Aquaman (1994) #70
Title: Unification By Division
Cover Title: Ties That Bind
Cover Date: August 2000
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Pencils: Gordon Purcell
Inks: Claude St Albin
Colors: Digital Chameleon
Lettering: John Workman
Editor: Tony Bedard
Cover: Mike Kaluta
Cover Price: $2.50
Release Date: 21 June 2000
Order Code: APR00 0194
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman announces to the Cerdian people that he's annexed their country. He expects them to be upset, but is taken by surprise at the hatred his own people have towards the Cerdians. He turns to Mera to convince the Atlanteans that his plan is the best, and she has luck with some of them, but others want to punish the Cerdians, and so steal an Atlantean sub and attack a Red Cross boat.
Aquaman arrives in time to stop the slaughter, and uses Tempest's son as a pawn to win over the Cerdian people by making Tempest name the poor kid "Cerdian".
COMMENTS:
The Cover: I'm not a fan of crowded covers, and this is the mother of all crowded covers. Still, the idea is pretty neat. The faces of the Aquaman cast look out as reflected in a scattering of sea shells. Except its not a scattering. The shells are on a chain, and the necklace is what lies on the sea shells. A fascinating composition, if one of a type I don't prefer.
Aquaman comes up out of the water onto the beach of a war-torn nation and declares himself their new king. You'd expect riots or something, but the people for the most part just watch. Again, Aquaman uses his presence and command to win over the doubters, and shows enough compassion to silence dissent.
Aquaman's presence seems to stop with the Cerdians, though. Unless... one might wonder if Aquaman's use of Mera to win over the populace might also be part of a ploy to win back Mera?
It's nice to see Vulko back in his traditional role as advisor and King's conscience. Have I mentioned how nice the art is in this issue? Not perfect, but every time I see a good artist's work on this book I'm reminded of the horrible year of ugly messy dark art and thank my lucky stars that its over and we have clean pretty artwork again.
Amusing that Garth and Dolphin are having trouble naming their child. Neither of them have much family history to turn to for finding names for the kid. Still, hanging an awful name like "Cerdian" around the kid's neck isn't very nice. Gotta come up with a good nickname... like "Ian" or something.
CONCLUSION:
What a really horrible name for a kid.