Aquaman (3) #22
Title: Reunions
Cover Title: First Line of Defense!
Cover Date: July 1996
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Marty Egeland
Inks: Howard Shum
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Dan Nakrosis
Asst. Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Brian Stelfreeze
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman, Dolphin, and Garth find the floating city of Basilia. It was empty when they arrived, but soon after occupied by the aliens. While Aquaman found and freed the city's former guardian, Spought, Garth and Dolphin get lost and try to avoid the aliens.
Aquaman learns that Spought was left to guard the city by the Hunters, but now feels more for the people of the Earth and doesn't want to hurt them. Aliens find them and attack, but a spell protects them. And Atlan, owner of the spell, pops in.
Garth recognizes that Atlan has arrived, and suggests to Dolphin that they find the nerve center of the city.
Aquaman punches Atlan, hard. Then they get down to business. Atlan lets Aquaman know that Kordax is controlling the people of Poseidonis, in Trotonis.
And, speaking of Kordax, he leads the Poseidonians into Tritonis and tells them to destroy the city.
Atlan, Spought, and Aquaman dress up as alien guards and go to the nerve center of the city, where the person who had been torturing Spought is waiting for them. They fight, and Spought turns the city upside-down to get rid of most of the Hunters. Garth saves Dolphin and Spought sets course for Tritonis.
Aquaman and Atlan finally have a heart-to-heart.
And the Aliens have gotten to the White House, and are discussing their agenda with the President.
COMMENTS:
I really don't like the cover to this one. Almost as bad as the cover to issue #6.
Aquaman really knows how to make an entrance. He grabs the electric whip being used to torture the Guardian Spought, and tells the torturer to go home. Nice.
A good portion of this issue is various people sneaking around the city.
I kind of expected Aquaman to hit Atlan when they first met. It was gratifying to be right.
Kordax is pretty nasty, and the Poseidonians are certainly not themselves when they actually obey him. I can't help but feel sorry for the Trintonians.
Getting rid of the Hunters by turning the city upside-down is really cheesy. What about the ones that were inside at the time?
Atlan tells Arthur to shave. Heh.
The letter col says Dolphin will be around longer than issue #25. Whew. The Next Issue box had me drooling: Arion, Power Girl, The Sea Devils, Tsunami, Neptune Perkins, and the best news yet: Aquaman vs Kordax. Heaven!
CONCLUSION:
I like this one for the character moments. Unfortunately, that's all it's got to recommend it.