Aquaman Annual #1: Very good story, but it has a characterization "shudder" near the end. Art variable from okay to great. Recommended. $3.50/etc.
"Buh?" Award to Aquaman's change of attitude between chapters 3 and 4 of his first Annual.
Aquaman: The justification for this particular look back is that a batch of undersea thieves have found the Aquacave and intend to loot it of all the treasures Arthur must have stashed. The leader finds Arthur's diary and starts to read.
The story has four chapters, each outlining an important point in Arthur's life between Time and Time and now. The first has him meeting Diana for the first time and defending her from Triton's lascivious advances. He manages, with the help of the whale Triton rode (this sets up a later scene). It ends with a sort of "Han Solo" scene. Read it to find out what I mean by that. }->
Second chapter outlines how Arthur and Mera's relationship went from professional to romantic...with a little help from Eros and his brother Eryx. I'm not sure if this godly intervention was in the old canon, but it does serveto overcome the real neurotically tight attitude Arthur has been saddled with in the new timeline. At the end, Eros and Eryx tell their relatives (including Triton, who it pisses off no end) setting up the crossover with the Superman Annual.
Third chapter is basically the same story as we saw in one of Superman's many Annuals, but from Arthur's POV. Arthur believes in and fears the gods in this chapter, as well he should.
Unfortunately, this makes his cynicism in the final chapter much more jarring. The only explanation for the change in attitude is "the fact that I still exist would indicate that the 'gods' definitely...don't?" Given his many early meetings with gods (like Nuliajuk and Triton) this cynicism is very incongruous. It's not well set up. Anyway, while Mera's undergoing a very hard childbirth, Arthur is paid a visit by Poseidon (rendered beautifully by Jiminez, BTW) dressed up as Sandman with a hat. Poseidon has decided to punish Arthur for his arrogance by giving him the power, albeit briefly, to hear the prayers of his 'worshippers.' The whale from chapter one (who has changed from a Sperm whale to a Right or some other baleen type...editor!) is being hunted by whalers nearby. Arthur has a choice. Save the whale, or keep his promise to be nearby Mera. Arthur stays, the whale dies. And Poseidon lightning bolts the whalers so that their ship will drag the corpse down to where Arthur can see it....
At the end of the framing sequence, there's a very strong implication that Arthur seriously hurts/kills the intruders.