Aquaman (1991) #1
Title: A Small World Incident
Cover Title: Return of the King
Cover Date: December 1991
Writer: Shaun McLaughlin
Pencils: Ken Hooper
Inks: Bob Dvorak
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Dan Nakrosis
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein
Cover Price: $1.00
Note: Aquaman's Fiftieth Anniversary Year
OVERVIEW:
Poseidonis is under attack.
Aquaman helps save a beached whale, who beached herself from grief when her son died.
The people attacking Poseidon are revealed to be from Oumland, and Vulko seems to think they were provoked by actions taken by Minister F'ancha. Teams are sent out to find Aquaman, with the knowledge that if they fail, Poseidonis might be destroyed.
Aquaman helps Porm and some tuna fishermen.
Poseidonis apparently attacked an Oumlandian ship, and though the UN is protesting the war, Oumland has announced that they've annexed Atlantis.
One of the people sent from Poseidonis finds Aquaman, and he takes action immediately. Meanwhile, the Justice League has been asked to intervene, but refused. Aquaman attacks the ships of the Oumlandians, and forces them to leave. As he starts to enter the city again they attack once more. It appears that Vulko is dead.
COMMENTS:
A terribly confusing and annoying start to a new series. Aquaman is, once again, full of angst. Vulko is advising King Thesily, who must have taken over after Mera left. Aquaman indicates that he hasn't re-entered the city since Mera left, either.
The cover has a very different Aquaman from what we are used to. Longer hair and more violent. I'm not fond of this picture.
The thought that any land-dwellers can *find* Atlantis, much less *annex* it is ludicrous. The mentions of the UN and the Justice League seem to be attempts to pull this Aquaman tighter into continuity with the DCU. It doesn't really work. Atlantis ought to be an almost mythical place that people only get to when invited, or as supervillains.
The art is stylized, and though I don't much like this version of Aquaman, I love the detail and care the supporting cast and "extras" are drawn with.
CONCLUSION:
Rating: 5
All-in-all, less than sterling. Having waited in anticipation for this book, I was disappointed at the reality.