a Kaiju-sized water construct attacking the shoreline. After a brief fight, Aquaman uses his new water powers to dispel the creature, but there's no clue as to its origin or objective. Suddenly, he hears Mera's voice call to him from Atlantis, and he races off. When he arrives, Atlantis is in ruins, its inhabitants are gone, and the only thing remaining is the pearl, now humming.
Our hero quickly takes the pearl to the Watchtower for help. Zatanna deduces the pearl comes from ancient magic, but she can't see past its defenses. However, Zatanna detects a similar magical vibration under the ocean, so Aquaman, Batman, and Wonder Woman quickly depart to investigate.
The issue concludes with an ancient symbol where none should be, a key that opens a door, and the call to adventure.
First Impressions
Yep, Aquaman #1 is a winner. Jeremy Adams brings the King of Atlantis back to the forefront with a premier issue that tells you everything you need to know about the character and sets up a cool adventure. It's not a perfect issue (more on that in a minute), but the flaws pale in comparison to the positives.
How’s the Art?
What’s great about Aquaman #1?
What’s not great about Aquaman #1?
The one downside, which may or may not be a downside for experienced DC readers, is the amount of backstory knowledge needed for the mystery to hit hard. You have to sort through multiple issues across multiple titles to understand the significance of the pearl, and the cliffhanger probably owes its significance to the DC All-In Special #1, which casual readers may or may not know.
In fairness, Adams is one of the few DC writers working who takes the spider web of continuity from recent years and is able to bring it all together in a cohesive narrative (see the current Green Lantern ongoing for an example), so we'll see if he can turn lemons into lemonade once again.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Aquaman #1 is an impressive start for the return of the King of Atlantis. Jeremy Adams brings Aquaman back to prominence with an inaugural issue built on a rock-solid foundation, an intriguing mystery, and a banger of a cliffhanger. Couple Adams's pristine script with killer art by John Timms, and you get a winner.
9/10
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As much as I think Adams is a very good writer, I think poeple go too easy on him cause they want to like eveything he writes. ( understandable when you consider the level of writing most other comic writers keep giving fans)
ReplyDeleteThe state of Atlantis is very bizarre, they just hand waved all the important political upheavals it had with one or two panels. I wasn't a fan of the previous Aquaman run and in fact disliked it but they still can't just reverse Atlantis to what it was before off screen, it's very weird.
I wish they would stop with depicting Arthur as the guy who only likes to fight and is 'cool' as opposed to the leader who was also a superhero that he used to be before. They keep separating him from his role as the leader of Atlantis in recent times where that was actually what made him unique among other JL members, him having to deal with two rules of a king of a country and an international superhero and the conflict or challenges they might bring. Also this issue jumps around a lot and as a result doesn't develop plot points well enough to get a solid hook for the series, something recent GL issues since Absolute Power do as well sadly (as others have pointed out correctly)
In conclusion I think Flash, Jay Garrick and GL had stronger first issues by him and also the recent GL/GA hardtraveling heroes one shot was wayyyy better written than this. 6 out of 10
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ReplyDeleteAquaman #1 presents an intriguing mystery, but the Crazy Cattle 3D reliance on extensive backstory might alienate new readers. The art is solid, and the plot has potential, but accessibility is a concern.
DeleteInteresting that Aquaman is back on the throne, and with a new ability no less! What kind of challenges do you think will arise from Atlantis's sudden disappearance? I wonder what other characters will be affected. Makes you think of running from the unknown in the Dinosaur Game.
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DeleteAquaman #1 is a thrilling return! Adams crafts a solid, engaging story with new powers and a gripping mystery. Timms’ art shines, despite some continuity hurdles. A must-rea
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ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a strong start for Aquaman. I like how the issue balances action with character development, giving both new and longtime readers a good sense of who Arthur is right now. The use of continuity through the pearl is intriguing, even if it asks a lot from casual fans. Definitely feels like a promising setup for a larger story.
ReplyDeleteI like how it highlights Jeremy Adams’ ability to balance accessibility for new readers with deeper continuity hooks for longtime DC fans. The mix of political responsibility, action, and mystery feels very true to Aquaman’s character. The art by John Timms also seems to elevate the story with that bold, classic DC energy.
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