Aquaman (1991) #12
Title: Spoils of War
Cover Title: The Final Battle
Cover Date: November 1992
Writer: Shaun McLaughlin
Pencils: Ken Hooper
Inks: Bob Dvorak
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Dan Nakrosis
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Ken Hooper and Rick Bryant
Cover Price: $1.25
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman gets back into Poseidonis and promptly stops a mugging. He learns that King Thesily won't allow the citizens out of the city. Then he learns that he's been fired from his ambassadorial position. He storms off.
Vulko has been thrown off the council, and he and Aquaman meet and talk. Vulko tells Aquaman that he's going to do some travelling, maybe into Tritonis. Aquaman insists on going with him.
Things are not well in Tritonis. Iqula's revolution is going strong, and Aquaman butts in as Iqula is about to die. Fighting is called off for the day, and Aquaman learns that the Tritonians have strict rules for war, and Aquaman has violated the rules by interfering.
King Firft decides to kidnap Lady S'ona, and do so while Vulko is questioning her about her charm, a sign of the cult of Kordax, and the reason she wears a headdress. They take Vulko along.
Iqula attacks in revenge, warning Aquaman to stay out of it. He does until ones of the King's men uses a gun that he obviously took from Vulko, but he's not really needed, as Lady S'ona, who's blonde hair has just been revealed to all present, uses her command of the fish to fight back.
Aquaman goes to find Vulko, and rescues him from the king, while S'ona and company win the civil war.
Vulko stays in Tritonis for a time, and as Aquaman leaves, Vulko gives him The Atlantis Chronicles to read.
COMMENTS:
Striking cover, with Aquaman and Iqula fighting back-to-back.
Earlier we learn that Iqula freed the city from Ocean Master and put Firft on the throne. It's only fitting that he be the one to overthrow him.
Lady S'ona reveals her blonde hair in this story. It makes me wonder if parts of the story are not retconned out, since later on the Tritonians apparently don't know she has the mark of Kordax.
This was the last story with Aquaman and the UN. We never learn what Minister F'ancha was up to. The dome is broken, and is repaired by the beginning of the next series. The whole UN issue is never resolved. Not to mention Oumland, which vanishes after this series ends. Who is Wylie? Why did he want Aquaman dead? Thank goodness Shaun McLaughlin gaves some answers for us: Aquaman Second Series Resolution Notes.
I'm beginning to think that this whole series was retconned out of existence so Peter David could play with a clean slate.
CONCLUSION:
Rating: 7
Good story, but the next one is the best.