Arthur’s journey has taken him to The Father Star! Attempting to continue his efforts of placing lighthouses around the universe, Arthur has found himself alongside Jarro and on his home planet of evil killer Starfish! Would you kill one to save many? Or in this case, destroy a world to save billions? Arthur may have to make a tough choice to survive. Meanwhile, Black Manta has joined forces with Lolanna, and the duo are out to destroy everything Aquaman loves.
Creative Team: Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Paolo Villanelli, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The Story:
The tease that Jeremy gives us of Black Manta has me ready for so much more! Just his mere presence is enough to send chills down your spine as he seeks only to destroy Aquaman and everything that he loves. However, Jeremy takes us on another journey, and this one has massive implications. Jarro is not like his kind and doesn’t seek to murder other planets, and yet they have found themselves on The Father Star. We continue to get glimpses and teasers of the full power of The Blue without fully knowing just yet the scope of Arthur’s abilities. Each journey shows us just a little bit more while bringing fair warning. Jarro takes control, and we see him start to destroy the planet and even offer a warning to Aquaman. It’s the way Jeremy can give us just enough in each issue, keeping us hooked on the line and coming right back!
The Art and Letters:
Starting with Timm’s cover, this is one of the best covers of the series yet! Trading out the lighter colors for black and red offers a glimpse and a warning to the readers. I love the reflection in Manta’s eyes as we haven’t even opened the book yet. Paolo and Timms both have exquisite detail in this issue, especially when we go to The Father Star and the insane amount of lines laid out. What really captured my attention about this issue is the page of Atlantis. The city sprawled out so beautifully puts into perspective how gorgeous it truly is. Lokus has a vibrancy when showing this page, and you can see why this city is so sought after. The artwork is incredible throughout, and the team is doing so well.
Final Thoughts:
Emperor Aquaman #17 continues to offer glimpses into Arthur’s potential with the Blue while teasing us with his greatest foe yet. There is a touch of sadness and emotion in this issue, but it is overshadowed by the excitement this team brings every month.
Overall Grade: 9.5/10
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