Aquaman Suggestions thread...

[lead sharp]

Just a casual thought, JMS writing (he's good at epic and that's good for the king of Atlantis) and (work with me) Yoshitaka Amano doing the art. I saw Shawn McManus cover for 50 and it reminded me so much of the cover art for the Final Fantasy games, I thought Amano would be at the very least an interesting choice.

Any more for any more?

[BWilly]

Step 1: get rid of this new Aquaman and bring back the real deal!

There are plenty of writers and artists that I would love to see working on Aquaman, but the only Aquaman that interests me is the one I grew up with.

[Young Avenger]

The thing that hurts Aquaman the most is that every new creative team tries to reinvent him or give him a new direction. Aquaman would be better off if someone just works with what he already has and build from there.

[Billy]

Step 1: get rid of this new Aquaman and bring back the real deal!

There are plenty of writers and artists that I would love to see working on Aquaman, but the only Aquaman that interests me is the one I grew up with.

Absolutely!!!

The thing that hurts Aquaman the most is that every new creative team tries to reinvent him or give him a new direction. Aquaman would be better off if someone just works with what he already has and build from there.

True.

I'll like to see PAD return, or Geoff Johns on Aquaman. He seems to get the character.

Get Alan Davis on Aquaman or Ethan Van Sciver.

All these guys are Aquaman fans and express interest in the character.

[Sean Whitmore]

The thing that hurts Aquaman the most is that every new creative team tries to reinvent him or give him a new direction.

Thing is, the reason for all the restarts is that it all the previous directions tend to stink after a while.

PAD probably kept a single direction workable for the longest time, but even it started to circle the drain near the end. Erik Larsen's take was a non-starter. Veitch's direction was completely scrapped. The Sub-Diego concept was about to lead the book into cancellation before Busiek changed directions again.


SEAN

[Karl O'Neill]

i got issue 50, was not impressed at all with this comic.

The way i see it, aquaman is the watery version of superman, so surely dc could hire someone to write fun, action packed stories around this simple concept.

Give him a rogue gallery. a decent one, not just big fish.

give him a girl, every hero has to care about something or someone except themselves.

aquaman should operate on land aswell,

[Cayman]

Thing is, the reason for all the restarts is that it all the previous directions tend to stink after a while.

PAD probably kept a single direction workable for the longest time, but even it started to circle the drain near the end. Erik Larsen's take was a non-starter. Veitch's direction was completely scrapped. The Sub-Diego concept was about to lead the book into cancellation before Busiek changed directions again.


SEAN

I disagree about Sub-Diego. I think it was working under Pfiefer. If he hadn't been pulled from the book and replaced by Arcudi, I think the book would've been healthier.

[Cayman]

Writer: Grant Morrison, Darwyn Cooke, Mike Carey
Artists: Cameron Stewart, Darwyn Cooke, Ariel Olivetti, Ivan Reis

[Shellhead]

Step 1: cancel Aquaman's monthly title. Regardless of the creator, there isn't enough interest in the character right now. Get rid of the new Aquaman in the process and bring Arthur back as Aquaman. Never let him be king of Atlantis again, because it is just too difficult to keep Aquaman involved with the JLA or most of the DCU in general when he is stuck with royal duties.

Step 2: replace Brad Meltzar on Justice League with a real comic book writer who can deliver some good action and pacing without resorting to decompression and excessive narrative as substitutes for creativity and plot progression.

Step 3: put Aquaman in the Justice League and make him the leader.

Step 4: Keep Aquaman as leader of the Justice League for at least a couple of years, until lots of fans show interest in an Aquaman solo title. Make sure that Aquaman makes some new enemies during this run, possibly including some rogues of other DC heroes that haven't been getting used lately.

Step 5: Bring back that Aquaman monthly title, but keep him as leader of the Justice League for awhile. Have the same writer working on both titles, at least at first, and maybe even cross some story elements over between the two titles, to help launch the Aquaman comic. Bring in some of those enemies that he made while leading the JLA.

[Billy]

Step 1: cancel Aquaman's monthly title. Regardless of the creator, there isn't enough interest in the character right now. Get rid of the new Aquaman in the process and bring Arthur back as Aquaman. Never let him be king of Atlantis again, because it is just too difficult to keep Aquaman involved with the JLA or most of the DCU in general when he is stuck with royal duties.

I don't know, alot of people bring this up as a problem, but Black Panther is a ruler and he has an active role in the Marvel Universe. Ain't he leading the FF now.

