Aquaman #29 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Outrageous!

Jeff Parker knows how to write "fun".  From the very first line of this issue, he gives readers a book that makes you smile.  It's as if he took everything Geoff Johns left for him and put it in the Silver Age Writing Machine, cooked it for a few hours and Alakazam...best of both worlds.  This issue is a prime example of that.

Aquaman has had his problems lately.  He's always late for meetings, kills ancient Atlantean protectors, but this issue takes the cake.  As seen in last issues cliffhanger, he can't find his trident.  Yes, he left his mighty weapon unguarded and it was "borrowed" by Dr. Evans who used it to open a gate...to Hell.

Jeff Parker has been a breath of fresh air to Aquaman.  This is in no way an insult to Geoff Johns.  Johns made the character legitimate again and now Parker is running with it.  This issue is so much fun.  We get crazy monsters galore, but we also get more character development.  Mera in particular has become such a strong female lead.  Without her, who would keep telling the Atlantean Council that Arthur is sorry for missing every meeting?

Aquaman has a heck of an excuse this month.  His trident has released an ancient evil that his ancestors sealed up.  After seeing the deformed and horrific monsters spilling out, I can see why.  If you are a fan of crazy looking monsters on the attack, this issue is for you.  If you a fan of classic characters, then the cliffhanger reveal is definitely for you.  It's such a fun silver age-like moment that sets the book up for even more fun.  

While all this is going on, Mera and the Council are dealing with matters of the Sciency type.  With everything else going on it seems a bit trivial and only a setup to introduce a certain green character into the book.  I love the character in particular, but I'm not sure I'm real keen for him to be in the book.  It must be a lead in to the "Abandon All Hope" Dark story.

Paul Pelletier must be having fun on this book as well.  This issue lets him go wild with all sorts of nightmare creatures and he does a great job.  It's just fun to look at.

Bits and Pieces:

If you are a fan of over-the-top fun action of the silver age kind, pick up Aquaman #29.  I hope Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier are having as much of a blast creating this book as I am reading it.  Highly Recommended.

9.0/10