DC Black Label may be the best idea DC Comics has had in about a decade. The adult-centric label not only allows creators to go a bit darker, but it makes it easier to tell non-continuity tales. This week’s Aquaman: Andromeda is a testament to that, as creators Ram V and Christian Ward aim to tell a new Aquaman story that’s equal parts dread, horror, and cosmic magic. And we mean that both literally and figuratively, as the new miniseries explores what would happen if an alien came to Earth and entered the ocean’s depths.
Something you’ll notice right off the bat with Aquaman Andromeda #1– check out the preview –is the thoughtful captions that sometimes read like poetry. They set the mood for a story that is contemplative and meaningful. These opening captions give us a sense that the ocean is not to be trifled with, and that they have powers beyond our understanding to shape and mold the world.
Juxtaposed with these opening pages are images that are shocking and unnerving. Ward pulls in on a child’s eye, which forms into something from outer space. Smash cut to the bottom of the ocean, and the series title, and we’re on our way for some extraordinary discovery.
From there, the narrative turns a bit more serious and feels truly reminiscent of James Cameron’s The Abyss. We meet a crew of people on a secret mission with some incredible technology. They believe they are on a mission of discovery, but like in many horror stories, they’re not at all aware of the darkness that lies ahead.
The opening page. Courtesy of DC Comics.
As the story unfolds, Ram V explores what it means to be Aquaman. Half-human and half Atlantean, there’s an interesting approach to his character witnessed in an especially powerful montage. He’s a wanderer and not quite part of either world. He himself is alien, something that’s aided by the gnarly costume design featuring barnacles and sea life built into his body. While this is a story that unfolds on its own terms and sucks you in, it does lack a lot of Aquaman. Likely he’ll be more of a factor next issue, but he is rather absent here and that has a significant enough impact.
This really isn’t a story about Aquaman, though, but rather about loss and the unnerving nature of the known and unknown. The visuals use Aquaman to create a sense of oddity for the hero, but also show the size and scope of the threat. Ward’s talents are impeccably used here, be it the neon color choices or the abstract style of art at times. In one key scene, a giant tentacled arm rises from the depths, and the way Ward draws the dripping water and mist surrounding it is awe-inducing. You can practically hear it bursting up before it strikes.
The book’s letters are by Aditya Bidikar, with word balloon tails lacking a sharp edge that give the dialogue a real sturdiness. The word balloons also lack a border, which creates a floating feel that perfectly suits the often abstract story and art.
Aquaman: Andromeda #1 is an absorbing first issue that’s at once haunting and intriguing. It walks a razor-thin line between the fear of an unnatural alien threat and our inability to control what is the unknown. The only knowable? This is a damn fine start.
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