Aquaman #56 Review

Trench Mouth

Writer: Kyle Higgins
Artist: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 15, 2020

Oh boy, is it still the Holiday Season?  I have enjoyed Kelly Sue's run on this book so far, but Kyle Higgins is one of my favorite writers and while I'd love a new ongoing by him, I'll take a guest shot as well!  So, with the Aquababy coming soon, what does he have up his sleeve?  Let's find out...


The issue heads back in time a bit and starts with promises of deep, blue problems for sure, but then zips off to Amnesty Bay to give a nice gathering of heroes and a callback to the beginnings of the Rebirth Justice League.  It's not hugely important, but I love this newer, stronger focus on the DCU and its interconnectivity!  Plus, we find out Batman makes a hell of a pie...who am I kidding, we all know Alfred made it!

Everyone has gathered to celebrate the love of Arthur and Mera and it's a bittersweet reminder of what Rebirth was all about when it started, but seeing it here makes me hope that things like Heroes in Crisis and Event Leviathan haven't destroyed all the hopes and dreams!

After the party ends, we get the gist of what's going on here...this was a big moment when Mera and Arthur first talked about having kids.  It's cool seeing them worrying that the world is too crazy to bring a baby into when we all know the big trouble that is going to hit them soon!  I actually mean stuff like Drowned Earth and Metal, but that's going to have to wait since big trouble has found them here and it's a cool New 52 callback I never expected!  Yep, the Trench is in the house!!!

The battle is on and it's fast-paced action, but it's not all about kicking Trench ass.  Mera is saving people while Arthur finds out what the Trench are after and tries to make things right.  It all leads to a tense ending that shows that even enemies can recognize a hero.

This is a nice little one-shot interlude before the Aquababy stuff hits.  It felt like an Annual story and I'm okay with that.  Seeing the Trench show up felt big at first and I just hope that we do get back to them eventually because they are here just to set up a conflict that ends far too quickly.  Still, the story should make those who have been reading Aquaman for the past 9 years smile a bit and it sets up the troubled birth that is coming.

Bits and Pieces:

Kyle Higgins jumps on Aquaman to get readers ready for Aquababy with a bunch of callbacks and an enemy I was not expecting.  It's not a must-read, but Aaron Lopresti's art and Higgin's writing make it a worthwhile pit stop.

8.0/10