SPOILERS AHEAD!
Initial Thoughts
Atlantis has fallen, and the tides have turned against Arthur and his family in Emperor Aquaman #21. Worse, Aquaman is stuck light-years from Atlantis on a foreign planet, with no way to get back and save his loved ones. In Emperor Aquaman #21, the Crimson Queen’s plan comes to fruition, and Tidal War Pt. 1 shows Atlantis facing the repercussions of expansion and spreading itself too thin. Aquaman was too busy trying to save the rest of the universe—which ultimately left him jaded— and, in doing so, left Atlantis vulnerable to all of its enemies who have been waiting for this moment.
Emperor Aquaman, as a series, has been like a very good 10-minute song. Before this issue, the tempo was melodic, with harmonies, and very technical. But within the last couple of issues, the guitars got a little heavier, the drums got a little faster, and then BOOM, this issue is where the sound kicks into overdrive. I like to think of it as Raining Blood. Everything about this issue felt like heavy metal and set the tone for the adventure waiting for Arthur, Mera, and the rest of Atlantis. I had a lot of fun reading this, and I think you will too!
Atlantis has Fallen!
Atlantis is now under the control of the Crimson Queen and her army of Aquaman’s rogues’ gallery, and their invasion proves the saying true: No good deed goes unpunished. Arthur was so preoccupied with protecting the rest of the galaxy that Atlantis became an easy target for the Crimson Queen, Black Manta, and the rest of Aquaman’s rogues' gallery. Adams’ entire run has been building toward this moment, and I think the siege of Atlantis was pulled off perfectly. It wasn't used as a cliffhanger or teased for another issue. It fed directly from last issue into this one, and we hit the ground running.
The story builds inevitable tension as we see Atlantis endure pain while Aquaman is trapped on this planet, getting lectured. The payoff will hit hard. But the true success of this story arc will be Adams choosing the right balance, keeping the tension going without letting it overstay its welcome. I believe in Adams, so I think that once Arthur learns his lesson, he will be able to use the Blue to get back home. There will be enough substance from both sides to keep us excited throughout the remainder of the Tidal War. Or it all goes wrong. Arthur doesn't learn his lesson, and it all goes south. Either way, I'm excited!
Arthur is Going Back to School
One plot point that didn't get a bunch of play-- deservedly so, because Emperor Aquaman #21 was about the fall of Atlantis-- but that will be massively important moving forward in this run is the small cameos from Animal Girl and Swamp Thing. As Arthur gets more and more jaded and tries to find a way back home, Alec (or whatever version of Swamp Thing this is) and Maxine will not let him go until he understands the severity of the power that he wields in the Blue. They are trying to prevent Arthur from going down a dark path that an energy source like The Blue can start. They would be the utmost experts on this topic.
The appearance of Swamp Thing and Animal Girl makes me think that we are NOT going down the route I had initially believed. I initially thought we were going down the path of introducing a version of the Emperor Aquaman we saw in Flashpoint, but now I think Swamp Thing and Animal Girl see the path Arthur is on and are there to stop it. If that is what ends up happening, I think it is a great way to talk Arthur down from the edge, figuratively.
P.S. I love the moment that Swamp Thing is having. He seems to be getting a lot of attention through a handful of DC titles right now, and I love that for the character.
The Art is as Chaotic as it is Beautiful
The Art of Emperor Aquaman #21 is bombastic and loud. John Timms brings the Crimson Queen’s coup to life, and every panel is filled with life and color, which is why I said it feels like a heavy metal song. With Timms’ art, Rex Lokus once again does a fantastic job bringing it to life. The deep, varied colors make the situation feel as anxious as it looks. In Timms' run, I love how these colors contrast with the ocean. The ocean is always present in an Aquaman story, which is almost the bare minimum, but Timms goes above and beyond with that aspect of the story.
One detail I noticed in the first couple of pages is Arthur's facial composition. It's Timms’ usual hard-edged, granite-like chin; however, not a single smile is cracked. Jeremy Adams's Arthur is much more serious. I don't think Aquaman has cracked a smile in the last three issues, and Timms does a great job playing on this detail. It comes across the page and makes you wonder if Aquaman is on the verge of a heel turn. This apparent intervention from Alec and Maxine couldn't have come at a better time—well, not considering that Atlantis is currently under siege.
Final Verdict
Emperor Aquaman #21 kicks off the second act of this Emperor Aquaman storyline, and it starts with a bang. Atlantis has been ransacked and is now officially under the control of the Crimson Queen and the rest of the villains who feel Aquaman has wronged them — which is everyone, apparently. The book's action was bombastic and explosive, making it feel like the end of the world for Atlantis, and the rest of us reading felt as helpless as Arthur, stuck light-years away and unable to help. Between the art and rhythm of the storytelling, Emperor Aquaman #21 has been the culmination of the run thus far.