Brightest Day
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Brightest Day
After the events of Blackest Night, Aquaman and Mera have to deal with his resurrection and her rage that led her to become a Red Lantern.
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Promotional Image
Symbolic image based on The Rock by Peter Blume
Brightest Day 0
Carpe Diem
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Pencils by Fernando Pasarin.
Shipped 14 Apr 2010, cover date June 2010.
Aquaman and Mera are at the lighthouse at Amnesty Bay, where Aquaman was buried before his resurrection as a Black Lantern. While Mera is ready to move on, Aquaman feels uneasiness and seems to be almost afraid of the water.
Later, Deadman sees a scene of Aquaman chained, with Mera free and holding the chain. And a White Lantern appears in Silver City, New Mexico.
Brightest Day 1
Second Chances
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Pat Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado.
Shipped 5 May 2010, cover date Early July 2010.
While Sinestro, Hal Jordan, and Carol Ferris investigate the White Lantern of Silver City, Aquaman and Mera attack a ship of pirates to free a group of children. Bullets literally bounce off them, causing slight flesh wounds, and Mera uses her water powers to take down pirates. Aquaman summons a giant squid, but it is a dead giant squid, and he cannot stop it once it attacks. When he summons a shark the same is true... it is dead and he cannot stop it from finishing its attack.
Elsewhere, a man hears of Aquaman's return and becomes murderous, killing everyone in the shop he works at before burning it down. He then enters the water and emerges as Black Manta.
Brightest Day 2
Nuclear Options
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Pat Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado.
Shipped 19 May 2010, cover date Late July 2010.
Although he appears on the cover, Aquaman only appears once in this issue leaping off a pier in Dubai with Mera and leaving a trail of dead fish in his wake.
Brightest Day 3
Revelations
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Pat Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado.
Shipped 2 Jun 2010, cover date Early August 2010.
Aquaman tests his powers, summoning a dead orca. Mera suggests going to Atlantis for help, which Aquaman angrily rejects. Aquaman suggests Mera's people, but Mera notes that her dimension is sealed off. But she appears uneasy about this claim.
Brightest Day 4
Thresholds
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Oclair Albert.
Shipped 16 Jun 2010, cover date Late August 2010.
Jackson is introduced in New Mexico, near the location of the White Lantern that cannot be moved.
In the Bermuda Triangle, a woman who looks like Mera attacks people on the ocean with a troop wielding hard-water weapons.
Brightest Day 5
Under Pressure
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Joe Prado.
Shipped 8 Jul 2010, cover date Early September 2010.
Near the Bermuda Triangle, Aquaman and Mera go to fix an oil leak at 5000 feet. Aquaman and Mera are discussing shutting down all offshore oil rigs when they are attacked. The attackers use water constructs like Mera's, and destroy the rig. Aquaman confronts them, and is attacked by Siren and Quana. Mera arrives and counter-attacks with shark constructs. She flees and forces Aquaman to go with her. Aquaman protests and asks if these are Atlanteans or if they arrived while he was dead. Mera says no, then reveals that she was sent to kill Aquaman (see Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #3).
Of note: Aquaman continues to leave dead fish in his wake as he travels the oceans.
Brightest Day 6
Dead Zone
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Pat Gleason, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 21 Jul 2010, cover date Late September 2010
Mera tells Aquaman that Xebel is not another dimension, but a sealed off penal colony of Atlantis located in the Bermuda Triangle. Mera was trained by her father to kill the King of Atlantis, but instead fell in love. And Black Manta had met people from Xebel before he met any Atlanteans. And Siren is Mera's younger sister.
Note: This alters Aquaman's reality from the Silver Age, as in the Silver Age Mera went back and forth many times before Xebel was sealed off, and Aquaman visited Mera's dimension as well. He was even honored in Mera's dimension. Also, Mera's twin is apparently gone, replaced by a younger sister.
