Aquaman (3) #35
Title: Sight Unseen
Cover Title: Who Dares to Hunt Aquaman and Animal Man?
Cover Date: August 97
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Peter Palmiotti
Colors: Tom McCraw
Lettering: Albert DeGuzman
Asst. Editor: Dana Kurtin
Editor: Kevin Dooley
Cover: Jim Calafiore and Peter Palmiotti
Cover Price: $1.75
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
A little girl in a diving bell waits for her daddy to come and save her. While she waits, she tries feeble attempts to joke with the fish, as her air is running out and she needs a little humor. We quickly learn that this isn't any little girl, though, as she enters something called "the Red" to find help. We learn that her father is coming to help, but there's someone closer...
Poseidon taunts the now blinded Aquaman, who goes into a rage. Poseidon leaves, and Aquaman rants for a second, until he suddenly realizes he hears a motor... and we see Buddy, running from someone, or maybe to someone. He's targeted by his enemy, but escapes into the water. Aquaman goes to find help, and meets with Topo, who points out that he avoided some rocks without being able to see them. Just as he suddenly finds Buddy behind him, without seeing him.
They go to find Maxine, Buddy's daughter, but are interrupted by the enemy, Gamesman, who figures out Aquaman is blind and acts accordingly. The Gamesman fights Animal Man and Aquaman, and they defeat him.
Nemek, the whale, brings Maxine to the surface, and they revive her. Aquaman's sight gradually returns, and the Gamesman leaves.
COMMENTS:
Once again, Peter David is wrongly accused of not doing research. Yes, Animal Man looks like that now. Yes, he uses the Red now. He doesn't use his powers very imaginatively, but he's desperately worried about his daughter and very tired.
Aquaman goes into the Clear, from the Red. If we assume that Swampy's Green is of the same nature, then Aquaman has tapped into an elemental representation of the ocean.
The Vertigo joke is too much.
CONCLUSION:
A good story, one I liked through and through, even though I hardly know who Animal Man is.