Blackest Night

Blackest Night

After years of build-up, the Blackest Night finally arrived and Aquaman ended up being right in the middle of it.

Blackest Night 0

Death Becomes Us

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 1 May 2009, for FCBD, cover date June 2009.

Aquaman's death is mentioned, and his burial place is emphasized, being the lighthouse where he lived with his father, Thomas Curry. His gravestone is next to his father's. The appearance of the name Thomas Curry indicates that Aquaman's Silver Age origin is back in effect.

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Green Lantern 43

Blackest Night Prologue: Tale of the Black Lantern

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Doug Mahnke.

Shipped 8 Jul 2009, cover date Early September 2009.

During a recitation of the dead, Aquaman is mentioned while Garth and Tula are seen in a single panel showing Tula's death.

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Titans 15

Through Thine Eyes

Written by J.T. Krul, Art by Jose Luis and J.P. Mayer

Shipped 15 Jul 2009, cover date September 2009.

Tempest buries Dolphin and Cerdian after finding them in the rubble of Atlantis. His friend Letifos offers help, which he declines. At the gravesite he is confronted by his uncle Slizzath, a necromancer, who gets Tempest to attack and overloads with Tempest's power. Slizzath says he wants to die because the dead will soon be rising, and he wants to be on the winning side. Slizzath is killed and Tempest is knocked unconscious. Atlanteans who witnessed the fight take Tempest back to the Royal Palace. Tempest finds Aquaman's scalemail shirt on the throne, left by Joseph, as the Atlanteans and Letifos subtly suggest that because Mera is not present someone else should take the throne.

Tempest goes to visit Batman, who is currently his old fellow Titan Dick Grayson, to discuss the situation. After a short discussion, Tempest chooses to rule Atlantis.

Atlan is mentioned as Tempest's mentor, but the Idyllists are not brought up. It is unclear from this issue how much Aqualad's origin and backstory may have changed in the reboot.

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Blackest Night 1

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 15 Jul 2009, cover date September 2009.

Mera and Tempest discuss the location of Aquaman's grave, currently on land at Amnesty Bay, which Mera indicates is the place where he grew up. Tempest believes Aquaman should be buried in Atlantis among his subjects, and next to his son.

Blackest Night #1 Preview

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Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps 3

Blackest Night #0 Director's Commentary

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 29 Jul 2009, cover date September 2009.

The Blackest Night #0 Director's Commentary is at the end of this book, and has the page of Aquaman's grave with the comment, "The idea that Aquaman -- King of the Seas, is buried on land is played out through Blackest Night."

Blackest Night 2

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 12 Aug 2009, cover date October 2009.

Mera agrees to allow Tempest to take Aquaman's remains to Atlantis. But when they reach the grave, it is empty. The group is confronted with Black Lantern Aquaman, who kills an Atlantean soldier and takes his heart. He taunts Tempest about being King of Atlantis now, then taunts Mera about his fling with Dolphin. At that, Dolphin and Tula appear as Black Lanterns and attack Tempest. The remaining Atlantean soldiers decide to attack, and are killed by dead sea life summoned by Black Lantern Aquaman. Tempest freezes Black Lantern Dolphin's head, and Mera shatters it, but the head grows back. Black Lantern Tula kills Tempest, who then becomes a Black Lantern. Alone against four Black Lanterns, Mera wisely flees.

Blackest Night #2 Preview

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Blackest Night: Titans 1

When Death Comes Knocking

Written by J.T. Krul, Pencils by Ed Benes.

Shipped 26 Aug 2009, cover date October 2009.

The Titan's Memorial is seen with a statue of Tula. No other Aqua-related content in this issue.

Blackest Night: Titans #1 Preview

Blackest Night 3

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 16 Sep 2009, cover date November 2009.

Mera goes to the Justice League headquarters in Washington DC and triggers the emergency signal using Aquaman's code. Firestorm answers the call, and Mera explains that the Black Lanterns feed on emotion, so they need to have no emotions at all. The Flash, Atom, and Green Lantern arrive along with some Indigo Lanterns. Indigo-1 does an info dump, and when Mera points out that the Black Lantern knew everything Aquaman knew, Atom suggests that the Black Rings are wearing the dead, not being worn by them. As they talk, the group are attacked by a group of Black Lanterns.

Blackest Night #3 Preview

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Blackest Night: Titans 2

Bite The Hand That Feeds

Written by J.T. Krul, Pencils by Ed Benes.

Shipped 30 Sep 2009, cover date November 2009.

On the final splash page, the Black Lantern Tempest, Dolphin, and Tula attack the Titans.

Blackest Night: Titans #2 Preview

Blackest Night 4

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 28 Oct 2009, cover date December 2009.

Left behind, the team of Mera, the Atom, and the Flash are attacked by Black Lanterns including Aquaman. The Atom takes the Flash and Mera through a phone line to escape. The Flash sends Mera and the Atom to find Alan Scott while he alerts everyone to the situation. They find Alan with the Justice Society, and start fighting Black Lanterns again.

Blackest Night #4 Preview

Blackest Night: Titans 3

When Doves Cry

Written by J.T. Krul, Pencils by Ed Benes.

Shipped 28 Oct 2009, cover date December 2009.

Black Lantern Tempest, Dolphin, and Tula attack the Titans. BL Tempest taunts Victor about deaths in the Titans. BL Dolphin and Tula are apparently severed from their rings by Dove, but Tempest flees.

Blackest Night: Titans #3 Preview

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Blackest Night 5

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 25 Nov 2009, cover date January 2010.

Mera attacks Black Lantern Jean to protect the Atom. BL Jean then forces Mera and the Atom into a Black Lantern ring.

