How Lame is Aquaman?

[taintedlunch]

The current state of Aquaman's rep:

-He's a running gag on the tv series, Entourage, where the lead character is vying to land a lead role in an Aquaman film. (Haven't seen the show, but it's supposedly very good.)

-Entertainment Weekly recently had a blurb in their magazine about the lameness of Aquaman, mentioning the Entourage referrence, ridiculing his "water hand", and even questioning Paul Levitz, who struggled to defend DCs champion of the sea.

-I was listening yesterday to the comedy station on XM radio when I heard impressionist Frank Caliendo doing a PERFECT impersonation of the narrarator of the old Superfriends cartoon. (He also does an impeccable John Madden, btw.)

"Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice, Aquaman makes himself a sandwich because he can't do SHIT! Using his aquatic telepathy, he summons a can of sardines!"

Does any hero rank lower on the popularity scale than Aquaman? Is he the Kathy Griffith of comic books, forced upon the public, never to go away but never respected? How much cooler is Namor than Aquaman? Discuss.

[Kevinroc]

Aquaman will forever be a joke in the minds of the public because of Superfriends. And because people keep referencing his Superfriends role.

I think a lot of creators like to take it in the other direction, to validate Aquaman. The first example I could think of right now is when Aquaman defeated Wonder Woman in Justice League season 2.

I don't think Aquaman is as cool as Namor. And I think the general public would probably think of Namor as less of a joke if they knew about him (mostly because Namor's super strength is often played up). Although I never did like that speedo outfit (the black outfit's pretty good).

I don't think Aquaman will ever get rid of the sting of the Superfriends and will always be considered a joke by mainstream audiences.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

Even if he is lame, does that affect his swimming?! :p

One of my fave characters, waiting for the right writer ... again.

Why Will Pfieffer stunning work was replaced with the meh of John Arcudi is beyond me.

[Spackling Compound]

How about those peanuts on the airplane? I mean, what's up with that?

And hey, been in a cab lately? Where do they get these guys? Abu? Habib?

What about that drive thru at McDonald's? What language is that?

Aquaman? That's a superpower? Talking to fish?

I'll be here all weekend folks.

Tip your waitress.

[taintedlunch]

Originally Posted by Kevinroc

Aquaman will forever be a joke in the minds of the public because of Superfriends. And because people keep referencing his Superfriends role.

I think a lot of creators like to take it in the other direction, to validate Aquaman. The first example I could think of right now is when Aquaman defeated Wonder Woman in Justice League season 2.

I don't think Aquaman is as cool as Namor. And I think the general public would probably think of Namor as less of a joke if they knew about him (mostly because Namor's super strength is often played up). Although I never did like that speedo outfit (the black outfit's pretty good).

I don't think Aquaman will ever get rid of the sting of the Superfriends and will always be considered a joke by mainstream audiences.

You fail to mention the costume, which is incredibly lame and dated, but the nostalgia-run-amok advocates at DC refuse to change it. Well, they changed it, but they brought it back. Let me repeat that: THEY BROUGHT IT BACK.

Also, the water hand is lame. Why can't we have a hero with one hand? Is it so unthinkable for a hero to have one hand that we have to give him a magic water hand as a replacement? I know they're chomping at the bit to get Barbara back in the Batgirl costume, but I hope they just look at Aquaman's lame hand and just leave things as they are.

Sub-Diego is just really corny and awful. I can't even speak of it, it's so bad. Let's move on.

When a guy with little tiny wings on his ankles, pencilled-in eyebrows, and a tight green speedo has more sea cred than you, it's time to fire your publicist.

[TCJohnson]

I love the Sub Diego storyline, and when Will Pfiefer was writing it it was one of my favorite books.

[taintedlunch]

Originally Posted by Spackling Compound

How about those peanuts on the airplane? I mean, what's up with that?

And hey, been in a cab lately? Where do they get these guys? Abu? Habib?

What about that drive thru at McDonald's? What language is that?

Aquaman? That's a superpower? Talking to fish?

I'll be here all weekend folks.

Tip your waitress.

With the sudden demise of Mitch Hedberg, it's great to see someone take up the mantle of brilliant, thought-provoking comedy. God Bless You, sir.

