Aquaman (3) #2
Title: Single Wet Female
Cover Title: To The Bone!
Cover Date: September 1994
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Marty Egeland
Inks: Brad Vancata
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Dan Nakrosis
Asst. Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Marty Egeland and Brad Vancata
Cover Price: $1.50
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Charybdis, with his beautiful partner Scylla, explains to Aquaman that his instrumentation drains the powers from Dolphin and Aquaman, augmenting his own powers.
The injured Aqualad wakes up long enough to see a person he thinks is Tula, before falling back into unconsciousness.
Charybdis explains his plan to poison the Earth to Aquaman, then kills Scylla in a fit of insanity. She wasn't the real Scylla, his old partner, who died when a bomb went off in her hands.
Garth wakes up, the woman is there and tells him where Aquaman is, but leaves before he can confirm it is Tula.
Charybdis, trying out Aquaman's power of control over sea-life, learns that Aquaman doesn't control, he "suggests", "bargains" and "cajoles".
Garth gets a whale to break into Charybdis' stronghold, and Aquaman breaks free and chases Charybdis to the armory. Garth, however, has gotten there first, and starts a chain reaction. Everyone escapes.
Aquaman confronts Charybdis on land, and Charybdis forces Aquaman's hand into a river teeming with Pirahna, which Aquaman can't control. Dolphin shoots Charybdis, who then falls into the river himself.
Aquaman shows Dolphin his destroyed hand.
COMMENTS:
Ouch.
This is the big one, the one that those in the know were waiting for.
This was the issue that has since caused so much controversy among those who believe Aquaman should not have been mangled. It's also much better than the first issue, IMHO.
First off, we learn more about Aquaman's power. It's clear that Peter David wanted to immediately establish several things about Aquaman, one being the limit of his powers. This issue also explains why Charybdis could take out both Aquaman and Garth, though I still don't buy it. Even with Dolphin's powers augmenting his own, he's no match for the both of them.
We also get more on Garth's continuing inability to get over his girl. Thankfully, this issue was completely resolved in the recent Tempest mini. PLEASE let's everyone hope PAD got to read the Tempest mini so he knows how to treat Garth in future.
One great touch in this issue is Garth trying to explain to the dolphins that Aquaman is trapped and needs their help. Unfortunately, this was completely contradicted by another book that came out this month which established that Garth had telepathic powers. Pity.
Also significant in typical Peter David fashion is the comment Aquaman makes right before his final battle with Charybdis: "I don't need a hand in finishing you off." Ow. PAD, you're killing us.
Dolphin also talks for the first time in this book. This isn't the first time she talks, but it is a bit startling if you didn't read Justice League Task Force where she talks too much...
Lastly, my letter col fades out about 2/3 of the way down the page, so I can't read all the happy letters. When I got this, I was quite annoyed, because I wanted to read them... I've since learned that this was a side-effect of the universe being destroyed in Zero Hour. Oh. Nifty.
CONCLUSION:
The issue that changed it all. Not to be missed by any means.