Step 2: replace Brad Meltzar on Justice League with a real comic book writer who can deliver some good action and pacing without resorting to decompression and excessive narrative as substitutes for creativity and plot progression.

Well, I thought Green Arrow and Identity Crisis were pretty disapointing so I skipped Justice League. But the main reason I skipped Justice League is I think Ed Benes is terrible and a boring repetive artist.

Step 3: put Aquaman in the Justice League and make him the leader

Fat chance, DC shows to confidence in Aquaman.

Step 5: Bring back that Aquaman monthly title, but keep him as leader of the Justice League for awhile. Have the same writer working on both titles, at least at first, and maybe even cross some story elements over between the two titles, to help launch the Aquaman comic. Bring in some of those enemies that he made while leading the JLA.

Indeed, when was Aquaman most successful, when PAD was writing the book, I guy who is a big fan of Aquaman and doing something interesting, but staying true to the character. Also he was getting plenty of attention off Grant Morrison in JLA.

[Billy]

I disagree about Sub-Diego. I think it was working under Pfiefer. If he hadn't been pulled from the book and replaced by Arcudi, I think the book would've been healthier.

Agreed. Why was he taken off the book. Arcudi started off well, but once Patrick Gleason was taken off the book, it totally lost its appeal. DC Editors and shifting creative teams damage the book, more then the direction. Why should new readers take a chance on the book, when DC Editors so no support.

[Blind pugh]

What's the deal with Sword of Atlantis anyway?

Was following Aquaman Skipped Crisis & all it's build up titles as I don't do alot of D.C and wanted to spare my wallet.

Get my next Aquaman issue after it all & he's some kid who says he's not Aquaman.

So I stopped buying it there and then.

I'm betting I'm not the only one!

[Justin D.]

I disagree about Sub-Diego. I think it was working under Pfiefer. If he hadn't been pulled from the book and replaced by Arcudi, I think the book would've been healthier.

I agree with you. I was really digging Pfiefer and Patrick Gleason's time on the book. Instead of pulling Pfiefer to begin what DC probably thought were a string of bigger names, they should have just advertised the book more. Or at all.

Really, that seems like the same problem that afflicts so many books. If companies (really, we're only talking about DC and Marvel here) keep replacing creators with the hope that a bigger name will draw more readers, it will become harder to find new talent.

[AM/FM Wizard]

Writers: Tony Bedard or Tom Peyer
Artists: George Perez or Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez

Bring Aquaman back to his classic roots (and costume - no long hair, no water/hook hand, no gladiator armor - the classic orange & green), throw in some silver age coolness like the giant seahorses and keep the new Aquagirl as well as that floating house with the Sea Devils that Busiek introduced. Take away that whole King Arthur mythology that Aquaman seems trapped with and replace it with some solid comic book science fiction. Have guest stars like Arion, Amythest, Dr. Fate, Animal Man, Superman, Warlord, and the Aquaman from the 853rd century.

[Billage]

Want to see Aquaman at his purest?Orange/green ensemble?Clean-shaven,short hair and bold looking?A left hand made of flesh?

Read Justice.:D

[We R. Venom]

Step 1: get rid of this new Aquaman and bring back the real deal!

There are plenty of writers and artists that I would love to see working on Aquaman, but the only Aquaman that interests me is the one I grew up with.

Yes please please do.

[J. Robb]

Create an all-new "Global Guardians" book with Aquaman as the leader.

[Justin D.]

Create an all-new "Global Guardians" book with Aquaman as the leader.

Besides Cayman's creative choices, this seems like the best idea so far.

Seriously, almost every idea so far has been "Let's get rid of the new guy and bring back the classic one," which is funny because Young Avenger makes the comment about regularly reinventing Aquaman is what hurts him most. I say we stick with the Aquaman we have now and let him grow into the role.

[Aaron King]

I actually really liked the new Aquaman, but once I heard that Busiek was being replaced by Williams (who I don't really like), I dropped the book. I liked the old Aquaman and read a lot of PAD's run; I also liked Pfeiffer and Arcudi. However, Busiek's idea seemed like a fun and interesting way to reinvigorate and explore the undersea world of the DCU.

Tossing it off to another creative team that was going to branch out to other ideas ruined for me, though. I really just wanted to see a new underwater status quo established and explore it through the perfect POV eyes of the new Aquaman. Shit, I would've bought monthly Busiek outlines illustrated by McManus (an excellent artist). I just wanted to be led through this 2/3rds of the world after Infinite Crisis.

