Aquaman: The Search For Mera Deluxe Edition by Steve Skeates and Jim Aparo
I’ve been wanting to collect this Aparo run on Aquaman for a while but the back issues are pretty spendy. DC put out this first hardcover collection last month and I hope they keep it going. I think it would just be another volume or two to finish the run.
The setting of the first few issues is barbarian fantasy. Like Robert E Howard or Edgar Rice Burroughs fantastic weird worlds, nothing particularly aquatic about them. Aquaman is searching for a kidnapped Mera which leads him to conflicts with different underwater tribes and villages.
I get the sense that none of the underwater world is mapped at all? Every encounter is a Terra Incognita, he just runs blindly into kingdoms of giants, sorcerers, and beasts. The plots follow more of a sci-fi template, not unlike episodes of Star Trek that were on TV at this time (1968-1969). Each culture has some quirk or monster to be dealt with.
Aquaman is fairly powerful as shown in this prison break scene. He summons a giant whale to destroy the building where he and Aqualad are being held!
My favorite chapters actually take place on land. Aquaman crosses paths with underworld gangsters and there’s some pretty convincing noir style action going on. Aparo also breaks free of the grid and goes nuts with the dutch angles.
These pages are so good!
This is a cool trait - Aquaman doesn’t talk much when throwing punches. The fight might start with a few words but then it’s just brutal, wordless efficiency.
These triangular panels create a kinetic flow and when it moves back underwater it creates a swirling motion and fluid multidirectional action. Are the trapezoids supposed to look like the letter ‘A’ on his belt?
I hope to learn more about Aquaman as a character in future issues. In this story he is simply fueled by rage. He’s a pretty crappy detective, but is relentless in his pursuits. He’s good at punching.
Atlantis could also benefit from some diplomatic exploration. Get out there and draw some maps, do some anthropology, take some notes on your neighbors.
Ambush Bug (1985) 4 Part Mini-Series by Keith Giffen.
I’ve read the first two issues so far. It’s a fun book, very nice strokes by Giffen. I will pick up anything drawn by Giffen from a dollar box. This is right around the time I started reading comics as a kid and I remember some of the DC books (like Red Tornado) had super saturated colors like this. Must’ve been some new printing technique they were trying.
(Blubber?)
There’s no plot or characterization here, just fourth wall breaking zaniness and goofy experimentation on every page. Issue 3 is like channel surfing, each page is drawn in a different style. Definitely a precursor to the Deadpool type character, minus the guns and murder. What were some other “silly” books like this? Howard the Duck, Peter Porker, Impossible Man, Amazing Man… I wonder if the b&w indie stuff going on was an inspiration too? (Love and Rockets, TMNT, Cerebus)
None of the jokes are that funny but they add up to a zany Marx Brothers/Mad Magazine type atmosphere of anarchy and good natured satire. My favorite joke is that on the last page of each issue Ambush Bug tries to just get some lunch but then the person serving his food is… DARKSEID! Then it’s not even mentioned next issue. I am super hooked to see if this gag continues for issues 3 and 4 and if it continues to be a non sequitur.
