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Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench (Aquaman Vol. VII #1)

by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis (Illustrator), Joe Prado (Illustrator)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 1,272 ratings · 146 reviews

The King of the Seven Seas Aquaman returns to his very own ongoing series for the first time in years at the hands of DC Entertainment Chief Creative Office Geoff Johns, who reteams with GREEN LANTERN collaborator artist Ivan Reis! Between proving himself to a world that sees him as a joke, Aquaman and his bride Mera face off against a long buried terror from the depths of...more

Hardcover, The New 52, 144 pages

Published September 11th 2012 by DC Comics (first published November 2011)

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Oct 05, 2012 Sam Quixote rated it 5 of 5 stars

I admit I'm one of those people who used to scoff at Aquaman, seeing him as a character long out of date and too cheesy to continue into the 21st century. So it's a pleasant surprise that I read "The Trench" and not only enjoyed it but was genuinely impressed with this character and his world as presented by the skilled minds of writer Geoff Johns and artist Ivan Reis.

My opinion of Aquaman is widely shared and the character has been mocked on popular comedy shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "...more I admit I'm one of those people who used to scoff at Aquaman, seeing him as a character long out of date and too cheesy to continue into the 21st century. So it's a pleasant surprise that I read "The Trench" and not only enjoyed it but was genuinely impressed with this character and his world as presented by the skilled minds of writer Geoff Johns and artist Ivan Reis.

My opinion of Aquaman is widely shared and the character has been mocked on popular comedy shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "Family Guy" so it's good to see Johns address these in the opening chapter of the book. It seems no one in Aquaman's world really respects him either! He's constantly being made fun of by law enforcement officers and members of the public, stoically ignoring their barbs and saving their ungrateful lives anyway. While some superheroes have a hard time with the public because they're alien (Superman) or perceived as criminals themselves (Batman), Aquaman may be the first superhero whom the public acknowledge as a hero but don't take seriously because his very existence seems so silly. It makes for an interesting perspective in comics, one I've never seen before.

Arthur Curry aka Aquaman is living with his girlfriend Mera aka Aquawoman (a mermaid who is able to control water in all its forms psychically) in Amnesty Bay on the East Coast of America where he grew up with his (now deceased) father. Sea monsters from beneath the trench of the Atlantic Ocean emerge and begin abducting the townspeople of Amnesty Bay en masse, taking them down to the depths to feed to their queen - Aquaman to the rescue!

Johns sets up the world of Aquaman nicely, especially for new readers to the character (like me), as he retells part of Aquaman's story in flashbacks along with the fragments of the backstories of important characters like his dad, Dr Shin, and Mera. Johns doesn't explain Atlantis or why Arthur has chosen not to become King of Atlantis but this is hinted at as being addressed in future books.

Having seen Aquaman in action, I buy his superhero status fully and found myself engrossed in his story. He's a sympathetic and likeable hero with a lot of potential for further adventures. Johns and Reis treat him with dignity and seriousness and anyone who thought of him as a joke beforehand will think differently after reading this (at least he's no more mock-able than any other superhero). "The Trench" is a brilliant start to a great character. With Johns and Reis in the driving seat, I'll definitely pick up further books in this series. Aquaman is one of the surprise must-reads of the New 52.(less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Jeff Morris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-and-comics

Geoff Johns understands how to balance humor, heart and super-hero adventure into his stories, and Aquaman, Vol. 1 is a great example of how Johns succeeds at this balancing act. Undoubtedly, it is Johns' ability to juggle all these parts, while highlighting Aquaman's self awareness--"Hey, you're Aquaman: America's least favorite super-hero"--that makes this an enjoyable book.

Not only does Johns use Aquaman's C-class reputation for humor, but he builds this as a point of contention between Aquam...more

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May 14, 2013 Jacobi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: trades-read-in-2013

I used to be totally enamored with Geoff Johns' writing (loved his Teen Titans, Action, and JSA work), but that has definitely changed. I don't know if my tastes have changed, or if he's lost a step, but I thought Johns' Aquaman was lackluster. Maybe it's because I just don't buy the whole notion of people within the context of the DCU playing into the idea that Aquaman is a joke. To have it be a one off gag is one thing, but to have that be a theme that permeates the entire first arc? Didn't ri...more

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May 10, 2013 Joseph Zurat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic

