Aquaman #3 // Review
According to Arion, the gods are thieves and they steal powers that rightly belong to the universe. He has a point. Arthur Curry is trying to understand him, but he’s got rather a lot to distract him from deeper philosoophical issues in Aquaman #3. Writer Jeremy Adams continues a new adventure for one of the most established superheroes in comics. The story is brough to page and panel by artist John Timms and colorist Rex Lokus. It’s a big, epic adventure conflict in the mold of so many others that have come to the page over the years. It’s fun stuff.
Arion has a very comprehensive understanding of the very, very early history of the DC Universe. He’s trying to get Aquaman to understand it and appreciate it. Or maybe he just wants to be able to express it to someone who might understand on some level. In any case abstract matters of history are somewhere in the background for a man who is so seriously in such a compromised position as to be hanging out with an ancient Atlantean magic user. And Arthur needs to go outside. His mortal body wouldn’t be able to handle all of the magical energies that they’re going to be using inside. All he can do is stand amidst the snowflakes at night and contemplate the darkness.
Of course...all of this makes it sound quite a bit more contemplative than it actally is. Arthur is getting the opportunity to explore some rather interesting moments that are both quiet, philosophical, emotional AND aggressive. When the acton finally hits the page, it becomes pretty powerful on a whole bunch of different visual levels that engage the page with poise and potency. Arthur has the tendency to come across like some of an existential hero. Not really in charge of his own destiny. And someone who is caught up in powers beyond his ability to comprehend. And so it's kind of fun getting into that as an existentialist superhero who was just trying to get along even though he's essentially a king. Powerful stuff.
Timms walk the final line between making Arthur look heroic and making him look totally vulnerable. This is a very very difficult balance to manage. But he does a really good job of making it work. It's actually pretty impressive to see the beauty of the world around him, and to see him suffering in and admits it all. The fact that the issue begins and ends with the flashback from, his life as a boy at the lighthouse actually does a good job to help amplify this whole sense of vulnerability. Very interesting stuff to see play out. And the color is just remarkably fresh and vivid. Loken does a remarkable job.
It can be remarkably difficult for a character as established as Aquaman to come across as anything other than old. And repetitious. The stories can feel like they're constantly tackling each other. The current series is managing something that feels distinctly new without betraying where the characters been before in the past. This is quite an accomplishment. It should be interesting to see where they're going from here.
