Aquaman (1994) #49
Title: Battle Royal
Cover Title: Tempest's Rage
Cover Date: Oct 1998
Writers: Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Mark McKenna
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Albert DeGuzman
Asst. Editor: Check Kim
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Calafiore and McKenna
Cover Price: $1.99
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman wakes from a nightmare in which he didn't know which woman he loved. He wonders if he and Mera are still truly married, and if they should be trying to keep up appearances.
Vulko is pondering a painting of the happy family of Arthur, Mera, and Arthur Jr. He contemplates the need to remove Arthur from the throne.
Koryak wakes from a dream in which he is crowned King of Atlantis, and everyone laughs. He decides he must act soon.
Mera wakes from a dream of Arthur as alien invader, and realizes that she can't go back to being Arthur's helpless Queen.
Tempest wakes from a dream of being King of the Seas. He controls himself in waking, but is suffering.
Dolphin runs into Arthur on the way to the ceremony, and tells him that Garth has been acting strange. He tells her not to worry.
Tempest interrupts the re-coronation ceremony by blasting Arthur with the trident. Mera recognizes that Garth is possessed, and both she and Koryak attack him. Arthur finally manages to knock the trident away, and helps Garth. Koryak seizes the moment by grabbing the trident and attempting to threaten Arthur with it. The Trident is too much for him, though, and Arthur takes it back.
Koryak is banished from the city, and the re-coronation continues. But Mera refuses to be re-crowned Queen, claiming that she and Arthur are not Man and Wife.
COMMENTS:
This cover brings back memories of Adventure Comics #452, when Aqualad was trying to kill Aquaman. Both times Garth had a trident, and Arthur was helpless.
Who's Kiko? I think the writers meant Kako.
Tempest holding the Trident looks a lot like Orm holding his Underworld Trident.
Arthur looks very regal in his ceremonial uniform. Another great outfit.
Vulko's treatment in this series has been pitiful. He's a smart man, a scholar and scientist and one-time regent of Poseidonis. Plotting behind Arthur's back is out of character. I can only hope Erik Larsen treats this character better.
CONCLUSION:
A good chapter, if a bit rushed.