Blackest Night #5 Preview

Justice League of America 39

Reunion Part One

Written by James Robinson, Pencils by Mark Bagley.

Shipped 25 Nov 2009, cover date January 2010.

In a flashback of Vibe's life, Aquaman is mentioned repeatedly as a hero who came back. He is also a statue in the Hall of Justice.

Teen Titans 77

A Family Affair

Written by J.T. Krul, Pencils by Joe Bennett.

Shipped 25 Nov 2009, cover date January 2010.

Black Lantern Tempest and Tula appear on the cover, but are not otherwise in the book.

Teen Titans #77 Preview

Justice League of America 40

Reunion Part Two

Written by James Robinson, Pencils by Mark Bagley.

Shipped 16 Dec 2009, cover date February 2010.

Aquaman appears in another flashback, and the Aquaman statue in Hall of Justice is destroyed in the Justice League's fight against the Black Lanterns.

Green Lantern 49

Semper Fi

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ed Benes.

Shipped 23 Dec 2009, cover date February 2010

Mera and the Atom are trapped in the Black Ring matrix with Black Lantern Jean. After Jean taunts Mera, she says she will rip Jean's tongue out. Jean claims she is putting LIFE on trial, and explains the goals of the Black Lanterns to the pair. Deadman approaches them, unseen.

Blackest Night 6

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 30 Dec 2009, cover date February 2010

Mera tears apart Black Lantern Jean (ripping her tongue out) after Deadman possess Jean to warn them that every single Black Lantern is headed to Earth. The Atom and Mera leap from the ring of Wonder Woman. Mera immediately starts to battle Black Lantern Wonder Woman. Their fight is interrupted when Mera receives a Red Lantern ring and Wonder Woman receives a Violet Ring and becomes a Star Sapphire.

Blackest Night #6 Preview

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman 2

Written by Greg Rucka, Pencils by Nicola Scott & Eduardo Pansica.

Shipped 6 Jan 2010, cover date March 2010.

Black Lantern Wonder Woman battles Mera. Mera says she is a Queen and will not bow to a Princess, and the Black Lantern that controls Wonder Woman taunts Mera as Wonder Woman, trapped inside her own body, tries to stop the battle. Eventually, although Mera fights back and succeeds in spearing Wonder Woman through with her trident, Black Lantern Wonder Woman gains the upper hand because she cannot die and pins Mera to a pier. Before she can kill Mera, Mera spits in her face and Wonder Woman leaves, battling herself internally.

It is not certain whether the fight is simply an extended version of the battle in Blackest Night #6, or more of a metaphorical internal battle. After Wonder Woman leaves Mera alive and pinned, she goes on to battle Cassie, Donna, her own mother, and Bruce as Batman, before being given the Violet Ring and becoming a Star Sapphire. In any case, at the end of this fight Mera is not shown getting her Red Ring as seen in Blackest Night #6.

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2 Preview

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Green Lantern 50

Parallax Rebirth

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Doug Mahnke.

Shipped 27 Jan 2010, cover date March 2010

While fighting as a Red Lantern, Mera is confronted by Black Lantern Aquaman and her dead baby son, also a Black Lantern. Mera says that she never wanted children as she attacks them both. Atrocitus and Mera attack Black Lantern Spectre, claiming the Wrath of God as their own, with Atrocitus promising Mera they will tackle her king next.

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman 3

Written by Greg Rucka, Pencils by Nicola Scott.

Shipped 3 Feb 2010, cover date April 2010.

Red Lantern Mera attacks Star Sapphire Wonder Woman in a fit of rage (only understandable after what Black Lantern Wonder Woman did to her) and Wonder Woman attempts to calm her down. The Violet Ring shows Diana that Mera is suffering from "rage fed by inconceivable pain, hidden behind years of lies." Using her lasso, Diana connects with Mera at a deep level and discovers some secret that not even Arthur knew. A secret that makes Mera hate herself. Wonder Woman suggests that Mera tell the truth to Arthur, if they all survive. For the revelation of what the secret is, see Brightest Day #5.

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Green Lantern 51

Parallax Rebirth Part Two

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Doug Mahnke.

Shipped 17 Feb 2010, cover date April 2010.

Mera attacks the Black Lantern Garth, trying to find out where Aquaman is. The Atom uses his Indigo Ring to sever Garth's connection and send him to rest. In the final splash page, Black Lantern Aquaman shows up with Nekron and the other Black Lanterns to destroy the universe.

Blackest Night 7

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 24 Feb 2010, cover date April 2010.

All the lanterns together battle Nekron, but the Orange Lantern Lex Luthor is overcome by the greed of his ring and attempts to take the others' rings. Indigo-1 and the Atom protect Mera from Luthor, as her heart was stopped by her ring and removing it will kill her.

Blackest Night #7 Preview

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Green Lantern 52

Life Blood

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Doug Mahnke.

Shipped 24 Mar 2010, cover date May 2010.

Red Lantern Mera appears briefly in a panel with the other spectrum lanterns fighting by her side.

Blackest Night 8

Written by Geoff Johns, Pencils by Ivan Reis.

Shipped 31 Mar 2010, cover date May 2010.

Red Lantern Mera attacks Black Lantern Dolphin, calling her a tramp, and then joins the rest of the spectrum in attacking the grouped Black Lanterns (which include Black Lantern Aquaman). When the battle is won and the White Lantern picks Aquaman to return, Mera loses her rage, and the red ring leaves her, causing cardiac arrest because the ring had stopped her heart. Star Sapphire uses Aquaman's love to bring her back. The story continues in Brightest Day.

Blackest Night #8 Preview

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