Brightest Day 7
The Secret of Life
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 04 Aug 2010, cover date Early October 2010
In New Mexico near the White Lantern, Jackson and his girlfriend Maria witness Deadman, Hawk, and Dove arriving at the lantern. Something happens to the tattoo on Jackson's right arm when Deadman picks up the lantern.
Aquaman and Mera stand on an oil-soaked beach covered in dead fish as Mera waits for Aquaman's answer to her revelation. She urges him to go to Atlantis for protection against her sister. Aquaman is suddenly struck by the power of the White Lantern, which tells him to find Jackson "before they do" and cleans the water and restores the fishes to life.
Brightest Day 8
Defiance
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, and Ardian Syaf.
Shipped 18 Aug 2010, cover date Late October 2010
No Aquaman content in this issue at all, except for the "Next" box on the final page, which says, "NEXT: BLACK MANTA RETURNS".
Brightest Day 9
Lost & Found
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Patrick Gleason, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 01 Sep 2010, cover date Early November 2010
In the Atlantic, Aquaman and Mera discuss Aquaman's vision when Deadman and Dove appear in the ocean with them. Aquaman decides to go find the boy in the vision, and Mera says she knows who he is and why they must find him. In Silver City, New Mexico, Jackson Hyde sits in a rainstorm holding a ship in a bottle. He starts to transform in the rain, including webbed fingers on his hand. He is interrupted by his father, who tells him they must discuss the truth. In Amnesty Bay, Black Manta is attacked by Siren's troopers. The fight is interrupted by Siren, who calls Manta "David" and tells him they need to find his son.
Brightest Day 10
A Change Is Gonna Come
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 15 Sep 2010, cover date Late November 2010
Despite the cover, Jackson "Aqualad" Hyde and Deadman do not meet in this issue.
Aquaman recounts what Mera has told him, then goes alone to find Jackson, leaving Mera to get help against her sister. Near the Rio Grande in New Mexico, Jackson and his father arrive at the cottage where Jackson's parents lived when Jackson was brought to them by, apparently, Mera. Jackson's father attempts to give Jackson a sea chest that was left with him, but Black Manta arrives to disrupt the moment and steals the chest. Getting into their truck, Jackson and his father flee Manta, but Jackson's father forces the truck over a cliff into the river in order to activate Jackson's powers. Jackson saves his father and holds off Manta, but then Siren arrives. Manta attempts to kill Jackson's father, but Aquaman stops the harpoon. Aquaman and Manta square off, prepared for battle.
Jackson was unaware that he was adopted, and very unaware of his mysterious origin. Mera, or someone who looks like her, brought Jackson and the sea chest to Jackson's adoptive parents with the statement that his real parents were unfit to look after him.
Brightest Day 11
Father's Day
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Scott Clark, Patrick Gleason, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 06 Oct 2010, cover date Early December 2010
Aquaman and Black Manta do battle while Siren watches and looks for Mera. Jackson and his father flee at Aquaman's urging, and the trio end up hitching a ride with a terrified trucker driving by. In the meantime, the Black Lantern Firestorm raises an army of Black Lanterns, including Aquaman. Back in the truck, Aquaman uses Jackson's hand to open the sea chest and discovers a map.
Hey, Aquaman is front and center on both covers. Very nice.
Brightest Day 12
All This Useless Beauty
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Scott Clark, Patrick Gleason, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 20 Oct 2010, cover date Late December 2010
Aquaman's only appearance in this issue is as a figment of J'onn's memory.
Brightest Day 13
Under a Blood Red Sky
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 03 Nov 2010, cover date Early January 2011
No Aquaman content in this issue.
Brightest Day 14
Acrobats
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado.
Shipped 17 Nov 2010, cover date Late January 2011
Aquaman is mentioned and shown by the White Ring, but only briefly.
Brightest Day 15
Whatever Happened to the Manhunter From Mars?
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Scott Clark and Patrick Gleason.
