Since the opening of this new DC All-In Aquaman series, Jeremy Adams has masterfully set up a whole slew of questions for readers to keep in mind. When does Aquaman become a “god killer” and what does it mean? Why did Dagon steal not only Atlantis but Aquaman’s family and friends, whisking them away to the mystical water realm known as The Blue? What did Dagon do to Mera? I’m happy to report that Adams begins to answer these questions in this new issue.
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Last issue, we got the revelation that Zan of the Wonder Twins was in the mysterious water vessel. Adams wastes no time in adding him to the crew. This issue opens with the band of adventurers attacking Dagon’s forces, trying to piss him off. Although this title has never been short on great action, Zan adds some levity and charm that was missing before. I’m interested to see how long he stays in this title.
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After their attack, the crew all head back to the Nautilus to talk about their next steps. They then jump straight to talking about “when” they get to Aquaman’s people. This took me for a bit of a tailspin as I tried to remember how they even knew the location. Did Adams mess up and hit fast forward on the plot? I then went back and found in issue #5 where Nemo mentions having seen a woman with red hair deep in some dangerous depths.
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Once there, Aquaman rushes over to Mera only to discover that who he thought was his wife from afar is actually his daughter, Andrina. Grey-haired Garth and Jackson appear to greet Aquaman and the realization sets in of just how much time has passed since they were all taken. Before Aquaman goes to his wife, he gets some attitude from Andrina and I can’t blame her. He’s been touted as this hero her whole life but all she’s ever known is his failure to protect and save his people.
As Aquaman and Andrina make their way to see Mera, it’s startling to see just how much she’s aged – how much Dagon has stolen from them all. Mera dies and her last words are begging Aquaman to take their daughter home, to not fight Dagon since he is a god. Unfortunately, Dagon has arrived just as all of this unfolds and a rightfully pissed off Aquaman and daughter stand ready to fight him next issue.
Although I think it’s interesting to saddle Aquaman with a daughter who has a chip on her shoulder, I’m unsure how I feel about the death of Mera. Of course, she could always come back (it’s comics after all) but I wonder if this would count as fridging her. Could all of this be undone once Dagon is defeated? Will Garth, Jackson, and Andrina revert to their previous ages? These questions both excite me and leave me with an odd feeling since Mera has been Aquaman’s rock for so long.
Art this issue was handled once more by Michael Shelfer. Similar yet different to the styles that have come before, Shelfer has been proven to be adept at taking this world under his own pen and provides not only some slick action but some great emotional work in the characters’ faces. The only gripe I have may be related to the pacing, but there’s a part towards the end where Dagon is kind of unfurling with all these tendrils/teeth that I wanted to see more of. I’m sure we’ll get it at the battle next issue. I wouldn’t mind Shelfer becoming the series’ regular artist.
Adams provides answers to reader questions exactly when needed to hook them once more. However, some of those answers have left me feeling unsure. Either way, I’m interested to see where the battle takes us next issue and how lasting the effects of Dagon’s actions will be.
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