Aquaman #26 Review and **SPOILERS**

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Say, You Look an Awful Lot Like Aquaman

Story: Dan Abnett 

Art, Color and Cover: Stjepan Sejic 

Lettering: Steve Wands 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: July 19, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

I could go into a long preamble about the current story in Aquaman, what I expect, my hopes and dreams for comic books and life in general. But Stjepan Sejic drew this issue. So let’s not delay and hop right in!

Explain It!

Even though Mera seemed to join up with the Justice League in their last issue, she’s still pissed that Arthur is alive somewhere in Atlantis. Mera’s hurling her water powers at the Crown of Thorns in a vain attempt to, well, break it. It’s causing a terrible noise all over Atlantis, but Rath is advised that the thorns will hold—so he smugly hangs back and direct his guards to screw around with those mutants in the Lower Trides some more. Speaking of which, Aquaman and his new pal Dolphin are still skirting around down there, beating up guards and, for some reason, not alerting everyone to the fact that the old Atlantean king isn’t dead. I mean, it’s considered a rumor, but you’d think it would be a hard fact by now. He introduces himself to Dolphin as Orm, but he’s clearly wearing the Aquaman uniform and he looks like Arthur Curry! I’m not sure that he doesn’t have amnesia or something. Anyway, Dolphin uses this bioluminescent blast to give all the guards seizures so she and Arthur can swim away.

Meanwhile, Murk is interrogating Vulko (who was busted contacting Mera last issue) to find out more about the Deluge, but Vulko merely brands him a traitor and says nothing despite being tortured. Murk even lets slip that Mera is the one making the big, booming sounds against the Crown of Thorns, more evidence that he’s in on some conspiracy with Aquaman. Later on, Dolphin takes Aquaman to some shipwreck that acts as the headquarters for the Deluge where they give Arthur a ton of shit for looking like Aquaman. This is seen by crime boss and freaky crab-faced mutant guy Krush, viewing on this awesome closed circuit network carried by crabs through the tips of their claws. His viewing is rudely interrupted by Drift Commander Urcell, who has turned Krush into an informant in return for only breaking his crabby balls a little bit. She wants to know if these rumors about Aquaman being alive are true, and he’s able to convince her that they are not—but when Urcell leaves, he directs one of his minions, Kadaver, to go retrieve this so-called Not Aquaman.

Vulko’s behind bars, raving like a madman about how how relentless Mera is, when Reverend Mother Cetera from the Widowhood casually strolls by and strikes up a conversation. Seems that she’s none too thrilled about Corum Rath’s style of leadership, and thinks the throne could use a shake-up. Despite not really liking Vulko’s methods or deference to Arthur Curry, she sets him free in hopes that he’ll unseat Rath and restore some kind of normality to Atlantis. At Deluge headquarters, Kadaver shows up and kills one of the crew immediately, I suppose to exhibit his lethal powers, then brawls with Aquaman for an acceptable number of panels. Seems Kadaver has got like coral-growing powers, so that he can create any shape instantly from the red crud on his shoulders. Aquaman beats the holy hell out of him anyway, but Kadaver is still able to subdue him with an electric shock and is poised to skewer him repeatedly with coral, when Krush comes over the aquacom and says to bring him back alive!

Here we have a normal, serviceable Aquaman story, as Dan Abnett has been writing fairly consistently during his time on the series. But the proceedings are ratcheted up a few notches by the vivid artwork and expert storytelling of Stjepan Sejic. This is a much needed shot in the arm for this series, which was rarely terrible or supremely thrilling. With artwork like this, the once-monthly schedule at a dollar higher per issue will be absolutely no problem for fans of the character—or fans of good superhero comic bookery.

Bits and Pieces:

A cool story about Aquaman slumming in the mean shoals of Atlantis is made more spectacular by the terrific drawing and coloring by Stjepan Sejic. When I saw this comic was going monthly and gaining a buck, I thought it was on a death march. Now, I think we're seeing another Rebirth for Aquaman, and it's one you should take a look at.

8/10