EMPEROR AQUAMAN #15 (DC COMICS)
The Crimson Queen has taken out the King of Atlantis.
With his involvement in DC K.O., Aquaman was taken away from his kingdom. Queen Mera held down the throne until Princess Andrina launched a vicious attack. Mera’s mother, Lolanna had returned and possessed the princess. This lead to a trap and removal of Arthur Curry.
Where he wound up is an adventure onto itself.
EMPEROR AQUAMAN #15 by Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Rex Lokus, & Dave Sharpe (DC Comics) launches into a new chapter of the underwater king’s legacy.
Let’s take a closer look at what transpires now.
EMPEROR AQUAMAN #15 by Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Rex Lokus, & Dave Sharpe (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Adams begins with a mystery of Arthur Curry’s current status. The reflections of different versions of himself prove a question in self-belief. This leads into more depths but not before going back to Mera’s fight. The battle with her mother doesn’t pull its’ punches. It sets a strong pace as each blow is thrown. Lolanna’s viciousness doesn’t leave the pages. If anything it becomes more explosive to a deadly point.
Readers watch as the internal struggle of Aquaman takes center stage from this point. The writing tears into a few layers of his soul before stabilizing to reflect. It is a much needed moment considering the aftermath of DC K.O. This spins into a defiant finish to Lolanna’s moves. Readers watch as Aquaman ascends to a new level of royalty he has feared to walk. The closing pages shows his fears conquered with a direct creed for all those in his kingdom. This sparks a new path to dread in a world uncertain. Readers will be amped up for this finish.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Timms returns for art duties in this chapter. The start of Aquaman’s internal journey teases last issue’s ending. It leads into a full image of an older and jaded Arthur Curry. This teases just enough before heading to Lolanna and Mera’s brawl. Once here, the action starts flying fast. Panel breakdown walks readers through the quick combat. This maneuvers into some heavily detailed water dragons. Timms and Lokus take this minor moment and make it pop out on the pages. It leaves enough of an impression before teetering back to Aquaman’s situation.
The mood inside the Blue is more calm and dreary. Seeing the three versions of Curry meet builds up the drama as they sort through what is unfolding. Readers watch as this leads into a heated confrontation. Once word hit of Mera’s struggles do events snap back into a common goal. This thrusts Curry back into the mix with a bold half page panel. Instantly, the mood shifts gears as Aquaman is now ready to fight. The conflict ends fast to allow the epilogue more page time. There’s a series of near full pages to exemplify this new sense of purpose. This unlocks a full page image which is a game changer. The ending cements the new stat quo as a near full vision comes to life with huge consequences. An excellent visual ride.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
The King is back and there’s hell to pay for those crossing his kingdom! Adams takes Arthur Curry into the depths of his soul to unleash a version of the King few could imagine. Timms and Lokus present a rollercoaster of drama and action with the art. A new day has dawned. Who is ready to take the plunge?
Let me know your thoughts on EMPEROR AQUAMAN #15 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
