I decided to subscribe to Aquaman recently, after watching an old
"Super Friends" episode with my wife and kids, and finding out that the
title was ongoing. I always thought the character was funny, in a
"Wonder Twins" cheesy sort of way. I am starting to regret
subscribing. It's not that I hate the character or anything - I just
feel really let down overall with how DC is treating him. It's like
having a TV network put one of your favorite shows in a horrible
timeslot where you KNOW the show will never recover.
Here are a few of the things that really tick me off (#2 the most)
1) The title. "Sword of Atlantis" doesn't make a lot of sense. Hello!
Shouldn't it be "Trident of Atlantis", or something like that? The type of swords shown in the comic work ok in AIR for slashing, but not so well in WATER, which has a lot more resistance.
2) The artwork is very, very lacking. Out of the 30 DC and Marvel
titles I subscribe to, Aquaman has the absolutely worst art I have ever
seen. Everything seems to be in pastels, and facial features almost
look like the artist has had too much to drink, and is making wobbly
lines.
3) The story keeps going out on tangents. When I get done with an
issue, far too often I feel like nothing interesting has happened. It reminds me of this episode of Dragon Ball Z I watched - when it was over, I realized that the first third of the episode was the recap, the last third was "what will happen next", and the actual episode was everyone standing around saying "No Way -That's Impossible!" The characters don't seem that interesting. I guess if I had to sum everything up about this title, I would simply leave you with the word "Bland".
If they got a better artist, at least, I would feel much better about
supporting this title. Strangely enough, out of about 30 titles that I
get, this is the only one my wife reads.
The story seems slow to you because theres no DB moments each issue. Thats to be expected, Busiek is using another approach other than the typical "just another superhero comic". Its more a fantasy approach. Wich suits the character like PAD has showed before.
Now, i know that art is a very subjective matter, but calling Guice`s art, lacking? The guy is a strong storyteller, and while not my fav i think hes far from the level you got him to.
Swords are symbolic for both power and rulership (as well as a variety of other things) having Aquaman use "Sword of Atlantis" as a title is rather fitting.
Plus "Trident of Atlantis" would sound REALLY stupid.
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Last edited by grey fox on Oct 27th, 2006 at 06:21 PM
Aquaman is pretty kick-ass, but people who don't read comics base all their Aquaman knowledge off the 'Superfriends' cartoon. Because of that cartoon, their impression of him is that all he can do is talk to fish.
Gender: Male Location: Kicking pigs out of the screen.
The character never bothered me, but it was how he was presented at times that made him seem like they were "trying too hard", new powers, then a "new attitude".
I don't think people consider him enough to hate him though, I think the more loved characters like Superman are evenly hated more.
Yeah, but to the general public, Aquaman might just be the most lame superhero they ever have heard of. I mean, he was cool in Pre-Crisis, actually, but the Superfriends people completely killed his character for the cartoon...(and others, to be fair). I heard that Reginald Hudlin worships the Sri Lankan child slaves that were forced to write the series as his gods when it comes to writing characters OFF-character.
Gender: Male Location: Kicking pigs out of the screen.
I agree, he is to the general public. I was trying to find a way of saying it without offending posters here though. People find him mediocre. His colors, his concept most likely just seems soft for them.
I thought he was OK then, because of the standards that Television had those days. WW couldn't even really fly or anything. It was just how they tried to progress him IMO.
Gender: Male Location: Welfare Kingdom of California
Namor is utterly overrated. Aquaman on the other hand is very underrated. As mention before JLA Aquaman is kick ass. His Healing factor rivals that of Wolverine.