Review: Aquaman Vol. 4 - Underworld TP

Aquaman Vol. 4 - Underworld TP

Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Stjepan Sejic
Letterer: Steve Wands

SYNOPSIS:

Enraged by rumors of Arthur's survival in the slums of Atlantis, the ruthless King Rath orders the use of ancient Atlantean techno-magic to track down the Aquaman at all costs! But the ex-king Arthur can't hide for long when his fate collides with that of a mysterious young woman on the run from Rath's own secret police. Her name: Dolphin. Collects AQUAMAN #25-30.

REVIEW:

As a non-Aquaman reader, this is the first time I have ever been drawn to the King of Atlantis.  And trying something new paid off entirely.  If, like me, this was the member of Justice League who garnered the least interest from you, now is the time to find a new favourite.

Arthur, presumed dead, has been lurking in the slums of Atlantis.  Meanwhile, King Rath has created something of a police state, turning on anyone who once supported Arthur and anyone whom he does not consider a "true Atlantean".  Arthur must join forces with a woman named Dolphin and find a way to bring Aquaman back to his former self.

In this volume of five issues, Abnett has crafted a whole world and a situation that echoes some of the injustices faced in our own world above sea level.  A tyrant determined to root out anyone who does not agree with or fully support him.  Furthermore, stripping Arthur of his rank and forcing him into the streets of Atlantis means that this gives new comers a perfect chance to jump in here and we can watch him climb his way back up to becoming Aquaman again.

Abnett has been working on the series since the beginning of the Rebirth so long-time fans can expect more of what they have seen before.  New readers may be a tad confused by the early pages but this quickly fades away as you are drawn into the story.

But the real spark that ignites this issue and makes it one you must pick up is Sejic's art. Coming to the series for the first time, Sejic brings the same kind of charm that fans of his other works (Ravine, Death Vigil, Sunstone) will be familiar with.  He tackles both sprawling Atlantean cityscapes and intimate conversations with the same level of finesse and attention-to-detail.

Expressions and mannerisms have always been a strength of Sejic's and he conveys both subtle and intense emotions with ease.  The is particularly relevant with the character of Dolphin, who is mute.  Abnett's script captures Aquaman's frustrations and concerns with his words but just a few panels of Sejic's interpretation of Dolphin and we know exactly how she's feeling and what she's trying to say.  It captures the great partnership between writer and artist here and works brilliantly.

All in all, Aquaman is a fantastic read and a perfect way in for new readers of the series.  Abnett brings an exciting take on rebuilding Aquaman while Sejic is clearly having a blast at bringing the Atlanteans to life.

9/10.

Adventures in Podcasting: New Releases for 24/1/18

It's new comic book day and Peter and Derek are here to get you caught up with what's out this week.  The guys pick out their favourite comics and graphic novels and share that trademark banter that we know you've all come to cherish.

To keep up to date with our podcast, follow us on SoundCloud or subscribe via iTunes.

To order any of this week's new releases, you can find the whole selection right here.

Dark Horse April 2018 Solicitations Brings New 300 Title

The Dark Horse solicitations for April 2018 have been announced and there are some great titles in there.  Here are just three of our highlights, all of which are returns to old favourites.

Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander #1 (of 5)

Frank Miller (W/A/Cover) and Alex Sinclair (C)

Return to the world of the 300 with this brand new title from series creator, Frank Miller.  Miller brought the wow back to his Dark Knight trilogy last year with DKIII: The Master Race so we're expecting big things from this new 5 part series, written and drawn by the man himself.

Order here.

Black Hammer: Age of Doom #1

Jeff Lemire (W), Dean Ormston (A/Cover), Dave Stewart (C)

The Black Hammer saga picks up exactly where it left off with this next part of the story.  Another gem from Jeff Lemire which is a must-read if you've been enjoying the series so far.

Order here

Aliens: Dust to Dust #1 (of 4)

Gabriel Hardman (W/A/Cover)

A twelve year old and his mother are making a desperate attempt to evacuate the colony inhabit but there are some pesky xenomorphs determined to keep them right where they are.

A mini-series that will help fill that Alien-shaped void in our lives since the last series and the Predator/Judge Dredd crossovers finished.

Order here.

For more Dark Horse solicitations coming this April, check out the full list here.

Marvel's March 2018 Solicitation Highlights

New Marvel solicitations are available on our website! Take a sneak peek at some of the exciting new titles coming this March from Marvel.

Ant-Man and The Wasp Prelude #1 (of 2)

WILL CORONA PILGRIM (W) CHRIS ALLEN (A)

To prepare for the upcoming film, this two-part series from Will Corona Pilgrim and Chris Allen sets up this new film by reminding you what Scott Lang got up to in the first film and showing how Hope van Dyke became the Wasp!

Add this title to your subscription here.

Damnation: Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider #1 (One-Shot)

CHRISTOPHER SEBELA (W) • PHIL NOTO (A) Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Johnny Blaze takes on Mephisto!!!

This one shot will tie-in with the ongoing event, "Damnation".  This exciting crossover will include such titles as Damnation, Doctor Strange, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider, Iron Fist, and Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #16.

To add the entire Damnation event to your subscription, visit our Bundles page here.  Or, if you'd just like Damnation: Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider #1, click here.

New Mutants: Dead Souls #1 (of 6)

MATTHEW ROSENBERG (W) • ADAM GORHAM (A) Cover by RYAN STEGMAN

Just in time for the new horror movie, The New Mutants return and this is going to be one you won't want to miss.  A team including Magik, Wolfsbane, Rictor, Boom-Boom and Strong Guy take on paranormal dangers and prove that they aren't just trainee X-Men anymore.  They're the real deal.

Written by Phoenix Resurrection's Matthew Rosenberg and drawn by Adam Gorham (of Rocket fame), this mini-series can be pre-ordered here.

Subscribers may be familiar with new listings on our site, but if you're new to comics, here's how it works:

Publishers make their newest listing available to view from up to three months in advance.  We pop them onto the "New Solicitations" section of our site and you just have to flick through, see what you fancy and get ordering!  Ordering comics this far in advance means that you are guaranteed a copy when it is released.  This gives us plenty of time to order your requested titles from the publisher which means you won't miss out.

To see more of Marvel's upcoming releases, pop onto our site and check out the whole selection.

Adventures in Podcasting: New Releases for 17/1/18

Another week of exciting new comics is upon us, which can mean only one thing...another episode of the Forbidden Planet International podcast is up!

This week Peter, Derek and Emma delve into the new releases and pick out a selection of comic book treats for your listening and reading pleasure.

Listen below and don't forget to give us a follow on Soundcloud.  Or, if you're an Apple user (that sounds ominous) you can always subscribe to us on itunes by following this link.



All of these great titles can be ordered simply by clicking right here.