Aquaman (3) #24
Title: United We Fall
Cover Title: Surgical Strike!
Cover Date: September 1996
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Peter Palmiotti
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Albert De Guzman
Asst. Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Marty Egeland and Howard Shum
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
The Alien leader, Ahk-Orrd arrives at the White House and promises peace and prosperity for the Earth (Gee, where have we heard that before?). Aquaman explains the history of the Hunter/Gatherers to his crowd, while Ahk-Orrd presents a slightly different version to the President.
The HGs laid waste to Earth, then colonized it to undo the damage they did. They were then conquered by the Anunnake who tried to take all the worlds the HGs had colonized, but were fighting on too many fronts and so retreated. Before they left, they put several observation ships in orbit, which they replaced from time to time. One such ship sank Atlantis.
The Alien's version of the tale is that the HGs were not conquered, but gained the respect of the Anunnake and formed a treaty.
Aquaman says the HGs have come to accept their status as prized slaves and warriors, and now are helping the Anunnake retake the colony worlds.
The HGs attack Aquaman and Co, who fight back as predicted.
Ahk-Orrd walks around the Capital, performing miracles.
Atlan uses a portal to project Aquaman to all the battles and cities at once, so he can direct the fighting. He warns the cities of the attack, and warns Tritonis not to get involved.
Nickey, a Sea Devil, wants to know what Deep Blue's powers are. She can increase sea life to gigantic size for a limited time, then control it.
Tiamat appears in Strom's office, and takes care of him.
The battle continues.
Tiamat appears to Kordax and, showing him the severed head of Admiral Strom, tells him to take care of Aquaman, NOW.
Orin takes Poseidonis to Washington DC, then uses one of Atlan's portals to get into the White House. Ahk-Orrd is waiting for him, to talk with him.
Ahk-Orrd tells Aquaman that with his co-operation, Earth can enter a Golden Age, with Aquaman as a leader. Without his co-operation, the Aliens will leave, making it clear to the world that it was Aquaman who deprived them of Utopia...
COMMENTS:
Nickey is clearly taken with Deep Blue. So she has a giant clam eat him. Nice gal.
The mix of Aquaman's telling and Ahk-Orrd's telling makes for a good point-of-view study.
Strom didn't do a good job and so got punished. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Iquila and S'ona are with Spought in Basilia. They have their work cut out for them. First they have to find the survivors of the Poseidonian massacre, then they have to rebuild their city.
Aquaman is surprised that the Justice League and other land-based heroes aren't fighting the alien invasion. This is why he goes into the White House. Ahk-Orrd puts Aquaman in a bad situation, between the rocks and the crushing waves. And that's a pretty good cliff-hanger.
CONCLUSION:
We finally get an explanation for the plot that started way back in issue #1. The loose ends are slowly being tied, and the plot is finally coming to a close.