Review: Aquaman #14

by Matthew Lloyd
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[Editor’s note: This review may contain spoilers.]

Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Philippe Briones
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb

Summary
At the end of Aquaman #13 we saw the order given to assassinate Aquaman. This issue picks up with The Aquamarines en route to Atlantis to carry out that order. In Atlantis, Aquaman and his advisers are trying to make sense of the attack they’ve just stopped and what to do next since they were unable to get any proof of the existence and involvement of N.E.M.O. to give to the Americans.

It is not long before the Aquamarines arrive to assassinate Aquaman. Despite the fact that they have taken a serum to give them aquatic powers and appearance, Aquaman and his Atlantean comrades make fairly short work of them, but not without suffering losses. This spurs Aquaman to make an announcement to the people of Atlantis that he will step down as king if he is unable to bring peace between Atlantis and the surface world.

Aquaman has figured out that N.E.M.O. is using a variation on his own telepathic powers to communicate with their agents in the field. This allows him to track the location of N.E.M.O. headquarters. And, it culminates in a total bad ass moment for the King of the Seven Seas!

Positives
Both this run and the “New 52” run of Aquaman have made no bones about trying to overturn the public perception of Aquaman, both in story and metatextually. This issue once again does a great job of showing that Aquaman is a force of nature to be reckoned with and truly no joke. His appearance at N.E.M.O. headquarters is a scene that convinces the reader in no uncertain terms.

Mera, who’s been a absent has a fantastic moment as she appears just in time to save Aquaman from the Aquamarines and curtail anymore carnage.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Murk and Lt. Stubbs have a fairly humorous moment together as he attempts to console her as she comes to terms with the death of her father.

Negatives
Any negatives have been lost in the sea currents…..

Verdict
For Aquaman fans, Aquaman hasn’t been this good for this long since the Skeates and Aparo days. If you’re not an Aquaman fan, I can only ask: “Why not?” Become an Aquaman fan…you’ll be glad you did!

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