Aquaman #38 Review and **SPOILERS**

Checkmate

Writer: Dan Abnett 

Artist: Riccardo Federici 

Colorist: Sunny Gho 

Letterer: Steve Wands 

Cover: Stjepan Sejic 

Variant Cover: Joshua Middleton 

Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 

Editor: Alex Antone 

Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 

Cover Price: $3.99 

On Sale Date: July 25, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Are we there yet? Is Atlantis liberated? Or still under the thumb of a possessed, magic-wielding dictator? I’d accept either at this point, really. Let’s get back to the Hundred Years War and see what’s what in my review of Aquaman #38, just below!

Explain It!

This issue’s opening splash page has a caption at the bottom suggesting that we read Mera #6 before diving back into the endless Atlantean revolution. I am nothing if not obedient to captions, so I read the issue, to find Mera besting Orm in hand-to-hand combat in order to cement her claim to the Throne of Atlantis, as well as get the Xebel army to assist in deposing Corum Rath. So, uh, you basically know how this ends just by reading Mera #6, unless you think DC Comics would produce a special miniseries for no reason whatsoever. Which wouldn’t be the first time. But giving them the benefit of the doubt, from Mera #6 I would deduce that Mera and the Xebel army show up in the nick of time to beat up Corum Rath and secure Atlantis for whatever’s clever.

And that is essentially what happens. After countless issues of build-up, the conclusion of this endless political coup is basically told in another issue. You could have slapped me in the face. This issue is nearly worth seeing for the stunning artwork and layouts, including some very daring angles that really drive home the 360-degree scope of living underwater. But story-wise, there isn’t much left. Everyone gets a cameo at the end, then Mera distracts Corum Rath so Aquaman can deliver the killing blow, thrusting the end of his broken trident in Corum Rath’s eye. This gets rid of the ancient demon possessing him, leaving Corum little more than a twisted fish-man…so they let him go. Yep, after all this shit, they let the despotic, murderous dictator swim away sadly, yet another complete drain of the consequences in this story.

And to set up the next eternal story arc, presumably, constant attacks on the Tower of the Widowhood causes Atlantis to get loose from its mooring and raise to the surface—an interesting development that will probably last longer than many of us might like. Though Kelly Sue Deconnick will be taking over writing duties, so who knows where she will take the title. This series could use a shake-up, that’s for certain. Its hallmark has been stunning visuals compared with a long-winded story that is as gripping as unbuttered toast.

Bits and Pieces:

It all comes to a rapid conclusion, thanks to the events detailed in Mera #6. Oh, you haven't been reading that miniseries? Sucks to be you, bud. That's the underwater series that's actually had some stakes and forward movement.

7/10