As I said in my Siege review, I haven't really been a big DC fan (with one notable exception that I will get to in a later review) in my life. With that, the New 52 is actually a great thing for me specifically. See, one of the big barriers to entry into the Big Two's comics output is that there is a really, REALLY long history for some of these characters. Thankfully, Marvel NOW! and the New 52 are simplifying things (though Marvel Now isn't throwing everything away, from what I have read from...more As I said in my Siege review, I haven't really been a big DC fan (with one notable exception that I will get to in a later review) in my life. With that, the New 52 is actually a great thing for me specifically. See, one of the big barriers to entry into the Big Two's comics output is that there is a really, REALLY long history for some of these characters. Thankfully, Marvel NOW! and the New 52 are simplifying things (though Marvel Now isn't throwing everything away, from what I have read from it you really don't need to know too much about characters going in to the books.) The New 52 is starting (almost) fresh with the DC characters.

Now, to talk about Aquaman. I feel like this book did a pretty good job at introducing what Aquaman can do and the tone for this book without being an origin story for him. Aquaman is a character torn between two worlds and not accepted by either of them. Humans don't take him seriously, and he isn't accepted by the Atlanteans, either. Now, I feel like the amount that the people in the book make fun of Aquaman is both unsubtle and it is pushing that a bit too hard. I mean, dude is part of the Justice League. I find it hard to believe that his contributions to the team in the five or so in-universe years that it has been together have been completely ignored, and I also think it is weird that people make fun of him for, basically, the Superfriends cartoon of our world. That said, the first half of the book had a pretty interesting villain and the second half of the book set up what may be the major conflict of the John's run of the Aquaman book. That is, he is fighting against Atlantis for the good of Atlantis and it introduced hooks for a larger arc.

On the art side of things, I don't generally feel too qualified to talk about the art of a book, but I think that the art in this absolutely works. There is a good level of detail in things that that need it. The colors are vibrant and Aquaman and Mera look really good.

I'm definitly planning on checking out Volume 2, but if the book doesn't lighten up on the people being cartoonishly mean to Aquaman, I'll probably drop it before the event.(less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

I, like many of the other reviewers, have never been impressed or cared about Aquaman. And like other reviewers, I have not been impressed with DC's reboot. In fact, I used to like DC, now I treat their comics like finishing a plate of food when you're already full or when you go see a remake of a horror film. I hate myself for doing it, but I do it anyway. With DC's newer stuff, I hate myself for trying to read it because it's most likely going to suck, but I do it anyway. This is one case wher...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Pete rated it 4 of 5 stars

Yeah, I'm as surprised as anyone. But honestly, of the half dozen titles I've read from DC's relaunch, this one has been the best. By quite a margin, in fact.

For one thing, it's a pretty comprehensive relaunch. You don't have to know much about Aquaman to read it, and what you don't know can be picked up through the information-delivery vehicle the writers found, which is the ignorance of the general population when it comes to all things Aquaman. Which is in full force because, let's face it, n...more Yeah, I'm as surprised as anyone. But honestly, of the half dozen titles I've read from DC's relaunch, this one has been the best. By quite a margin, in fact.

For one thing, it's a pretty comprehensive relaunch. You don't have to know much about Aquaman to read it, and what you don't know can be picked up through the information-delivery vehicle the writers found, which is the ignorance of the general population when it comes to all things Aquaman. Which is in full force because, let's face it, no one respects Aquaman.

Perhaps in a world devoid of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman (although it was a little puzzling that people seemed so fixated on Aquaman's orange shirt when Batman and Superman wear underpants outside their pants and Wonder Woman is parading around in what appears to be a woman's one-piece bathing suit) Aquaman would seem more special. But because he is in a world with not only a Superman, a Batman, AND a Wonder Woman, but also a Flash, a Green Lantern, a Captain Boomerang...I could go on.

What makes this a good read is that you still get your comic book elements, your fight against the bad guys and all that, but this book also does a nice job with the human side of things, which is something that I think suffers in a lot of DC's books, if I can make an unfair and sweeping generalization.

The beauty of Marvel, to me, is that the characters are usually somewhat powerful, but for the most part they are still fairly human. Spider-Man is the prime example, of course, because Amazing Spider-Man has always been just as much about a guy being Peter Parker as it has been about a guy with super powers.

I think that feeling gets lost in a lot of DC books. The characters are just too powerful. And the human side is often very weak as a result. Does anyone give a shit about Clark Kent? Is there ever any question about which side is dominant, Barry Allen or the Flash?

Part of the reason that Batman has been such a success, to me anyway, is that he's one of the few characters where the repression of the human side is a part of the story. He's more human than most of the other characters, but he's ACTIVELY pushing that part of himself away. DC managed to turn the flaw in many of their characters to their advantage, and it was a great idea.

