‘Aquaman #45’ (review)

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Illustrated by Daniel Henriques
and Robson Rocha
Published by DC Comics

Tough to write this review, as I really, really loved what was going on in this comic, but I was wondering, “Where is my Aquaman?”

We’re merely three issues in to DeConnick’s run, but I want Arthur to know he is the King of Atlantis already!  He’s still got amnesia or face blindness or some such ailment that is making him forget he’s part of the Justice League?

It’s my fault for being impatient and complaining here on the Internet, but who else will listen?

I sighed on my first reading of the comic, seeing pages of over-drawn mystical creatures shooting fire and turning into water and cosmic creation myths straight from a ’70s Starlin sketchbook of the cosmos, flipping faster until the end and the reveal of Caille’s mother, the sea goddess, Namma, who has returned to reunite with her daughter.  I, at least, have been paying attention the last few issues to know this much.

Aquaman is with Caille in tow, heading to confront Namma before it happens. I had more reading to do, so I put the comic down and returned to it. Certain comics have this effect on me or my attention; Grant Morrison’s current Green Lantern comic may be great, but the damn thing is such a slog to get through sometimes. I feared this was happening with Aquaman, so I revisited the book with a clear head.

What I found was that everything that I was instinctively railing against was everything I wanted out of a comic this week! In a similar way that Neil Gaiman created his Sandman world in the realm of The Dreaming, with his family the Endless, I was taken for a wonderful journey into the origin of not only Callie but of her mother Namma, who’s God powers are all powerful, made of elements that include the personification of “Father Sea” and “Mother Salt”.

From the creation of the elements Sky, Wind, Fire and Earth and tying the Wind to ocean waves, it was pure enjoyable poetry. I am much better for having given this book a second read. This literal world building is something I would not have expected in an Aquaman book, and it nearly makes up for Arthur’s amnesia.

Kelly Sue is bringing her A-Game and I was sorry to have doubted it. Namma has returned, with her secrets and is powerful enough to threaten the entire world.

This issue based in The Village of Uncertain Water, is part 3 of 5 with this arc and is peaking to an impressive, sure to be action packed third act to round out the trade.

A little patience is worth it, and if a character isn’t feeling himself, that’s all right. He’ll be back soon.

After saving this island!