Initial Thoughts
Aquaman #13 is a full-circle moment that has brought us back to the start of this run. Mera, with the help of King Nereus of Xebel, is on the precipice of cracking the mystery as to why someone put Atlantis behind a barrier hidden from the rest of the world and how Mera might have played a part in all of this as a child. We are now sure that the older Princess Andriana is not who she claims to be. While advertised as a tie-in to D.C. K.O., this instead became an issue that gives Mera her own time to shine. With the correct creative team, she can carry a story on her own.
"A Gift for a Queen" has set us up to delve into the past of Mera, which is an aspect of the world of Aquaman that has never really been fully developed. We already received a small glimpse of it in flashbacks in this issue, and this could be the start of a real character-building arc for the Queen of the Sea. Mera is usually portrayed as the strong wife, mother, and ally to Aquaman. Now, this can be a great way to add layers to the character of Mera and give her some much-needed depth.
Aquaman #13 is a good standalone issue with great art that will hopefully set up a new chapter in the history of Mera. Jeremy Adams and the creative team are setting up Aquaman nicely for when he returns, fighting for the world in a post-D.C. K.O. world.
What Is The Story?
We start with a flashback to the childhood of Mera, where she seems to be at her most tranquil spot. She observes the ships and wonders about life on the surface. Just then, we are brought back to the present, where Nereus is trying to attack the Queen. After handling herself, Nereus apologizes to Mera, as he thought she might have been the witch who took the rest of Xebel.
After a brief check-in on Aquaman, Princess Andriana, after defeating some Parademons, suggests that she align all the kingdoms of the sea. Mera, in another flashback after kindly annoying her father, is taken to see the statue of her mother. In real time, Mera and King Nereus are traveling to the location of the witch when they suddenly come under attack from some underwater monsters.
After escaping, they reach the statue, only to find out it is missing. It is hinted that a gift that was given by Mera to the statue of her mother might have started all of this. All of this is happening while Andriana asks for loyalty from the other kings, killing the Brine King in the process. We conclude that Andriana is not who she appears to be.
The Fallout and How This Affects the Rest of the Run
Aquaman #13 leaves Mera in shock. Not only is her home kingdom of Xebel in ruins, but the statue of her mother is missing as well. It is heavily implied that the necklace she stole as a child from a deceased woman on a sunken boat might be the reason someone, or something, is impersonating her mother. Princess Andriana has assassinated the Brine King in front of the other ocean kingdoms, which will no doubt come with consequences.
Will Queen Mera finally be reunited with her mother, or will the entity controlling the statue of her mother play a sick joke on her? This angle is very interesting to me. This can be a great way to create that lore in the story of Mera. However, the mother of Mera being dead has always played such an integral part of the backstory of Mera, almost like an Uncle Ben, that it makes sense to keep her deceased.
With Aquaman fighting for the fate of the universe in a different reality, someone needs to protect the oceans in his absence. Mera shows off her strength as a hero and her ability to protect not only her homeland but also the ocean. How this fallout ties in with the D.C. K.O. story is yet to be seen; however, the fate of the oceans hangs in the balance between a mother and daughter.
What will become of Xebel and Nereus, King of Xebel, and will those who ate the pearl ever be restored? The imposter posing as Princess Andriana has turned all of the people of Xebel into impostors themselves, as they are all copies of older versions of Atlanteans. Will they feel remorse? Again, this is a very interesting plot point to keep an eye on.
What Worked
Aquaman #13 is setting the stage for the ultimate confrontation between Mera and the imposter Andriana. Little is known about the mother of Mera, other than that she died in battle protecting Xebel, depending on what you consider canon. Mera is such a strong and interesting character that having her own story, while Arthur is out gallivanting in another world, is the perfect way to fill the Aquaman title. What really works for me is the focus on Mera and her emotional past. As we will discuss later, there was no need to include Aquaman for two pages when that could have been more story for Mera or Princess Andriana. This would have worked just as well if it were not advertised as a D.C. K.O. tie-in. It would have actually been a stronger issue if it were outside the D.C. K.O. storyline, rather than adjacent to it.
