AQUAMAN #9 Review

• 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: September 10, 2025

Aquaman #9, DC Comics, September 2025 sends Arthur and his "Justice League Blue" back to Earth to find a new home. establish a new status quo for Earth, and mourn their losses - including Mera.

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First Impressions

This issue crashes in with all the subtlety of a tidal wave. It is sharp, tense, and layered with intrigue that sticks to you like seawater. The stakes feel personal, and the current pulls you straight to the cliffhanger.

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Recap

In Aquaman #8, Aquaman has become a vessel for the cosmological force known as the Blue, allowing him to defeat the evil Dagon. But at what price? The city of Atlantis has been rapidly aged via magical time distortion, Mera is dead, and Aquaman is left with mysterious new powers and responsibilities... including taking care of his now-adult daughter, Andrina.

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Plot Analysis

The issue opens with Aquaman and his allies burning their dead, Atlanteans who were magically aged after they were kidnapped by Dagon. Mera is among the dead. The heroes board the Nautilus and head home through a portal that Aquaman can sense with his new connection to the Blue.

The heroes in time to find the Justice League battling Superman because the hero is possessed by a dark spirit. Aquaman easily smacks Superman back and holds him with his hydrokinetic powers while Zann and Arion purge the possessing spirit. The League is surprised by Aquaman's arrival and ability to handle Superman so easily.

Later, aboard the Watchtower, Aquaman tells everyone what happened. Batman, suspicious as always, urges Aquaman to undergo testing to understand his connection to the Blue, but Aquaman refuses. Aquaman and his allies decide to stay in Earth's oceans rather than remain aboard the Watchtower. 

Aquaman dives off the Watchtower into the oceans below and he visits the ruins of where Atlantis resided. Finding nothing, he swims away to start move on with his life, but he doesn't notice that several someones are watching and calling him.

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Writing

The script is tight, brisk, and unrelenting. Dialogue crackles with tension, and even quiet moments hum with unspoken threat. The pacing keeps momentum without drowning the reader in exposition, a rare feat in a story this politically charged. Admittedly, this issue feels like a transition point to setup the next arc and show off Aquaman's powers, but it's still a fun read.

Art

The visuals explode with detail. Underwater spreads shimmer with scale and depth, while close-ups bring raw emotion to Arthur’s strained face and the Justice League's calculated resolve. Again, this issue is a little more than an excuse to show off Aquaman's prowess with his newfound connection to the Blue, but John Timms makes the spectacle worth the read.

Characters

Arthur is written as a king caught between protector and newfound avatar of a cosmic force, and the weight is palpable. His allies work together as a team during the Superman fight, which makes them enjoyable side characters.

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Positives

The balance between action and emotional drama is masterful. The tension doesn’t just live in battle scenes but in side glances, whispered doubts, and sharp exchanges, especially from Batman. The art elevates the writing, layering grandeur over grit and grounding the mythic in the personal.

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Negatives

Since this issue is presented as a transition point, the fight with Superman feels like a contrived excuse tor action. Some secondary characters feel like placeholders rather than fully realized figures in Atlantis’s sprawling drama. A few transitions between action and politics feel abrupt, tugging at the rhythm of the narrative.

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 #9 proves the ocean’s depths hold more than monsters. They hide magical mysteries and tidal waves of potential. With a grieving king, new powers, and Atlantis in ruins, this series swims in dangerous waters and dares the reader to keep up.

8.5/10

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