Comic Review: Aquaman (2016-) #43

Aquaman (2016-) #43

DC Comics

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick

Artist: Robson Rocha

Aquaman #43 marks the first issue of Kelly Sue DeConnick and Robson Rocha’s run on the book. It’s unfortunate for them that they must follow-up Abnett’s run, AKA the best Aquaman run to date. That doesn’t mean they’re incapable, but they certainly have their work cut out for them. I had next to no expectations going into this, as I’m almost entirely unfamiliar both the writer and artist. I’ve seen a bit of their stuff here and there but nothing that caused me to dread it or be excited about it. After reading, I can’t say my feelings are much more concrete, as the book is a bit of a mixed bag.

This issue immediately stands out from the previous run by doing away entirely with Atlantis and the world of Aquaman we’re familiar with. While Abnett focused on Atlantean politics and developing Arthur’s side cast, DeConnick has put all that on hold, instead zeroing in on Arthur himself. He’s suffering from amnesia, now going by Andy/Arausio and washed up on a mysterious Oceanside town. I can’t say I’m particularly interested in this amnesia plot, as it’s just not something I tend to respond to. That said, I’m willing to ride it out for now and see if DeConnick can do something intriguing with it. In addition to the questionable amnesia plot, the narration is a bit dry. I found myself having to re-read some of the caption boxes due to the dull manner they’re presented in. The actual dialogue, on the other hand, has personality and reads naturally.

We’re introduced to a few new characters, the most relevant of which goes by the name of Caille. She’s intriguing enough so far, due to a well-defined personality and a backstory that has potential. She seems young based on her dialogue, but there’s nothing explicitly stating it, and Rocha draws her to look around Arthur’s age. I bring this up because I fear this is going to turn into a romantic subplot for Arthur, and I just don’t want to deal with the love triangle when Mera inevitably shows up. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt for now, but I’m skeptical.

When Rocha was first announced as the artist, I scratched my head a bit. He seemed like an uninspired choice considering we’ve had the likes of Stepjan Sejic and Ricardo Federici on the book previously. While he may not reach the heights of those two, he actually impressed me quite a bit. His style is more distinct than what I remember from Green Lanterns. His pencils lend a fair amount of life to the village and its residents. There are some pages that are actually quite beautiful, including the Pretty Deadly-esque opening. The backgrounds are full of detail and vivid colors, while the small bit of action that we get is very clear and well-paced.

Aquaman #43 is a solid start to a new run. It’s not without its problems, but the book still holds my interest due to the total swerve in the opposite direction it takes from Abnett’s. It’s got some surprisingly great art and a promising set of new characters. If DeConnick manages to subvert some of the tired tropes I’m expecting to crop up, I can see a very fun and different Aquaman book coming out of this. Admittedly though, I’m going to miss the Atlantean politics.