Aquaman #61 Review

Battle Royal

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Miguel Mendonca
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 15, 2020

What DC said: For whom the wedding bells toll, Arthur? They do not toll for thee! It’s a race to the chapel, as Mera is awake and betrothed, but who is the groom, and why isn’t he Arthur? There is a greater mystery at work, and Jackson makes a deep-sea discovery-but not before a depth-defying battle with Orm! Speaking of Ocean Master, he’s bringing all of Dagon to the wedding ceremony, and the Seven Kingdoms will never be the same again!



The wedding day has arrived, and after confirming that Orm is up to no good, we head off to Atlantis and watch the guests arrive.  Everybody who is anybody is there from the Trench to Xebel, and while they are there for a wedding, it's evident that Mera has other plans.  Actually, she's had one big plan that Vulko has been helping with, but now that Mera has woken from her coma, she is filled with sass and ready to kick ass!

As someone who can't stand Mother Cetea and the Widowhood, I was glad to see Mera finally stand up to them in a big way.  I don't know if it will work out in the end, but I had a huge smile on my face.

While this is going on, Aquaman and Tula get to Atlantis undercover and see that Orm has brought some extra friends that are not on the guest list.  My biggest complaint in this issue is Aquaman sitting on his hands until the shit hits the fan.  I'm not sure what he could have done, but I would have liked to see him try.

Once the surprise that Mera is awake and Vulko is not trying to take advantage of the situation fades away, we get the real shocker.  Mera's big plan for peace in the Seven Seas may be a sound one, but she is talking to the exact bunch of people who would never go for it.  They probably will fight to the death to keep it from happening!  That's cool, but I don't see how Mera prepared for that part of all this.

I have enjoyed this book more and more each month, but this issue takes a slight step back, but only because it's all set up.  The reader is in the dark a bit here, but that's by design, and as each little piece of the puzzle is revealed, I am enjoying it more.  I expect that trend to continue going forward.  The art is great throughout, and the issue even has some good humor to it and a little part that made me laugh out loud.

Bits and Pieces:

The wedding is here, and if you thought it was going to go smoothly, you haven't been paying attention.  Kelly Sue DeConnick gives readers an issue with big moments, intrigue, and humor.  It sets up the next issue as a battle royal, and I mean that literally and figuratively!

8.0/10