Tempest: Prophets and Kings #2
Title: Act 2: Blood and Ebony
Cover Title: Exploding from the pages of Aquaman - TEMPEST
Cover Date: December 1996
Writer: Phil Jimenez
Pencils: Phil Jimenez
Inks: John Stokes
Colors: Carla Feeny
Lettering: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Phil Jimenez
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Garth wakes up from a horrible dream of Tula trying to kill him. He wakes to Tula trying to comfort him. Deep inside, he knows that something is wrong, but can't admit it, not even to himself. He asks Tula how she lived, and why she didn't look for him. She turns the subject to their old Titan friends, at which point Letifos enters and suggests that Tula go look for them. As they argue, Garth goes to get dressed.
The mortal who binds gods punishes Atlan for sending Garth a psychic projection, the dream. Atlan asks why he's doing this, and the mortal replies that he is trapped in the nether realm, despite all his powers. Atlan suggests that the mortal is stealing powers from Garth, and the mortal replies that the powers are his by right.
Garth uses his powers to form a new outfit, and returns to find Tula and Letifos still arguing. He tells them to call him Tempest. They tour the city, which the Idylists spent their lives building. It is an incredible place. Garth finds the knife and scroll with which he will perform the ceremony. He leaves the scroll with the others while he prepares, a stupid mistake. Tula scratches out some words, and Letifos notices and attacks her.
After a drawn out fight, Garth goes and rescues Tula. He doesn't give Letifos a chance to explain, else he would know that Tula had damaged the scroll.
He performs the ceremony, and at the climax, as the powers course through him, Tula runs in and kisses him, stealing the power... and feeding it directly to the mortal. Atlan has realized who the mortal is, but too late. The mortal has been freed, and become Slizzath. Garth has lost his power, and doesn't understand why Tula would betray him. Slizzath, now in the room with Garth, says that she doesn't even know what she's done. But it doesn't matter, Slizzath's next goal is conquering all the undersea cities. Including Atlantis.
COMMENTS:
The story isn't bad, but it is a little bogged down with details. The fight between Letifos and Tula goes on far too long, and it's almost unbelievable that Garth would choose to believe Tula, who he is already suspicious of, over Letifos. But then, Letifos' people killed him, so maybe it's not so suspicious after all.
How did Garth know how to perform the ceremony? Atlan didn't have enough time last issue to tell him the sordid details, did he?
Garth's new costume is the flag of Shayera. Not bad. The art in this story is simply incredible, and almost makes up for the slight defects in the story.
Who the heck is Slizzath? I know who to suspect, but there haven't been enough clues to really let me know for sure.
CONCLUSION:
The story is a little weak, but get it for the art.