Aquaman #59 Review

by Carlos R. on May 26, 2020

Aquaman #59 Cover Page
Written by: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Penciled by: Robson Rocha
Inked by: Daniel Henriques
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Lettered by: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC Comics

Aquaman #59 picks up right after the events of last issue and takes a breath to explore how members of the Aquaman family are dealing with Andy’s disappearance. This chapter of the arc heightens the tensions and takes its time to invest in each character’s motivations and objective.

This issue kicks down the door and chunks a shark in your face. We open with an enraged Arthur charging through Orm’s forces with a frenzy of sharks at his beckon. This incredible scene alone is well-worth the price of the book and highlights Orm’s devious intellect. On the shores of Amnesty Bay, we come to find Andy’s loved ones scouring for any sight of the missing child. With hope diminishing and frustrations rising, Jackson turns to a lethal ally.

I love the team/family aspect of Aquaman, DeConnick is able to highlight each character’s role and personality and utilize them in meaningful ways. The pacing of this issue feels deliberate and further drives the emotional weight of this arc.

One of the many perks of this issue is that the cover art is done by Stejpan Sejic and man what a cover it is! It has such an epic weight to it and feels like it could serve as cover art for a Viking metal band. Robson Rocha’s pencil work continues to be an excellent choice for this series and works so well with Henriques’ inks and Fajardo’s colors. The scene mentioned earlier with Arthur and the sharks is so effective. The shading and colors in that scene underscore Arthur and the sharks’ ferocity. The panel layouts keep an even pace throughout the book and the flow of action is easy to follow.

Aquaman #59 continues the “Echoes of a Life Lived Well” arc and sets up some interesting developments for what Arthur and family will have to face in the series. The tensions continue to expand in this issue, and I am excited for when it all comes to the inevitable boiling point.
 

Our Score:

9/10

A Look Inside