Basically, Busiek's direction seemed like a great "new & different" arc that didn't get rid of what had come before. Sub Diego still existed, right? And Orin could've regained his memory and achieved all sorts of different roles depending on what was needed in the stories. And man, that Sea Devils' floating mansion was so awesome.

[Billy]

I actually really liked the new Aquaman, but once I heard that Busiek was being replaced by Williams (who I don't really like), I dropped the book. I liked the old Aquaman and read a lot of PAD's run; I also liked Pfeiffer and Arcudi. However, Busiek's idea seemed like a fun and interesting way to reinvigorate and explore the undersea world of the DCU.

Too bad he couldn't stick around to finish it. Seriously I liked Will Pfiefer run better, and he at least wrote Aquaman not a terrible shell of the character.

Tossing it off to another creative team that was going to branch out to other ideas ruined for me, though. I really just wanted to see a new underwater status quo established and explore it through the perfect POV eyes of the new Aquaman. Shit, I would've bought monthly Busiek outlines illustrated by McManus (an excellent artist). I just wanted to be led through this 2/3rds of the world after Infinite Crisis.

I don't blindly follow a writer, I'm a Kurt Busiek fan. But he was wrong to replace Arthur for Arthur Joseph. It didn't help at all, and he further damaged the book, more then fixing anything.

[Billy]

Besides Cayman's creative choices, this seems like the best idea so far.

Seriously, almost every idea so far has been "Let's get rid of the new guy and bring back the classic one," which is funny because Young Avenger makes the comment about regularly reinventing Aquaman is what hurts him most. I say we stick with the Aquaman we have now and let him grow into the role.

So we should stick with whatever is the latest version? Even if its obvious that it ain't working and its alienated old fans. Sorry, no, replacing him, does not help the book. Its pretty obvious it doesn't work.

[Aaron King]

Oh, Billy, Billy, are you our Aquaman's keeper? Didn't replacing old Super Friends Aquaman with Hook Hand Aquaman help for awhile? I don't think there's any info that shows that changing Aquaman makes it worse.

Sure, it sucks that Busiek had to leave Aquaman, but he is working on Superman, too. Maybe he had great plans to reunite the pre-Infinite Crisis series with his "Sword of" ideas. I mean, the comic still starred Orin, right? Maybe Atlantis would've been unified under a cast of all the Aquaman characters, from Mara to King Shark to good ol' Bob Haney's seahorse-riding Aquaman.

Ugh. I'm a little too drunk to cohesively argue right now, but weren't Aquaman's sales already falling? I wish Orin and Sub Diego could've kept going, but the rookie Arthur was really fun and it sucked that Williams isn't continuing with that same direction.

Basically, it's too bad that writers can't stick with a single driving direction for more than a single writer's run. Arthur Joseph could've been a fun point-of-view character.

[Billy]

Oh, Billy, Billy, are you our Aquaman's keeper?

Man, if you are drunk, why don't you wait till sober up before you post??? I'm a guy with a opinion, just like you. I have no idea what a Aquaman Keeper is?

Didn't replacing old Super Friends Aquaman with Hook Hand Aquaman help for awhile? I don't think there's any info that shows that changing Aquaman makes it worse.

What do you consider Superfriends Aquaman? Anytime he wears his Orange/Green costume?

Maybe Atlantis would've been unified under a cast of all the Aquaman characters, from Mara to King Shark to good ol' Bob Haney's seahorse-riding Aquaman.

Sober up man, your being a jerk.

Ugh. I'm a little too drunk to cohesively argue right now, but weren't Aquaman's sales already falling? I wish Orin and Sub Diego could've kept going, but the rookie Arthur was really fun and it sucked that Williams isn't continuing with that same direction.

Um, its been stated by Kurt Busiek and Tad Williams it is still the same direction. So why did you quit reading it? Kurt Busiek's supports Tad Williams direction, his building off his ideas.

Basically, it's too bad that writers can't stick with a single driving direction for more than a single writer's run. Arthur Joseph could've been a fun point-of-view character.

Yeah, Arthur Joseph could of been interesting, but that goes for any character. The guy is dull and average guy superhero has been done before better, I'll rather more unique characters.

[Justin D.]

So we should stick with whatever is the latest version? Even if its obvious that it ain't working and its alienated old fans. Sorry, no, replacing him, does not help the book. Its pretty obvious it doesn't work.

Should a comic always stick with an established version of a character even if it's not working and boring any potential readers?

