Aquaman Rebirth # 1 has quite an uphill battle for itself. Not only does it have to orient fans with the Rebirth line, but it also has to introduce new readers with the character. This is easier said than done, because Aquaman has continually been misunderstood. Thanks to the classic Superfriends, Aquaman has had the unfortunate stigma of being a bit of a loser superhero who talks to fish. Hopefully, Jason Mamoa and James Wan will help break that misconception with the upcoming film, but until then the comics have to encourage readers to look at Arthur Curry in a new light.
Thankfully, writer Dan Abnett managed to create a great first issue that not only shows how awesome Aquaman is, but also gives great insight on the character’s internal struggles.
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The issue focuses on Aquaman fighting a group of Atlantean terrorists who are planning to attack Boston. The terrorists, known as The Deluge, are the most vocal about their disdain for Aquaman as the king of Atlantis. Most Atlanteans aren’t happy that their king was born on the surface and has a human father. While the surface world only views Aquaman as a joke, and don’t take him seriously. However, Arthur Curry endures to protect both of his people, and to try and unite them.
He entrusts his lover Mera to help open relations between the surface and Atlantis. Even though she’s a little reluctant she does her best to help Aquaman try to unite both of the worlds he loves so much. It’s a unique concept that feels intriguing and has a lot of potential for story opportunities. There’s a lot of great ideas for this series to have, and it’s going to be fun to see where it goes.
But, what this series does best is that it establishes the character of Arthur Curry in a unique and accessible way. The Rebirth specials seem to be a way for readers to orient themselves with the basics of the characters in order to understand them and their upcoming series better. All this book does is give a window into who Aquaman is, and he essentially a character who can take it. He’s hated and mocked by both of his worlds, but he always lets roll of his shoulders and keeps on fighting the good fight for the benefit of both his worlds.
The comic has great artwork by Oscar Jimenez, a unique concept, and at only $2.99, this book gives new fans a great look into the misunderstood Aquaman. Hopefully we see a lot more great work from this comic in the future. It’s definitely worth picking up.
