Aquaman (3) #28
Title: Setting Sun
Cover Title: Vengeance
Cover Date: January 1997
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Peter Palmiotti
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Albert De Guzman
Asst. Editor: Eddie Berganza
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Jim Calafiore and Peter Palmiotti
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Aquaman asks the Martian Manhunter for help, and he reluctantly agrees, as long as he does not have to make a direct strike against Japan.
Demon Gate, meanwhile, is losing whatever support he had in the Japanese government.
Aquaman asks the J'onn to take him up to Poseidonis, past the cybernetic entities physical defenses, then past her telepathic defenses. While Aquaman distracts it, J'onn slips into it's mind and senses the centuries of loneliness and desire. While it is distracted by J'onn, Aquaman exerts his influence over it and makes it say that he has dominion over it. J'onn is disgusted by the violation, and though Aquaman is too, he is too intent on his revenge to pay attention to his emotions on the matter.
Deep Blue shows the Sea Devils a large prehistoric-like beast, dead on the ocean floor. She tells them that the sea life in the area say that it's only been dead a week...
Aquaman pilots Poseidonis over Tokyo and demands that Demon Gate be turned over to him. Dolphin sees something in his face that scares her, but dismisses it as imagination.
Tanaka turns over his brother, deactivating his electronics so he can't fight. Aquaman takes him to an island to stand trial. He declares Demon Gate guilty and sentences him to death, but Nemek and Dolphin and the rest of the sea life talk him out of it. Aquaman sentences him to live on the island without his weaponry, depending on the local sea life to feed him.
COMMENTS:
The Martian Manhunter asks a very good question of Arthur, "Are you out of your mind?" But he joins, while qualifying his help so that he doesn't reflect badly on the League. What he does end up doing disgusts him. He and Aquaman violate the cybernetic organism, and Aquaman brushes it off as just another thing he has to do to get what he wants. J'onn recognizes the extent of their crime, and perhaps realizes that Arthur will be paying for it.
While Aquaman terrorizes Japan, Dolphin sees something that completely terrorizes her in his face. Perhaps the ghost of Kordax?
Aquaman gets his man, but doesn't slaughter him right off like Tanaka would've done to him. He takes him to trial, and is convinced to spare him. Another bad guy that can someday return...
CONCLUSION:
This issue raised a fuss on the internet due to Aquaman's use of force to get the cybernetic entity to obey him. This is yet another symptom of Aquaman's loss of control and lack of morals. I don't like what he is becoming...