Quirky Cat
Written on May 3, 2019
I'm admittedly very behind in my Aquaman reading, though I've been doing better about the more recent series. This series caught my attention for a very specific reason; Kelly Sue DeConnick is the author. I love what she did for Captain Marvel, and thus will try almost any series she writes.
Aquaman Vol. 1: Unspoken Water is the latest collected edition for Aquaman (duh) and follows the events of Drowned Earth. So if you haven't read that plotline, you might want to read it first. But honestly, you don't really have to. Just be aware that it starts out with Aquaman having lost his memories.
Aquaman Vol. 1 was a great followup to Drowned Earth. Though like I hinted at earlier, it could also be read as a standalone volume too. It's fairly self-contained, and most of the references in there are explained at least in part. Obviously, there is more of an impact if you know what happened to him before this, but sometimes you just have to jump into a series or you'll never get started.
This volume is exactly what I was expecting for Kelly Sue DeConnick. You can so clearly see her writing style. So fans of hers will absolutely love this (like I did), while people who don't like her writing style has much will not enjoy this one so much (probably).
I really loved the way the story progressed in this volume. The start was nice, subtle, and distinct. From there the pace shifted back and forth, sometimes moving forward rapidly, and at other times giving us a chance to really focus on a specific event. It was the perfect ebb and flow for the story they were telling. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing more of this style, to be honest. But then again, I am a fan of Kelly Sue DeConnick's writing style, so I'm a bit biased here.
I do think that shippers of Aquaman and Mera might be irritated at times here, but just remember that there's no clear indication of any confirmed relationship here. Arthur is simply a man who has lost his memories and is desperately seeking to find himself. Anything else is secondary.
The conclusion to the plot was...intense. And it was beautifully drawn as well, which admittedly did help the impact of what was being shown/told. So major bonus points there. Both the imagery and the truth of what was happening was fascinating and expertly done.
I'm actually a bit sad that this volume is over, but all good things must come to an end. I'll be curious to see what will be next in the Aquaman continuity though, as he has been through quite a lot in the last couple of years.
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