Aquaman #13 – Jeremy Adams, Writer; Daniel Bayliss, Artist; Rex Lokus, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Aquaman is tied up in DC KO at the moment, and this issue covers part of his battle with Lex Luthor which plays out in this week’s event issue. But while he’s off doing demigod things, his daughter has taken charge of the Atlantean resistance and is making moves to take the city back. She’s become more ruthless, spearing Parademons at will, and is gathering the kingdoms to try to unite them behind a leader – and she intends for it to be her. Arion is getting worried, curious if the girl is going mad – but as we know, that’s not it. She’s not Aquaman’s little girl at all, she’s an impostor seeking to sabotage him, and the real Andy Curry is back in Atlantis with Mera and the rest of Arthur’s missing allies. When Arion makes his move against her, it becomes clear just how dangerous she is and how far she’s willing to go to take advantage of Aquaman’s absence.
Meanwhile, Mera isn’t dead at all – the entire plot involving decades passing for her was all an illusion it seems, and she’s trapped in an Atlantis and Xebel that have fallen under mysterious circumstances. This is really the main plot of the issue, as Mera seeks out allies and finds her former betrothed Nereus going mad in the rubble. It seems someone who looks a lot like her has been impersonating her and causing chaos. Flashbacks show Mera as a child, as princess of Xebel, searching for unique artifacts in the ruins and paying tribute to her late mother. But there’s a last-page twist that may just reveal the identity of Andy’s impostor and introduce the next big power player into the Aquaman universe. This continues to be one of the best Aquaman runs in a long time, upping the scope and scale with some seriously menacing new villains in each arc.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
