Welcome to Rebirth and a new start for Aquaman. The king of Atlantis is working very hard against the wishes of his people to bring the Atlanteans and the land dwellers together. Arthur has created a land bridge embassy to allow the heads of governments can meet with the heads of Atlantis and come to an understanding as well as get to know one another. 

While trying to bring two worlds together a dark soul is hellbent on revenge and he is planning on doing whatever it takes to bring Aquaman down. Black Manta is going to destroy Aquaman and get his revenge for his father that Aquaman killed. To make matters worse, a new secret organization have plans to undo everything Aquaman has worked so hard for and bring about a new war between the Atlanteans and our world. Here is one of the covers from an issue in this collection. Gives you a sense of just how dire the situation is.

Not only is this a new beginning while keeping up with the events of New 52 but we get a great cameo from another hero. Superman himself has a brief spot in this book. Again, the situation really is stacked against Arthur. There is so much in this book that sets the stage for the next volume.

The story is actually very well done. I have been so impressed with Aquaman since Geoff Johns took over and then towards the end of New 52 the story started to get stale. This book is a fresh start that I hope brings some really interesting stories in the future. I easily give this 4 out of 5 stars. A big thank you to Netgalley and DC Comics for giving this to me for an honest review. I'm honored to get the chance to read this and really excited for the future of not only Aquaman, but the rest of DC Comics.

Atlantis has built a dry land embassy on the Massachusetts shore to strengthen relations with America. But xenophobic Atlantean terrorists calling themselves the Deluge, as well as Aquaman’s nemesis Black Manta, seek to destroy any attempt at peaceful co-existence. Time for Aquaman and Mera to hit stuff!

I’ve only read a handful of random Rebirth issues so Aquaman, Volume 1: The Drowning is my first full Rebirth book. Given how popular Rebirth has been with readers, putting perennial second-place comics publisher DC’s sales within swiping distance of market leader Marvel’s (whose own sales have nosedived dramatically in the last year), I was hoping that meant the quality would be sky-high… and unfortunately it’s not, at least for Dan Abnett’s Aquapants.

I thought Rebirth was a return to the pre-Flashpoint continuity, ignoring the New 52 years entirely, however the New 52 Throne of Atlantis storyline – when Aquaman’s half-brother Orm/Ocean Master flooded the coasts and invaded the land – is referenced as the basis for America’s fear of Atlantis in this book. So it looks like Rebirth is a return to classic canon while also incorporating the New 52 timeline - fair enough but no idea how that works given that the New 52 was a continuity reboot that wiped out classic canon!

The story is so uninspired. Black Manta is being Black Manta, causing mayhem, this time in the new Atlantean embassy, because he wants revenge against Aquaman like he always does – Abnett’s just spinning his wheels, it’s like reading tedium in comics form. Then things get dumber with the Deluge – terrorists obviously not standing for Atlantis – sinking a US ship and once again creating tension between the two nations. Rather than talk through the problem like adults, Aquaman and Mera – mostly Mera – behave like ‘roided out meatheads, punching everything and everyone, making a bad situation even worse.

I feel like anyone with a higher than double digits IQ is gonna be not only bored but frustrated with how stupid everyone behaves especially as the escalation could’ve easily been avoided if anyone stopped to think for a moment. But then we wouldn’t get Aquaman and Mera punching Superman which is apparently what Dan Abnett/DC think readers want? “Duuuuuuuuh, I wants me comix to reads like me Injustice game…..!”

Aquaman behaves weirdly out of character particularly in the Superman fight, suddenly being insecure about his place in the Justice League, ranting about being “the creepy fish guy” and not getting respect(the Superfriends cartoon exists in this world)!

“Aquaman is a joke” is the same tack Geoff Johns took in his first Aquabook and it remains a silly detail. That said, Abnett doesn’t have Johns’ blockbuster vision and pacing and the book doesn’t have Ivan Reis’ sharp pencils – because Aquaman ships every 2 weeks, a number of artists are required to keep up with the demanding schedule so the visuals throughout look rushed and keep changing.

Mera is poorly written too. Here she’s angry, stupid and overly aggressive, which doesn’t tally with the character we’ve seen in previous books. Given her behaviour here and Aquaman’s negative reaction to it only makes their engagement even more baffling. Remember DC Universe Rebirth #1? The only story point in that issue for this series was Aquaman proposing to Mera. 

And that’s basically what Aquaman Rebirth is: a series without any real direction, drive or purpose. I suppose there’s enough backstory here for it to be a decent jumping-on point for new readers, which is one of the main selling points of Rebirth, but it’s not a book that’s gonna make anyone fall in love with the character or even entertain on any level. I got nothing out of this one except for yawn after yawn. A disappointing beginning to my Rebirth odyssey and another terrible Aquaman book to add to the pile!

There's nothing I don't love about this, except that I ran out of book. I love Aquaman, I love Mera (my queen!) and I love how emotional and tense and action-packed the plot is. Their struggle is so compelling, and makes me angry at mankind. For sure this is a comic I will continue. I need more Aquaman and Mera in my life, and I want to get to know the larger cast of characters more. Could have done without Superman making an appearance though, even if he was cast in an antagonistic light (thanks, comic gods!)

