My Initial Thoughts on Emperor Aquaman #16
Writer Jeremy Adams’ Emperor Aquaman #16 continues to push the boundaries of what we once knew about Arthur Curry, his allies, and his enemies. This new era of Aquaman sees the king of the ocean exploring other universes in an attempt to secure all living beings. He does this following his premonition during the DC K.O. tournament. Because of those visions, his mission as the new Emperor of Atlantis is to create lighthouses across the universe. These will help people get from one point to another, providing a way to fight and escape the dangers that await them.
What is going to be remembered of this Aquaman run is the expansion of his universe. Having the water king expand his empire across the galaxy is such a novel idea. This concept also wasn’t done in a corny or shoehorned way, either. Not only has Aquaman’s world and royal title expanded, but so have his powers. Arthur Curry’s story has always been an interesting one, and now that it has grown to include the stars, his presence in the DC Universe can not and will not be ignored.
Where Do We Go From Here? The Future Storytelling Has So Much Potential.
The building of this new Aquaman universe (pun intended) has been incredible. The sandbox (this time, pun not intended) that Jeremy Adams has created and that future Aquaman writers can take advantage of has grown exponentially. What I am really interested in seeing is how Adams plays with the dynamic of power and virtue. The vision is altruistic in spirit. However, how can one man deal with all that power? Will the endgame ultimately cost him his soul?
The final two pages basically gave us what we are in store for in this run and what the final showdown will be. Black Manta is coming, and he is bringing with him Arthur's new big-time enemy, Mera's mother, Lolanna the Crimson Queen. How will Black Manta, the pressure of saving the universe, and his connection to the Blue affect Arthur?
This Time, the Universe Expanding Shouldn’t Scare You. Or Is That Just Me?
I’ve talked a lot about this, but since this is the “what I liked” section, I’ll keep praising the world-building in Emperor Aquaman. The ocean is limitless, especially in comics. Still, there’s only so far you can reasonably explore it. Bringing in an intergalactic angle opens up new storytelling opportunities for Aquaman beyond the Justice League. Using the “lighthouse” as the transport avatar nicely nods to Arthur’s origins while reinforcing his symbol of safety.
Ultimately, what I really like about this idea is that we don’t know what is coming next. In this issue, we encountered parasitic aliens who loved hot water and sought to find their home by attaching themselves to their victims. It looks like we are getting Black Manta and Lolanna to team up to take on Arthur and Mera.
One little detail I liked in Emperor Aquaman #16 is the addition of King Shark to the story. King Shark is traditionally a Batman villain, but it makes much more sense for him to be involved in Aquaman’s business. Speaking of which, in wrestling parlance, King Shark putting over Emperor Aquaman, even as a “villain,” gives credence to his mission and adds to the story. Aquaman’s premonition while in the K.O. tournament was strong enough for everyone to align themselves.
Also, Aquaman can now make and manipulate ice. That’s cool. That surprise power increase continues his evolution into a much more powerful being in the DC Universe.
Is Having the Blue Too Convenient?
There isn't much that I could nitpick on this issue. This was a solid issue that did its job in building momentum towards this new, uncharted world and what might be the biggest — literally and figuratively — run ever for Aquaman. I thought the pacing was great, the dialogue was fun, and the story made sense and led somewhere.
I will say, however, that I will always go to bat for Mera, as I find her to be a fascinating character. I know this is only the second issue of this new “era”; however, it doesn't look like Mera has taken a backseat to Arthur and the rest of the Aquateam. This isn't to say that she won't get her time in the spotlight—possibly when she has to face off against her mother—but it would be nice to see Mera have her own agency at the start of this new world, instead of just the “doubtful” wife. Hopefully, that will be corrected in the next few issues.
His connection to The Blue—capital B—is a bit of a story safety net for Adams, as anything now can be chalked up to Aquaman’s connection to this cosmic entity. I'm sure it will be used smartly, but as we move forward with this new power level for Aquaman, we need to keep an eye on how often The Blue is used as a convenient storytelling mechanism.
Some might also criticize this as a rip-off of Marvel’s “intergalactic empire of Wakanda,” which saw Black Panther and the country of Wakanda expand their universe in search of resources. That is where I think the key difference is. Aquaman is not after resources, but instead, an empire to protect. Personally, while dealing with outer space, I don't think these stories are fundamentally similar. We shall see if Emperor Aquaman merges into Black Panther’s lane; however, even if it does, comic books have always done this. Ever notice how similar Thanos and Darkseid are? Though so.
The Ocean Is a Well Developed Character
The art remains great and consistent. Artist John Timms really understands the world and knows exactly how to use the extra space to create something out of nothing. Water remains one of Timms’ best attributes in this book. The ocean, water—and ice—are characters on their own. Now that Aquaman is connected to the Blue, it is important to show that connection—Timms has been the perfect artist for that. The quick shift from the crystal-clear blue water to the murky, hot-pink water was jarring—and, on purpose, the perfect example of how he gives life to the lifeless.
Timms’ drawing of faces is phenomenal. Not only are they detailed and chiseled, but they are also very animated: if someone is happy, you know it; if they are mad, they show it. That level of expression is often lost in some comics, where faces look the same throughout an issue or run. However, I continue to see distinct details in the different faces in Emperor Aquaman #16.
Now that Aquaman is set to explore space and the universe, character design will be important. That skill will come in handy. So far, the alien designs have been great. The unnamed alien race and their parasites were a good start: distinct and new.
To cap it off, the page that stood out to me was the very last one. John Timms’ rendition of Black Manta was sleek, cool, and menacing all at once. To me, Black Manta has always been an S-tier villain, and this unveiling presents him as such.
Final Verdict
Emperor Aquman #16 continues to expand the Aquaman universe into places we have never seen before, as the King of the Ocean looks to grow his kingdom across the stars to keep it safe from the visions he encountered while in the K.O. tournament. The growth of Aquaman’s kingdom into uncharted areas makes this Emperor Aquaman so unpredictable and exciting, as Black Manta is on the horizon to mess with Arthur's plans. The potential of what can happen in this run is something that will undoubtedly create excitement among Aquaman and comic book fans alike. Jeremy Adams, John Timms, and the creative team behind Emperor Aquaman are building something special.