Back in...2019 (My goodness, that's a long time), I took a look at the first issue of Aquaman's fifth ongoing series. It was the beginning of a rather influential era for DC Comics' resident King of the Seven Seas. It's been a while since ol' Arthur Curry graced this blog, and I figured that I should let him take the spotlight again this week. As for what issue to showcase, well, why not the second issue of Peter David's run? Let's look at Aquaman #2!
The cover is a Martin Egeland, Brad Vancata, and Tom McCraw piece. It's really good, if a bit spoilery. It depicts Aquaman's hand being submerged and consumed, presumably thanks to the villain of the last issue.
"Single Wet Female"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Martin Egeland
Inker: Brad Vancata
Colorist: Tom McCraw
Letterer: Dan Nakrosis
Editors: Kevin Dooley, Eddie Berganza
Executive Editor: Jenette Kahn
The story begins with our man Arthur, and Dolphin ending up at a table with Charybdis and a ladyfriend of his.
The lady is named Scylla. Get it? Scylla and Charybdis?
Arthur gets the reference, which Scylla finds impressive. Charybdis asks if Dolphin has anything to add, and she does. In the form of spitting in his face. Both Orin and Dolphin are still trussed up, Charybdis explaining that the devices they're in are meant to drain the two of their powers. So, how is Aqualad doing?
Yeah, he's alright. Anyway, Charybdis explains why he wants Aquaman's power. He wants it so he can easily get to all of the sunken nuclear submarines around the world. Dolphin's powers have been helpful until now, but the fact that her power was given to her by aliens makes it much harder for him to get them. Since Artie is an Earthman (yes, half-Atlantean, but that's still part of Earth), Charybdis should have an easier time absorbing his powers. Once he gets to these submarines, he plans to detonate them, using their radioactive materials to poison the oceans. Arthur naturally points out that what he's doing...makes no sense.
Yeah. If the Earth's oceans are poisoned, Charybdis is screwed too because he lives on Earth! It doesn't bother him. After all, he and Scylla live in a world of terror. The two of them were the world's premier freelance terrorists, willing to work for anyone with money and a cause. That was...until late last year. Charybdis angrily turns to Scylla, saying he trusted her to blow up a mosque. She was an expert, and the bomb should not have gone off in her hands. Scylla says that enough is enough. She wore the outfit and played along, but she now wants to go home. However, Charybdis is not hearing it.
So, yeah. The "Scylla" we've seen here was not the actual Scylla, as she presumably accidentally blew herself up. Aquaman breaks out and tries to attack Charybdis but gets a tranq dart to the chest for his troubles. So, how's Aqualad doing?
He's still fine. But seriously, he was saved by this mysterious mermaid right here. He thinks she is the late Tula, who died in the Crisis on Infinite Earths. The woman tells him where Aquaman is, and that "Cron One-Eye" will lead him to his mentor. She then leaves, which gets Garth all confused. A pack of sharks arrive, and the leader has one eye. Say hello to Cron One-Eye, everyone!
Back in Charybdis's base, he puts a mouse in a tank full of piranha fish, hoping he can command the fish to not eat the mouse. It goes as well as you think.
Charybdis is enraged and confused. He has Aquaman's powers. He should have been able to command the fish. Why didn't they obey him? Arthur explains that's not how his power works.
He can talk to sea creatures. He can plead with them. He can bargain with them. He can make suggestions with them. And sometimes they'll obey him if he gives a command. But in general, sea creatures are independent beings with minds of their own. Pirahna are proof of that. Pirahna fish pretty much have only one thought in their minds a lot: EAT EAT EAT EAT EAT NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD EVERYTHING IS FOOD. Mmm...food...
This is demonstrated with Aqualad and the dolphins. Wait, weren't they supposed to be sharks earlier? Anyway, Charybdis grabs Dolphin and threatens to put her face in the piranha tank unless Arthur teaches him how to use the power to command sea life. Arthur tries to get it through the terrorist's thick head that there is nothing to teach. However, Dolphin is saved by Aqualad's getting a whale to break a hole open in the base. Arthur busts free of his apparatus and attacks Charybdis as the base starts to flood. The terrorist escapes him and heads to his armory. After all, he must have something in there that can blow a hole in the King of Atlantis. But someone is waiting for him.
 |
| “Candygram!” |
Remember, this is the 90s. In the 90s, a superhero never had problem finding a big crazy-looking gun if they need one. Thing is, Garth is not really used to handling guns, especially big 90s over-the-top guns. As such, he ends up blowing up the armory.
But it's alright. Garth, Arthur, and Dolphin manage to escape...and so does Charybdis. He flees to some nearby land, and laments how things had gone so wrong. Things never were disastrous when Scylla was around. Arthur finds him and the two brawl.
Arthur lays a beating on the terrorist, mocking him as a pathetic misogynistic creep, a joke who isn't a tough or clever as he thinks he is. The two struggle, Charybdis claiming that he's what the world made him...as he shoves one of Arthur's hands into the water, the piranhas chomping down on it. Charybdis ends up getting shot in the chest by Dolphin.
Nice little echo there. Earlier in the issue after shooting Scylla, Charybdis remarks to Dolphin "Women. Can't live with 'em". Despite this, he charges at her. Arthur trips him up and he falls into the river, the piranhas chowing down on him. Dolphin goes to check on the injured Arthur...
Yeah. A little ointment and band aids aren't going to fix that.
I enjoyed this issue. Charybdis isn't a character with a lot of depth. He's basically just a jerkoff misogynist, but it works here. I got a good chuckle from the call-back line between him and Dolphin. I also got a nice laugh out of Garth accidentally blowing up the armory. I like it when superhero stories inject a bit of humor here and there. The genre is inherently silly, so lean into it a bit. I do have to give a shout out to Marty Egeland and Brad Vancata. Their (repectively) pencils and inking work does fit into some of the 90s tropes of superhero art of the era, but outside of the big gun, it's much more...restrained for lack of a better word.
If you want to read this for yourself, I recommend tracking down the 2018 trade paperback Aquaman by Peter David: Book One. Thanks for reading this blog entry! See you next time!
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