[Lunar Daydreamer]

The Justice League cartoon origin of the hook/hand is fabulous, a whole world better than the Peter David version. :)

[taintedlunch]

Originally Posted by TCJohnson

I love the Sub Diego storyline, and when Will Pfiefer was writing it it was one of my favorite books.

But... just say it out loud to yourself... SUB-Diego. Oh God it hurts. What next?

In the latest issue of Firestorm, an atomic accident transforms the citizens of the gambling capital of America into lasers! Firestorm, welcome to... LAZER VEGAS. Hope you survive the experience.

Personally, I do not think Aquaman is lame. His hand is lame and his costume is lame, but he is not. Plus, he has one of the coolest villains, visually at least, at his disposal: Black Manta. (Ocean Master is not too bad, either).

I enjoyed Peter David's run on the title and there was a mini in the eighties that I highly enjoyed, although the costume he wore in it was even more ice-skaterish than his traditional one. The art was great in it, but I can't remember the artists name, although I believe he may be passed away. Could be wrong about that.

[Donald M.]

Though they do poke a bit of fun at Aquaman in Entourage, the show has made me think that a good big-budget Aquaman film would be just the thing to rehabilitate his image with the general public.

With it looking like DC might be turning around it's habit of totally screwing up DC properties on the big screen, there's a a chance such a film might even get made and not suck.

And if the movie sucks less than the rumored Sub-Mariner film, then Arthur will finally make Namor his bitch, which is as it should be.

[Kevinroc]

Originally Posted by taintedlunch

You fail to mention the costume, which is incredibly lame and dated, but the nostalgia-run-amok advocates at DC refuse to change it. Well, they changed it, but they brought it back. Let me repeat that: THEY BROUGHT IT BACK.

Also, the water hand is lame. Why can't we have a hero with one hand? Is it so unthinkable for a hero to have one hand that we have to give him a magic water hand as a replacement? I know they're chomping at the bit to get Barbara back in the Batgirl costume, but I hope they just look at Aquaman's lame hand and just leave things as they are.

Sub-Diego is just really corny and awful. I can't even speak of it, it's so bad. Let's move on.

When a guy with little tiny wings on his ankles, pencilled-in eyebrows, and a tight green speedo has more sea cred than you, it's time to fire your publicist.

I didn't bring up Sub-Diego. I just don't think it'll be permanent.

Yeah, I think Aquaman's costume is lame. An orange shirt and green pants? Luke Cage's Hero For Hire outfit was better and that thing was a terrible outfit. But DC actually isn't chomping at the bit to get Babs back in the Batgirl costume. Gail and Dan DiDio have admitted that they don't want Babs to get out of that chair.

Namor's old speedo outfit was terrible and would probably make many wonder if he were gay. Then they see him fighting the Fantastic Four or The Hulk and holding his own and its more power to him. But I do like the black costume. And since Bendis had Namor wear that costume during New Avengers, I hope Marvel sticks with that.

I don't know what DC was thinking with the water hand. "It's a magic hand made out of water." People are just gonna laugh at that. At least the hook hand was respectable. "Damn, Aquaman actually looks tough."

[taintedlunch]

Originally Posted by Donald M.

And if the movie sucks less than the rumored Sub-Mariner film, then Arthur will finally make Namor his bitch, which is as it should be.

Isn't Namor older than Aquaman? I don't remember...

Personally, I think if Namor and Aquaman fought, and Kurt Busiek isn't writing it, Namor would bend Arthur over Mark-Millar-in-the-Authority style.

"Make Namor his bitch?" Actually, I think they'd make a cute couple A guy in a speedo and a guy in an ice-skater's uniform. What's not to love?

[EdContradictory]

He was cool in JLA when Morrison was writing him.

And he was cooler with the harpoon hand.

[Cayman]

Aquaman's pretty cool, not lame. His costume is really no more garish than Superman's or Alan Scott's. He just needs a sympathetic writer and artist.

Cay

[taintedlunch]

I think everyone missed my Aquaman pun I made here:

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...&page=60&pp=15

(Yes, jokes about Aquaman make me feel better about myself.)