Aaron, drunk or not, wasn't being a jerk. By "Aquaman's keeper," he was spinning the term "are you your brother's keepr". Look it up on Google if you're not familiar with it. I think Aquaman had the hook-hand (or some variation on it) and bad attitude for about 10 years before this last series started. I'd consider that a substantial part of his history.

[Billy]

Should a comic always stick with an established version of a character even if it's not working and boring any potential readers?

The character was never to fault in the first place, I think its pretty clear even with replacing him the book couldn't gather enough support. I think this mainly is for bad editoral decisions more then anything.

Aaron, drunk or not, wasn't being a jerk. By "Aquaman's keeper," he was spinning the term "are you your brother's keepr". Look it up on Google if you're not familiar with it.

I didn't think he was being jerk with that comment.

I think Aquaman had the hook-hand (or some variation on it) and bad attitude for about 10 years before this last series started. I'd consider that a substantial part of his history.

Are you replying to anything I said? Aquaman had a bad attitude before he lost his hand.

[Mr. Toast]

I actually liked the water hand. Partly I just preferred it to the harpoon. And with it's healing abilities, it wouldn't be hard to just have the hand heal itself and have the old Arthur back.

Then came the new Aquaman. I have been following it, partly just to see how they bring Orin back. Maybe it's unwarranted optimism, but I really expected (and still partly expect) Orin to be restored to his previous form, and take back over as Aquaman. Part of what really annoyed me was just how the new Aquaman had the same name and similar origins, which really made no sense. Except in one situation: if they showed that he was really from an alternate universe. He could easily be a result of the crisis. His lack of memories of being Aquaman, as well as inexperience, would easily be explained by the fact that in that universe, he WASN'T Aquaman - at least not yet.

But after all my hypotheses about ways my favorite ocean based hero could be restored to his former glory, one truth remains unchanged...

The art to issue 50 sucked.

[AM/FM Wizard]

one truth remains unchanged...

The art to issue 50 sucked.

Please, let us not forget the deplorable dialogue. What many editors fail to realize is that just because someone can write a novel does not mean that
their writing is going to translate well into comics. Not to point fingers, but to prove my theory, ladies and gentlemen... I give you Tad Williams.

Now then, where's Tom Peyer and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez?

[Babylon23]

Personally, I've loved Sword of Atlantis under Busiek. I was really intrigued by the new status quo. This was the first time in a very long time that I'd actually been interested in Aquaman.

Unfortunately, issue 50 didn't grab me at all. I'll continue to check the series out for now, since Williams has talked about incorporating elements from all of the previous runs, including Sub Diego.

[MiketheBat]

The version of Aquaman from the Alex Ross series Justice is fantastic.
He's got the classic look, which I love. Sure he rides a giant seahorse sometimes, and some may find it corny, but I think it looks pretty cool.
He's king, husband, father, and member of the JLA. That's makes him a very unique character in the DCU, and coming up with interesting stories for him shouldn't be a problem for a good writer.

[dupersuper]

I'm ok with changing a costume or hairdo; I may prefer 1 look to another, but if it's a charactor and/or writer I like, I'll continue reading. Dumping a whole new charactor in on the other hand...
I really like Busiek, but I couldn't care less about the "new" Aquaman.

[Mr. Toast]

Unfortunately, issue 50 didn't grab me at all.

Oh, it grabbed me. Like Doomsday slowly crushing my throat with his enormous hands of death.

Okay, I'm being overdramatic a little. But the only thing that really interested me at all is what this hatch thing is. And did it bug anywhere else that the new Arthur asks the squid boy what's going on, because he hadn't seen him that color before... but he's colored exactly the same way as normal? Weak-sauce.

[Zero Hunter]

The art is what finally drove me off the book. I know it is underwater and such, but it doesn't HAVE to have that moody art all the time. Sometimes it just amkes things look to murky. It was like when Jae Lee was doing Namor and it just gets hard to figure out whats going on.
Personaly I loved longhaired bad ass Aquaman over any of the other versions we have seen so far.
I think I could still get behind the new kid if they got a better writer, better artist, and restored Orin to fully human. I liked what Buisek has set up with the undersea world being a wild and barbaric place. Maybe they could restore Orin and have set out to rebuild Atlantis while the new kid and King Shark could be out playing the Lone Ranger trying to keep things from getting to far out of hand until Atlantis is restored and things could be stablized a little.

[Spectrum]

I've always been a huge Aquaman fan, and I really tried to get behind the whole OYL thing because of Kurt Busiek and all, but the loss of Orin was too much for me. And Tad Williams killed any hope I had for the book.

