Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #44
Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #44
September 2006
$2.99
Released September 13th, 2006
"Masters"
By Kurt Busiek & Butch Guice
Letters: Todd Klein
Colors: Dan Brown
Busiek writes a pretty good fantasy title. When he first debuted on the title back in Aquaman #40, I wasn't too sure how well this new Aquaman would gel with the rest of the Aquaverse. Busiek has taken his time introducing the new Arthur to the previous' supporting cast, which has resulted in them gelling nicely. This new Aquaman feels like he belongs in this world. As for the old Aquaman, his story is the real highlight of the show.
Slowly but surely the Dweller in the Depths (the first Aquaman) is beginning to piece together that something isn't right. His "prophecies" aren't fitting with the new Arthur. Busiek is doing a nice job taking his time with the story (though I do wish it actually came out regularly). I also like how the old Aquaman is now a sorcerer, whereas before OYL he hated sorcery. The moments with Dweller piecing everything together is the cake while the new Aquaman's story is the icing.
Usually I'm not a fan of icing, but the icing here makes for a tasty treat. The new Aquaman isn't your typical hero, and it makes for a refreshing story. He's your typical hothead, only forced to live 90% of his life under water. One of my favorite moments had to be the moments with Arthur and Atsiul. Early on in the story Arthur is outraged by the idea of working together with the Aurati, but later on Arthur gets in an argument with Atsiul for feeling the same way.
The showdown with Aquaman having his first encounter with the Ocean Master was nicely done. I like the fact that Aquaman was surprised to discover that Ocean Master is the original Aquaman's brother, which means he may be the new Aquaman's uncle (I'm not entirely sure if they're a blood relation). The fight scene was nicely done, and it was refreshing to show the new guy not automatically winning. The moment when Ocean Master plunges his gauntleted fist into Aquaman's stomache was a "holy shit" moment. Of course Aquaman will be fine, but it was a moment that made for some nice drama.
Unfortunately the weakest aspect of Aquaman is 100% without a doubt, Guice's artwork. There are actually a few moments that actually look decent, which is much better than usual, but Guice's 22 year old Aquaman still looks like an old man. Mera, who is old enough to be his mother, looks younger than Aquaman does.
Grade: B
Aquaman, King Shark, and the Sea Devils watch from the shadows as the Aurati force Atlanteans to harvest minerals. The Sea Devels reveal that what they're mining is of no use to undersea civilizations; it's Dweller, who sneaks up on the heroes from behind, who realizes that the Aurati are apparently working with humans from the surface.
Aquaman is furious at Dweller for having abandoned him when they went to visit Mera. Dweller tries to apologize, but Aquaman isn't willing to accept. Aquaman's temper flares and one of the Sea Devils tries to get him to lower his voice. One of the Aurati overhears Aquaman's rampage, but King Shark manages to subdue him before he can contact anyone.
The Sea Devils begin to interrogate the Aurati, who reveals that surface dwellers forced his people into slavery. After a while they then orders the Aurati to do the same to the Atlanteans. As the Sea Devils bargain with the Aurati about convincing his people to help them turn on their masters, Aquaman discovers a necklace with a symbol he recognizes but can't place.
Aquaman then listens to the Sea Devil's conversation and is furious at the thought of working with the Aurati. Dweller and the Sea Devils convince Aquaman that the Aurati may be criminals, but they're not murderers, and they're victims of someone else at the moment. Aquaman agrees to work with the Aurati and orders it to lead them to Queen Mera.
As the heroes are swimming along, Dweller senses something dangerous approaching. The Aurati senses it too and orders the heroes to hide behind the rocks just before a lizardous beast with jaws like King Shark's swims by. The Aurati reveals that the Master calls her Daki, and he explains that Daki killed his brother's wife.
The heroes manage to take out a few Aurati guards before arriving at the place Queen Mera and her people are being held captive. Dweller casts a spell of decay on the cell wall to cause it to crumble. Mera calls out the name "Orin", but Aquaman (assuming she's talking to him) insists that it's just Arthur. Dweller casts a spell to fold time in a small way to give the heroes some extra time; as he does he begins to wonder if Mera is naming himself when she called Aquaman Arthur Joseph Curry.
Mera reveals that a mage is preventing her from using her abilities to control water. The heroes then reveal to Mera their plan to work with the Aurati. Atsiul is outraged by the idea, and Aquaman explains that he felt the same way at first but realized it's for the best. The two get into a shouting match that's silenced by Dweller, who takes charge in a royal fashion. Mera seems to recognize Dweeler's demeanor.
As the heroes prepare and the Aurati swims off to gather his people, Mera asks for a moment with alone with Dweller. She wonders why Dweller refused to see her back at her camp, and he admits he isn't sure why. Mera asks to look at Dweller's face and begins to pull back his cloak; Dweller pulls away and insists he remains cloaked, but not before Mera gets a partial glimpse of his face.
The heroes make their move and eventually discover that Daki's master is the Ocean Master. As King Shark and Daki begin to battle, Aquaman goes after Ocean Master. During their fight Ocean Master comments on how the original Aquaman was his brother, which startles the new Aquaman.
Dweller realizes that Mera must have never seen Ocean Master, or else she would have warned them who they were up against. Dweller then begins to wonder how exactly he knows what Mera would have done. Dweller remembers that in his visions Aquaman's brother was a criminal, and Aquaman married a woman from another world; he realizes that Mera is from another world, and Ocean Master is not Arthur's brother. He begins to wonder why he can't sense the other Aquaman others have talked about.
As Aquaman and Ocean Master have a sword fight Ocean Master reveals how a corporation approached him to make money off the destruction of Atlantis; Ocean Master originally considered killing them. He talks about how he likes living underwater because there are no policemen or laws, which means he can kill anyone in his way. Ocean Master then plunges his gauntleted fist, with razor sharp claws on it, straight into Aquaman's gut.
