Aquaman (3) #39
Title: Bad Relations
Cover Title: none
Cover Date: December 1997
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 Mark McKenna
Cover Price: $1.95
Continuity: IN
OVERVIEW:
Senator Neptune Perkins sees Tsunami passing the ship to Poseidonis that he's on, and dives into the water after her.
Aquaman, meanwhile, has his hands full with the injured Deep Blue. And the insane Rhombus is still a threat. He first blinds Rhombus by getting some octopi to squirt ink around him, then sends Deep Blue to Poseidonis with some dolphins. Then he attacks.
Back in Poseidonis, Koryak sees Deep Blue being brought into the city and swears to kill whoever is responsible for her injuries.
Rhombus and Aquaman fight, damaging an aircraft carrier in the process. Rhombus has a flashback, and realizes that Aquaman is related to the wizard who imprisoned him and sent him out into space.
Vulko goes to Dardan, the Shalakite (a religious leader), and discusses the problem of Aquaman. He doesn't realize that Dolphin is listening in.
Tsunami and Neptune arrive and help battle Rhombus. As Rhombus is raging about killing all of them, Koryak finishes him off.
COMMENTS:
This month was "Faces of the DCU" month. Every cover of every mainstream DC book had a large portrait of the face of the main character. I quite like Aquaman's. I choose this issue's cover to be the November 1997 Cover of the Month.
Koryak is becoming a killer. He didn't realize that Rhombus was an animated energy being, he just killed him. Aquaman has killed in war before, but this was something different, and he doesn't appear to approve.
Deep Blue will recover, but Tsunami has cast some doubt on Deep Blue's true parentage...
Vulko is slipping deeper into the realms of traitor. I don't like it. Vulko is a great character, and I hope he'll get a chance to redeem himself.
What was the aircraft carrier doing so close to Poseidonis? You'd think Aquaman would have warned them off, unless they were headed to the city to get some R&R.
CONCLUSION:
A bit of a letdown after last issue's set-up. I hope next issue is more interesting.