One small detail I have liked in this Aquaman run thus far is the "Marvelization" of the intro of the comic. That is to say, the addition of a recap with portraits of those in the story. That has historically been a Marvel tool to help readers remember who is in these stories, and with so much going on in DC, it is hard to remember where each issue picks up. I hope this continues in other DC titles. While I have always preferred the DC style of storytelling, this is a valuable tool to help readers month to month.
What This Issue Could Have Done Better
This is barely a tie-in to D.C. K.O., and the word "barely" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. There are two pages (one being a splash page) that reference Aquaman teaming up with Hawkman in D.C. K.O. #3. It is exposition on why he cannot connect with the Blue (Arthur now has a connection to water, as Swamp Thing has to the Green) and that he brought back Hawkman after defeating him in the tournament. I do not mind the issue not being a tie-in to the big event, but do not turn around and then market it as if it is. I do not know if I would call it false advertising, but it is a little deceptive.
The story of Queen Mera and Princess Andriana, or who we think is Andriana, is interesting enough to hold the title down on its own. There is no need to falsely claim that Aquaman #13 is an essential tie-in to the D.C. K.O. story. When reading D.C. K.O. #3, Aquaman clearly has a water sword in one of the panels; therefore, he, in fact, is not disconnected from the Blue. That seems like an editorial error from Scott Snyder and the rest of the creative team. When the omnibus of D.C. K.O. comes out in a couple of years, this issue will seem out of place and unnecessary.
Daniel Bayliss’ Art
Daniel Bayliss is the new artist on the run, as Aquaman #13 is his first issue as the leading artist. Bayliss had a lot to live up to, as the art of Rex Lokus (the previous artist) did a fantastic job of bringing the world of Aquaman to life. And Bayliss lives up to the expectations. The strong suit of Bayliss is his character work. His heroes and villains are immaculate. His style combines modern cartoon influences with the chiseled chins and faces of the Golden Age. It makes for a great visual contrast to the story and the rest of the world.
The way Bayliss draws out the actions of the characters is very dynamic. Battles, dancing, and even dialogue are very vibrant. It makes reading the comic really easy. The age-old adage of "show, do not tell" can be lost at times, but Bayliss does a good job of using his art to add to the story without resorting to words. A good example of this is when Princess Mera, as a child, talks to her father. The way she dances with excitement tells us exactly how she is feeling at the moment. That type of art, while subtle, is super gratifying to a story.
Regardless of the artist, the coloring of Rex Lokus has been exquisite. His water becomes a character in the story, making the ocean seem to sit beneath a beautiful, sunny day. It almost looks as if we are seeing the scene from inside a tank. Either way you look at it, the ocean is much more than just a blue background. It is another element in the story. Overall, the art in this book was fantastic, bringing light and color to the ocean.
The Final Verdict
Aquaman #13, “A Gift for a Queen” is a good comic book issue that sets up big things for everyone in the Aquaman family. Mera is portrayed as a strong female leader, who will have to save the day, while her husband is away. The emotional beat that has started in this issue will pay off in a way that will give Mera, as a character, more layers and depth than when this started. Arthur is under the impression his family has aged up and Mera has died, all while Mera is th eone that just cracked the case. This will be a great reunion when it happens.
This entire run, so far, has been an net positive for the character and world building of Aquaman, and when its all said and done, Aquaman #13 will be one of those lynchpin issues. I wouldnt say this is the best issue to just jump into to this run, however, it is a great payoff if its an run youve recently picked up, or have been reading since issue #1 came out.
The art is great and while a new artist, this doesn’t derail from the rest of the run. If you haven’t been reading this Aquaman run yet, I highly suggest to start at one and get to Aquaman #13 before the next issue comes out.