[The Scribe]

The thing that hurts Aquaman the most is that every new creative team tries to reinvent him or give him a new direction. Aquaman would be better off if someone just works with what he already has and build from there.

Agreed, Aquaman doesn't need to be reinvented.

He just needs a capable writer.

Writers:
Mark Waid, Peter David, John Rogers, or, Joe Kelly

Artists:
Rags Morales, Eduardo Barreto, Ed Benes, or, Chris Batista

Also, Aquaman needs a definitive rogues gallery and the seahorses need to be brought back.

Aquaman needs a supporting cast:
Mera, Tempest, who else?

[The Scribe]

Create an all-new "Global Guardians" book with Aquaman as the leader.

That would be great. I'd like to see a new Global Guardians book.

Aquaman could be an honorary member. ;)

[EnDwiGast]

Well, #51 is out now and i didn't think it warranted its own thread -- so I went back to this one.

For some reason, the name "Jar Jar Binks" keeps popping into my head now when i think of this title. Not just directed at one character - but the whole overall feel.

The new Aquaman is as bland as ever and the characterization of Tempest seems totally off.

I really want to like Aquaman. I enjoy Tad Williams' novels. But so far, I'm just not getting into this series. Actually, I wasn't blown away by busiek's run but was hoping for some future payoff. I'm getting close to the point where I'll be giving up on the title until i hear that the original aquaman returns.

Topo really isn't a problem for me. Its the overall tone that is a little on the light side for me - even when its meant to be a little darker - i just can't seem to take any of it seriously.

it looks like Aquaman may be joining Hawkman on my list of characters I'd love to follow but can't.

[Mr. Toast]

I have to agree on the "Jar Jar Binks" comment. Unfortunately for DC, however, Sword of Atlantis isn't The Phantom Menace. With Star Wars, Lucas can basically do whatever he wants. But Aquaman has got to be good or it won't sell. I really am all for artists taking chances with characters, and doing something new and different, but there have to be limits. I just hope a drop in sales doesn't get Aquaman cancelled, but rather influences them to return to his roots.

[Billy]

I just hope a drop in sales doesn't get Aquaman cancelled, but rather influences them to return to his roots.

I gotta agree with this comment. But I doubt that will happen, this looks like the end, and DC has all but themselves to blame.

[EnDwiGast]

I gotta agree with this comment. But I doubt that will happen, this looks like the end, and DC has all but themselves to blame.


I agree with both of you. Unfortunately, all too often the blame gets put on the character. Yet I look back at great runs and wonder why they let the momentum drop.

Peter David is marvel exclusive isn't he? Otherwise, I'd be hoping he'd come back for another long run.

[Billy]

I agree with both of you. Unfortunately, all too often the blame gets put on the character. Yet I look back at great runs and wonder why they let the momentum drop.

Peter David is marvel exclusive isn't he? Otherwise, I'd be hoping he'd come back for another long run.

Yeah, that would be pretty cool, but I think PAD hates the current people that are running DC, I don't blame him.

[Thor Boy]

I just read Aquaman #51.
I was willing to give it a chance after #50, I said it was a transition and that there was some good elements in it but this is really disappointing.
I only started reading Aquaman last year but Billy recommended some back issues and I loved them I became an over night Aquaman fan and to think ill never read Aquaman like that again really makes me sad.
I have nothing good to say about this issue.
What a shame, to think of the trees that died for this.
The only reason I would read #52 is that I still think Topo is cool :p .
But that’s not enough.

[Billy]

Aquaman#51 was not as bad as the previous issue, but thats not by much. I'm usually a fan of big cast of supporting characters, but this is kinda too much, but for good supporting characters to work you need a strong lead character, and Arthur Joseph ain't very appealing. If I want to read average guy thrust into heroics, I can can get that with 60% of other books in the market. I'm sick of seeing the same type of characters repeated everywhere.
To me, Aquaman is not anyone who can breath underwater, there are strong attributes being ignored. Its like getting a guy off the street to dress up as Batman.

[Bloody Thumb]

I like this New Aquaman. I'm not really enjoying the stories about him at the moment, but i do think the character has potential. I want Both aquamans to be around. Keep this new aquaman as the "Adventurer" character and take the OG Aquaman and work on The King of Atlantis type stories.

I also like the suggestion on the Front page to set Aquaman up as the Leader of the JLA. He rules a Kingdom, he should be able to accept the responsibility.