Born to both the surface and the sea, Arthur Curry walks in two worlds but can find a home in neither. The King of Atlantis looks to reconcile his split heritage as he embarks on a new mission that may finally make him choose between his two paths.

I’ll admit I haven’t read a lot of Aquaman in the past. It was a character that I read here and there, but didn’t get into a whole lot other than following it for a while during the New 52. There wasn’t something that really hooked me, though I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read.

Writer Dan Abnett though has me really intrigued. In the lead up to this new direction, Abnett has described Arthur Curry as a political player and the leader of a world power. It’s an aspect that hasn’t been played up enough in my opinion, and much like Marvel’s Black Panther, it’s an aspect that really makes the character stand out. He’s a political leader with an environmental bent, and Abnett seems to be laying the groundwork for all of that iwth this issue.

Through it, Aquaman must deal with terrorists while reflecting on his role and history. We’re also introduced to the various players in our lives. Abnett is a writer whose work I’ve loved, and here he looks to have the concept of Aquaman down and is presenting things in a logical way while he sets up conflict points both external and internal. It’s a solid comic that really sets the tone of what’s to come and lays out who Aquaman is and why he differs from other superheroes.

The art by Scot Eaton and Oscar Jiménez is really solid at times. The first few pages where the water is much of the emphasis are fantastic and look really cool. From there, things get somewhat average and forgettable until the end of the comic when the villain Aquaman will be dealing with is revealed and the tone shifts a bit.

The issue is a solid one that builds off of what’s been building for the last few issues, but at the same time really sets forth what feels like a new dynamic for Aquaman. It’s a dynamic though that feels natural for the character. This is a comic to watch, and it’s one that went from some interest for me to a hell of a lot.

Story: Dan Abnett Art: Scot Eaton, Oscar Jiménez
Story: 8 Art: 7.4 Overall: 7.8 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for a review