Aquaman #1: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Me Tomorrow

Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum! Hot off last year’s Absolute Power, Aquaman’s back, and he’s got a whole set of new powers! Superstar writer Jeremy Adams (Flash, Green Lantern), and red hot artist John Timms (Superman, Batman Incorporated) are here to give us this exciting new era for the king of the seven seas! Can Mera train Arthur with his new hydrokinetic powers? What’s causing this brand new monsters made out of living water?

Jeremy Adams and John Timms are tasked to breathe new life into Aquaman as part of the All-In initiative, in his first ongoing since his last one ended in 2021. Right out the gate we see Arthur taking on some massive water monsters, saving some surface dwellers, and showing the world that he’s officially back. Arthur’s bored of the menial tasks that come with being the king. Its clear that he’d rather be out superheroing, and shirk off his responsibilities. It’s a common trope that we see with characters like Aquaman, Namor, Thor, or Black Panther,which the writers of these titles either aren’t comfortable writing about the intricacies of ruling a kingdom/nation, or not interested. You can find lots of examples, but all you need is the right writer.

One of the biggest changes to Aquaman and his world is his new powers, more specifically his hydrokinetic powers, powers that are similar to Mera’s. In the book it appears as if he’s training to learn them, and while I’m not sure why he has them, I’m willing to give them a chance, because Adams had a similar situation with his Green Lantern (which has been an absolute delight), and he’s continued to wow me with every new issue. The premise is right, and Arthur’s voice here isn’t overly somber, which is something we’ve dealt with for quite a few years. Mistaking depth with melancholy is a tactic that’s unfortunately been an ongoing problem since Watchmen burst onto the scene. We’ve luckily had some great runs since then that has given us light hearted takes on some of these older characters, but the medium as a whole has already ingratiated itself as the new norm.

John Timms art here is on full display here, and he’s really giving us some of his best work to date. His Arthur is both majestic and fun at the same time. The water monsters seen here are quite menacing, whether it’s with Aquaman out in the middle of the ocean, or attacking the shores of Daytona Beach, these creatures look like they can make some big waves, so to speak. John Timms is one of those newer artists could become the next superstar, and if his talent is nurtured, like big names Ivan Reis, Carlos Pacheco, or Pepe Larraz, who could become as big as they are when they find the right writer to collaborate with. Timms is one that you need to keep your eye on.