Written by: Jeremy Adams
Art by: John Timms, Jefferson Sadzinski
Colors by: Rex Lokus
Letters by: Dave Sharpe
Cover art by: John Timms (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: May 14, 2025
Aquaman #5, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds King Arthur and his allies entering the City of the Blue for information, finding a lead and an ally in the fabled Captain of the Nautilus.
Is Aquaman #5 Good?
Recap
When we left the King of Atlantis in Aquaman #4, Arthur was kidnapped and held in magical chains by Lori Lemoris. Her mission? Deliver Aquaman to Dagon, the keeper of the Blue. Arthur used a clever bit of hydrokinesis to escape Lori's ship just in time for his allies, Arion and Vivienne, to show up with his new sword - Thalassa the Trilance Saber. The issue ended with Aquaman kicking ass and taking names.
Plot Synopsis
In Aquaman #5, the adventurers arrive at the City of the Blue, a harsh place where anyone who shows the slightest dissent or disrespect for Dagon is immediately executed. The citizens of the city have lost hope under Dagon's oppressive rule.
Arthur, Arion, and Vivienne arrive at the City of the Blue, looking for information about Mera and the missing Atlanteans. As they scour the city, they see a pair of guards trying to arrest a man with a familiar appearance - Captain Nemo. Arthur is unable to turn a blind eye to injustice, so he intervenes in the arrest and spirits Nemo away before reinforcements arrive. In a dimly lit tavern, Nemo confirms he has seen a red-haired Atlantean many leagues below, and he'd be willing to take everyone there if they help him free his ship, the Nautilus, from the city's impound.
Arthur allows himself to be arrested by the city's head of security, Titanus, so that he can be brought before the magistrates. Arthur breaks free, knocks out the guards, and forces the magistrates to tell him the location of Nemo's ship. Lori arrives when she receives word that Arthur has been captured, so the heroes race to Nemo's ship before the numbers become too great to fight. Before the Nautilus pulls out of the dock, Arthur destroys the bubble that separates the holding dock from the sea to block their pursuers.
The issue ends with Dagon taunting Mera in chains, and we get a hint that Dagon has altered Mera's appearance for the worse.
First Impressions
Who knew the trials and travails of a wandering king could be so entertaining? Jeremy Adams expands the mythological adventure by incorporating shades of Tolkien, Jules Verne, and T.H. White for an epic tale.
How’s the Art?
John Timms is quickly becoming one of the best artists on tap for DC. Arthur is stoic, decisive, and intimidating when he gets his dander up. The action is large-scale, and Timms's sense of drama substantially elevates an already stellar script.
What’s great about Aquaman #5?
I mentioned those authors in the First Impression section above because that's what it feels like Jeremy Adams is doing with his arc. Arthur is on a kingly quest that echoes stories from classic literature, and it's turning out better than anyone probably expected.
As a plus, in our previous reviews of this series, we noted it was difficult to understand Arthur's place in the supposed prophecy as the Dark Tide without hearing the prophecy. Adams corrects that flaw by giving you the poetic prophecy on a preface page.
What’s not great about Aquaman #5?
During the climactic battle, Lori Lemoris and her Mer-cenaries just show up out of nowhere. Lori's arrival adds intensity to the fight, but it feels manufactured just to make the fight more chaotic. How could Lori possibly know the exact place and time to find Arthur?
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 #5 continues Arthur's mythological journey as the wandering king searching for his people. Jeremy Adams adds more familiar members to the fellowship, enhancing the vibe of a journey that echoes the best adventure tales from classic literature, and John Timms shows his worth as one of the best artists around.
9/10
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This is the best book I read this week. This run has been great!
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