Shipped 01 Dec 2010, cover date Early February 2011
Aquaman only appears as an alternate version that is part of the Martian Manhunter's delusion. The alternate version is killed before the end of the book. The final splash page also says, "Next: The Origin of Aqualad".
Brightest Day 16
Short Fuse
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 15 Dec 2010, cover date Late February 2011
Aquaman takes Jackson and his parents to the Aquacave. Leaving Jackson's parents there for safety, Jackson and Aquaman go to stop Mera's people from breaking free. Aquaman takes Jackson to a cave with another biolock, where a projection of Mera tells Jackson his own history and tells him his true name, Kaldur'ahm. Jackson resists going with Aquaman until Aquaman tells him about his own childhood (incidentally confirming that this Aquaman has the same origin as the Silver Age Aquaman).
Brightest Day 17
Homecoming
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 05 Jan 2011, cover date Early March 2011
Aquaman's only appearance is on the alternate cover.
Brightest Day 18
Easy Come Easy Go
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 19 Jan 2011, cover date Late March 2011
Mera goes to Lorena for help. Black Lantern Aquaman is back in play. And the next issue box says "Aquawar". Otherwise, not much on the Aqua-front.
Brightest Day 19
Aquawar: Part One
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, and Rob Hunter.
Shipped 02 Feb 2011, cover date Early April 2011
Jackson and Aquaman race along the ocean, followed by sharks. Jackson asks Aquaman when he'll forgive Mera. Aquaman says to focus on the task at hand, sealing Mera's people back in Xebel. But they are interrupted by Siren and her army, and begin to fight to save the surfacers on the Florida coast from the attack. Siren claims to have killed Mera, and Manta springs up to chop off Aquaman's right hand.
Brightest Day 20
Aquawar: Part Two
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado.
Shipped 16 Feb 2011, cover date Late April 2011
In the background of the action, the White Ring tells Boston Brand that it opened the gateway to Xebel so Aquaman could learn the truth about Mera and deal with it. In the fight, Jackson saves Aquaman from Manta but is nearly killed himself before Mera and Lorena arrive to join the fight. Aquaman has Jackson cauterize his wound, and the four go into battle. Mera uses her powers to pick up all the attackers and throw them back into the ocean, and Aquaman goes to finish the job with his army of zombie fish. When Jackson gets near the edge of the prison, he is able to close it, sealing Siren, Manta, and all the Xebel army back inside. Aquaman forgives Mera, and the White Ring makes him vanish.
Brightest Day 21
Mars Attacks
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Patrick Gleason, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 02 Mar 2011, cover date Early May 2011
Aquaman's hand, cut off by Manta, washes up on shore. Mera discusses Aquaman's disappearance with members of the JLA and Titans, while Jackson and Lorena watch on.
Brightest Day 22
The End and the Beginning
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Scott Clark, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado.
Shipped 16 Mar 2011, cover date Late May 2011
Black Lantern Aquaman is part of the attack on Firestorm.
Brightest Day 23
Rise and Fall
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Norm Rapmund, and Oclair Albert.
Shipped 06 Apr 2011, cover date Early Jun 2011
Aquaman returns as a water elemental to battle the big bad, Swamp Thing.
Brightest Day 24
Brightest Day
Written by Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi, Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Patrick Gleason, Scott Clark, Norm Rapmund, Vicente Cifuentes, Oclair Albert, Tom Nguyen, Mick Gray, Mark Irwin and David Beaty.
Shipped 27 Apr 2011, cover date Late Jun 2011
As a water elemental, Aquaman helps fight the bad Swamp Thing, then is returned to life when Alec Holland wins the battle.
Aquaman consults with Mera afterward, and she tells him Jackson is safe with his parents. Aquaman says he's already contacted the Titans about Jackson's training. Aquaman notices that one of the weapons left by the Xebel soldiers on the beach is of Atlantean make... and that ends Aquaman's part in the Brightest Day.
| Blackest Night | Brightest Day | Series | Stories | Flashpoint | ||||||||||
