Aquaman #46: Good art, somewhat rushed story, too bad it's PAD's last on the book. Mildly recommended. $1.95/$2.75Cn

"Head/Off" Award to Aquaman #46

Aquaman "Fish Tartarus": Pretty much as I expected (so sue me, I'm due the occasional gloat) Arthur ends up in the Greek afterlife after being killed by Triton. Why the dozens of sea creatures Triton also killed last issue didn't accompany him, I dunno. Anyway, that's not PAD's mess to clean up, since this is his last issue on this title. Among his reasons for leaving is that The Powers That Be at some level were dissatisfied with his long arcs and wanted him to write one and two-parters instead.

So it's not too surprising that this story wraps up rather abruptly, as Aquaman practically waltzes through the Underworld (maybe the powers there have less ability to affect him because he doesn't worship the Greek gods, but this isn't really explained). Okay, so he ends up battered and bloodied, but we don't *see* him have trouble, what we see is him swatting Charon aside, ripping off one of Cerberus's heads with ease and throwing it through the iron gates of Tartarus, etc. Then he arrives in the presence of Hades looking battle-worn. I suspect that if this arc hadn't lost two-thirds of its length, we'd have seen more of this struggle.

Mind you, if I didn't know the background behind the story, I wouldn't have found it quite so abrupt, and I suspect that unless entire subplots were cut it would have felt padded (no pun intended) at the greater length. Half an issue more would have done nicely, though, with the rest of that issue dealing with Atlan and fleshing out the scenes in Atlantis.

In the end, Arthur rescues Poseidon, ends up owing Hades a favor, and Triton is dispatched by his father, who leaves his trident behind. Poseidon has learned a lesson, but isn't exactly pals with Arthur.

Oh, and an "Aquaman Classic" shows up on the last page, but since I have no interest in seeing where Abnett and Lanning take this plot thread, I'll just sign off now.