When DC announced that they would start a new chapter for all of their ongoing comics entitled Rebirth MANY fans were over the moon. Our favorite comic book heroes (and villains) would be getting a facelift for not only their artwork but their stories as well. 

For me personally, Aquaman was never a comic book character I picked up immediately. And as a newfound lover of comics in general, Aquaman sparked my interests as a character I was excited to get to know. Also as I am a new reader, I decided to start with the brand new "chapter" of comics with the Rebirth marking.  

As this is not Dan Abnett’s first time writing Aquaman, DC’s Rebirth now gives him the freedom to do as he wants with the character. In this first volume of Aquaman’s new story, Abnett dives right into the politics of Atlantis, as well as the relationship between Arthur and Mera, plus some Black Manta stuff for good measure. 

As a first time Aquaman reader with this volume I can't say that I will actively seek out a follow up volume. Aquaman himself is funny, and enticing. The character is seemingly in depth and Abnett really took the time to fully explore everything that his characters were before writing them into this storyline. However, the storyline itself is almost set up for a reader that has been previously well versed in Aquaman’s history for the last 70 or so years. 

One very high point for me in this entire volume was the artwork! The artwork is split between artists Brad Walker, Phil Brionnes, and Scot Eaton, who blend their own beautiful and unique art styles together from issue to issue very nicely. Though I went back and looked for the subtle changes and styles from artist and issue to issue, it is not completely noticeable to the average reader. This is important to me, because an issue for me when reading comics or any piece of ongoing literature is the consistency of the piece. Although it is common for different writers, and artists to all work on projects together whether it be in the same issue or alternating in the comic world, I personally find it distracting and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't a distracting feature, but a welcome one in this volume of Aquaman. 

Another great feature of the artwork here is the hyper colorful pages. You can see even on the cover art pictured above the bright orange and coral colors, and the many pop out shades of blue. 

Also, a defining point of this volume that I do appreciate is at the end (SPOILER ALERT) where Abnett gives us a short Justice League tie in with the appearance of Superman. If you’re like me and appreciate the crossovers from comic series’ alike then you will enjoy this last issue in the volume! 

Overall, I can give this volume of Aquaman 4 out of 5 stars. The artwork and colors really took the cake on this one over the storyline itself. But maybe if you’re an avid Aquaman fan, or just a super-fan of DC comics in general you will find that aspect more enticing! 

You can view this book at Goodreads here , and as of January 17th 2017 this book should be available at retailers around the country!

Also, I would like to thank NetGally & DC Comics publishing for sending me a copy of this Trade Paperback Volume of Aquaman by Dan Abnett for review! Happy Reading :) 

xoxo,

J

Even with this sickening sense of deja vu I appreciated the story a lot, it was well illustrated and the pace was good, still I'm wondering if is there ever be an ending of the war between superfriends....

Nonostante avessi un nauseante senso di deja vu, la storia mi é piaciuta, era ben disegnata e con un buon ritmo, peró non posso fare a meno di chiedermi se non ci sará mai una fine alla battaglia tra i superamici....

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Aquaman Vol.1: The Drowning | DC Comics | January 17th, 2017
Written by Dan Abnett | Art by Philippe Briones, Andrew Hennessy, Bradley Walker, and Scot Eaton
 
Wait, wait, wait...you’re telling me that Aquaman doesn’t get as much respect as he deserves from the dry-landers that he protects or from those that are reading his comics? As much as I would like to say that the previous question is invalid, you and I both know that Aquaman doesn’t get the respect he deserves, and he most certainly isn’t a valued member of the Justice League. And while this is an unfortunate, the tension caused from such disrespect makes for a great story.
 
Aquaman Vol.1: The Drowning collects Aquaman: Rebirth #1 as well as Aquaman issues 1-7. In this collection, the Atlantean King attempts to close the ever-widening gap between his people and those living on the land above them. When things don’t go as smoothly as he would have liked, Aquaman is put into an impossible situation and must make a choice: continue to build the metaphorical bridge, or let it crumble into the sea.
 
Overall, Aquaman Vol. 1: The Drowning is a solid read, and for those readers that have failed to give Aquaman the chance that he deserves, this is a must-read. If, after reading this collection you still don’t like Aquaman, chances are that you never will. But, I find it very hard to believe that even non-Aquaman fans won’t find enjoyment in this collection.
 
My only complaint with the volume is that towards the end, I completely lose interest in the sub-plot that is taking place behind the scenes. This happens because the main story is quite intense, and I feel as though what’s happening with Black Manta may in fact be important, it just isn’t all that interesting when being compared to what’s happening with Aquaman, the people of Atlantis, and the American Government. Regardless, Aquaman Vol.1: The Drowning is well-written and well-illustrated, and I recommend you read it.
 
Bottom Line: While I cannot say for sure that long-time Aquaman fans will be all that impressed with the Rebirth Aquaman, I can say that new readers certainly will. The emphasis placed on Aquaman’s long-time lack of respect from dry-landers (you and me included), adds real depth to the story and raises the stakes when it comes time for Aquaman to act. The volume ends with a bit of a cliffhanger that has me looking forward to Vol. 2. At some point the sub-plot becomes dull, but for the most part this is a solid story and is definitely worth reading.
 
