Aquaman #9 Review

Geoff Johns is one of those writers who not only thrives on elevating unpopular or troubled characters, but makes it looks so easy that you wonder why no one else managed it before. That process of rejuvenation is in full swing with Aquaman right now. The Others contains a number of elements that you'd never expect to find in an Aquaman comic. That's exactly why this story is succeeding so well.

Johns keeps the plot centered mainly on the present day this time, as Black Manta continues hounding the former members of Aquaman's little super-group. Manta has an extended battle with Prisoner of War, a character who makes for a much better Unknown Soldier revamp than the official one seen in G.I. Combat. It's a tense and dramatic showdown that sets the tone for the rest of the issue. Equally enthralling is Aquaman's battle in the jungle with the rest of his allies.

If the first half of the issue is predominately action-oriented, Johns shifts focus to character building and exploring Aquaman's formative years later on during the scenes between Mera and Dr. Shin. This all culminates in a surprising twist that forces readers to look at the Aquaman/Black Manta dynamic in a new light. Manta's prior motivations for opposing Aquaman have tended to be either ludicrous or nonexistent, so this development is a welcome wrinkle to the formula.

Ivan Reis nails the various action scenes and character interactions. While there's a slight inconsistency in style and quality due to Reis being inked by three separate artists, it's a slick and visually dynamic issue by any standard. Aquaman is really benefiting from having one of DC's best writers and one of its best artists in control. The series seems destined to only get better from here.



Source : http://www.ign.com