Aquaman (3) #11
Title: Exodus!
Cover Title: The Poseidonis Adventure!
Cover Date: August 1995
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Marty Egeland
Inks: Howard Shum
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Dan Nakrosis
Asst. Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Marty Egeland and Howard Shum
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman returns to Poseidonis in time for King Thesily's funeral.
The Poseidonians are divided on what to do. Thesily left no heir and the city is falling apart underneath them. As they argue, Koryak uses his power to break it up, then suggests that he can lead them.
Aquaman discovers that there is something beneath the city, and returns to tell the people only to find them leaving the city.
A hand rises from the pit in which dead Atlanteans are buried.
Aquaman confronts Vulko, who is packing his books to take with him out of the city. He then tries to talk with the people, who reject him in favor of Koryak. Koryak leads them North from the city.
The hand reaches the lip of the pit.
Aquaman walks through the empty city, remembering and hurting. As he rants, Dolphin returns, and they enjoy themselves. Only to have Mera walk in on them!
COMMENTS:
This has the BEST cliff-hanger in the series.
The funeral procession is a neat bit of Atlantean life that we generally don't get to see. Same with the council meeting.
It's important to note that this is the second time Aquaman has returned to Poseidonis in the middle of a funeral. The first time, it was his son's funeral.
I think Vulko gets a little out of character in this one, talking about Koryak and insisting on leaving. His jibe at Aquaman isn't exactly kind, either.
Aquaman is nearly insane with loneliness and fear when Dolphin comes back. I have to wonder how the ending would've been different had she not come back, and Mera had found a grief-stricken Arthur alone in the city.
CONCLUSION:
Was there any Aquaman fan in the world who wasn't drooling for the next issue after reading this one? Dolphin and Mera, together at last! Aquaman's problem in this story is Koryak, though, and the ripples from this event shape how the series is going even now.