Thanks to DC Comics, I was fortunate enough to have been able to read/review this prior to its release. Buy a copy of this awesome graphic novel by clicking here: Aquaman Vol.1: The Drowning
 
Score: 8 out of 10

I've never really liked Aquaman – for many reasons that are mentioned in these pages, and others.  It's not that he's a bit weird, it's just that he would seem to be the lamest, most old-school, most "John Carter of Mars"-styled member of the JLA.  Can the differences between his world and ours really have been spun out since the early 1940s?!  Either way, they almost look as if they're coming to a head in this trade, which is only fitting for a new issue #1 and a firm nod to Dan Abnett, who only had three months in the New 52 scheme of things before the changes at the Rebirth.  What happens when he tries to establish an embassy on the coast of the US (and why don't Americans settle with coasts, but have to have seaboards, I'll never know) results in what is actually quite a talky comic, but a decent one.  The multiple artists need to learn their trade quickly – the cute British naval officer here looks horrendous in some panels and lush in others – but on the whole this is a decent story, building of course to a bigger fight in the second arc.  I would have queried why Aquaman was one of the first to get a second trade out of the Rebirth, but on this evidence I am almost actually looking forward to it.

I really liked this. I'm not sure I enjoyed this more than New 52 but I have high hopes for the rest of the volumes. Can't wait to see more of Aquaman and Mera kicking some butt!

Aquaman, Volume 1: The Drowning (Rebirth) by Dan Abnett et. al. is a free NetGalley e-comicbook that I read in mid-January.

Hypercolorful (particularly the mustards and greens of Aquaman and Mera's uniforms, but also the vivid blues and lavenders of the sea and the glossy, forboding black of Black Manta's garb), yet muted/foggy cells frame lots (and lots) of talkative dialogue, thought, and narration bubbles. Basically, there's a lot of talking, thinking, re-thinking, deliberating, and soliloquing, and it takes away from the main plotline of Atlantis' unrest against the volatility of surface-world, American politics and military might.

I feel like I've read this story before. Recently, in fact. In essence, this story is very similar to Aquaman, Volume 3: Throne of Atlantis, pitting Atlantis and surface world against each other with Aquaman supposedly in the middle, but really favoring the surface side enough that I can't fault those of his subject who reject his rule. And yet, I actually think this is the better implementation. Throne of Atlantis tried to vilify Atlanteans in general, and former king Orm in particular, for reacting exactly the way that I would expect a sovereign nation that had lost property and probably lives in an unprovoked, unannounced attack. That one left me with a slightly icky feeling, because nobody in the book who was not expressly coded as evil showed one bit of concern for Atlantis. This time, both sides seem considerably more reasonable, though I sincerely doubt that the US would close the British embassy in DC if it had been the subject of a terrorist attack by an American citizen, but whatever. That aside, characters reacted roughly as I would expect them to react.

The art, however, is not to my taste. The characters all look too angular for my taste, and it just didn't come together for me.

I feel like sometimes the Aquaman on the page these days is so very different from the one I grew up with.

Aquaman and Mera are trying to bridge the gap between Atlantis and the surface world with an Embassy in Massachusetts that's half on land and in the sea. But then Black Manta gets involved and muddies the waters not to mention a bunch of Atlanteans called the Deluge give Aquaman fits too.

By the end of the TPB I was definitely invested even if at the at the beginning I sorta was 'ugh'ing the story line. It turned out to be quite the cliffhanger also.

I was given this galley through Netgalley on behalf of DC Entertainment.

Geoff Johns made me actually like Aquaman and this just helped. I really loved this update to the Aquaman story, although I feel like DC is just doing lots of rebirths one after another and I wish they would stop trying to reinvent things, and instead just stay with either The New 52 or Rebirth and leave it. (Obviously now this will be Rebirth). I hope they stick with Rebirth and I will continue to enjoy Aquaman :)

Another good title from DC's Rebirth cycle. I think the most compelling part of this storyline is the relationship between Aquaman and Mera. They are completely devoted to each other, which acts as a burden at one point in the story. It is so well written. I highly recommend this title.

I thoroughly enjoyed the New-52 run of Aquaman, and it seems as though the Rebirth Aquaman series is off to a great start. Arthur Curry and Mera are acting the part of regal diplomats, but things don't go so smoothly. Black Manta is back to his evil ways, and it will be interesting to see how his storyline continues. Finally, an appearance by "Big Blue" himself is most welcome - especially as a quasi-political instrument like in Miller's DKR. Most highly recommended.

Arthur (aka Aquaman) has established an Atlantean embassy in Massachusetts in an effort to create stable and peaceful contact between Atlantis and the surface world. But Black Mantis has his own plans and disrupts the process with bombs and a personal assault. Meanwhile, Atlantean terrorists and other unknown forces work to bring about conflict as well. In the end Aquaman and Mera duke it out with Superman while Black Mantis escapes to take over a secret society. Plenty of action for a second tier DC star (at least that is how he sees himself).