Comic Review: Aquaman #39

Aquaman #39

DC Comics

Writers: Dan Abnett and Rob Williams

Artist: Joe Bennett

Dan Abnett is leaving Aquaman and Rob Williams is leaving Suicide Squad. Personally, I think these are two of the most consistent quality Rebirth titles. I’ve been with both since the beginning, and I’ll stick with them with the new creative teams. But, I think this is a pretty good event to end their runs on.

Due to the events of DC’s Dark Knights: Metal, Atlantis has risen to the surface of the ocean. Mera becoming Queen of Atlantis and has to deal with rising tensions from the rest of the world. A high ranking officer in the US military has Amanda Waller send in Task Force X, the Suicide Squad. In Suicide Squad #45, after the Squad is sent in, Deadshot discovers that they’re planting a nuclear bomb in Atlantis.

This issue starts with the newly crowned Mera scheduling meetings to ease the tension between Atlantis and the surface world. Arthur Curry, Aquaman is avoiding Mera, not wanting the queen to be seen with him. The Suicide Squad get in a fight with their Atlantean contact and draw the attention of Aquaman. Most of the Squad escapes, and Mera tells Aquaman to create his own black ops team and bring them in.

I am very much enjoying this so far. We’re only two issues deep, but it’s a very fun idea, and the characters involved really make it work. There are two new members on the Suicide Squad, Lord Satanis, and Master Jailer. I don’t dislike Captain Boomerang, but it’s refreshing to see new faces. If they live is a separate matter. After all, they’ve been through, I’m glad Mera discovers Arthur doing things behind her back so quickly. It’s something that has the potential to drag out for too long and cause unnecessary filler.  

I say the characters make the story work because I think it’s playing out a little formulaically. X thing happens, leading to X reaction/consequences. It’s just a little predictable. I don’t think I could say with certainty how this story will end. Obviously, either Atlantis will sink, or stay on the surface. It’s just easy to see what’s going to happen in the next couple of pages.

The art is pretty good. Joe Bennett does a good job capturing the details in most places. Aquaman’s armor and Killer Croc’s scales are really detailed and well done. My favorite is a spread of fighter jets flying over Atlantis. The colors, by Adriano Lucas, really ties it all together well. On a few pages, Aquaman looks like a 90s grunge band singer. He also has a five-head in some panels. It’s not a big deal, just a super minor nitpick.

My small complaints aside, this is a good issue. It may be a little predictable, but the characters involved are what makes it interesting. The art is pretty good, I don’t think it’s the best this series has had, but it’s nowhere near bad. I’m a little bummed that Dan Abnett is leaving the series, but this is a good story to end on.