Aquaman, from the new 52 books I've read so far, is the only one I cared about as a guy. Deathstroke had a son that I couldn't care less about. The characters in Suicide Squad were flat. Batman, though enjoyable, went on a hallucinogenic trip within the first few issues, which is always a problem for me.

Aquaman is a real guy. He has to deal with idiotic questions all day because people think they're hilarious. His wife gets into a conflict when she goes out to buy dog food. They have a laugh about a childhood picture of Aquaman on skis.

This is what's so great about comics. With some good writing and relieved of the burden of past continuity, just about anything can be a great read. Even Aquaman.(less)

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Nov 06, 2012 Ian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi, graphic-novels, urban-fantasy

Glorious!

So far I've been pretty unimpressed with DC's latest reboot of their universe. And, based on the number of "New 52" series canceled since the reboot, it would appear that I'm not the only one. The new Superman title made him an obnoxious, faddish "social justice" shill; the new Batman is too scatter-shot (5 titles? Really? FIVE?) and focused on the grimdark grimdarkness of the setting; the new Wonder Woman is just...feh...because the writer clearly doesn't understand the character at al...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Russ McDonald rated it 5 of 5 stars

As with Snyder's run on Batman, I actually read this arc in single issue form. I review the trade to encourage readers to pick it up. This title, along with Batman, has made me into a DC fan. I should rather say, made me a fan once again. Aquaman was my favorite hero when I was a child, until I was informed at my Justice League-themed birthday party that I could not like Aquaman because he was lame. I had missed the memo. No one else did, apparently. Despite being one of the most recognizable ch...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Jeremy Stange rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-comics

You will have to blame the TV shows of Seth MacFarlane (such as Family Guy), but I have never really been a big fan of Aquaman. He tends to be portrayed as the world’s most ineffective superhero, but so far I must admit that he has been quite impressive in the recent New 52 version of Justice League. That said, I have yet to see him be impressive when not in the vicinity of water. But he is an iconic superhero, so he is certainly worth the benefit of the doubt. We join Arthur as he is trying to...more You will have to blame the TV shows of Seth MacFarlane (such as Family Guy), but I have never really been a big fan of Aquaman. He tends to be portrayed as the world’s most ineffective superhero, but so far I must admit that he has been quite impressive in the recent New 52 version of Justice League. That said, I have yet to see him be impressive when not in the vicinity of water. But he is an iconic superhero, so he is certainly worth the benefit of the doubt. We join Arthur as he is trying to make life for himself on the land, leaving the Atlanteans to find a new king just as a terrifying new threat rises from the deep. A threat that will raise new questions about the darker chapters in his former kingdom’s past.

I knew before I started on this title that the writing would at least be very solid, as it is from the man who is currently giving us Justice League and Green Lantern as well (Geoff Johns). And when I read two or three pages of the first issue, I was already hooked. There are a couple of fun little nods to the fact that Aquaman is often seen as the Cheeseburger Helper (a little Family Guy reference) of the superhero community and the first storyline plays out with a big helping of cheesy 1960s ‘it came from the deep’ type horror. I am not entirely sure how Arthur (and Mera) trying to make it on land is supposed to fit in with the stories seen in Justice League, but it is nice to see him take a step away from the Atlanteans and towards humanity. The rest of the first Collected Edition is made up out of two short stories that seem to have been written to pad out the book (as I imagine issues are released with these Collected Editions in mind), but they also serve as an indirect build-up to the next big storyline in the second Collected Edition. And even though they are essentially glorified filler, Johns still manages to deliver a couple of stories that seem like very suitable scenes for a possible Aquaman live-action film; his writing really is that good.

As with most of the other New 52 titles I have read and reviewed that are related to the Justice League, Aquaman has a serious case of generic artwork syndrome. But not in a bad way though, as I think that having very alternative artwork with a title like Aquaman (who does not seem to be very popular to begin with) might end up backfiring tremendously. But Ivan Reis knows his stuff, so it is actually quite nice if you do not mind when the artwork does not exactly jump off the page. One definite dip in the artwork was noticeable in the last of the six issues that make up this Collected Edition though, as I believe Joe Prado (who normally only does the inking) did most of the pencilling as well. I could take a cheap shot and make a reference to some of the dialogue in Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy, but I just hope that this was a temporary thing and that Reis takes back full control of the pencilling for the next Collected Edition.

As you can probably tell, I was pleasantly surprised by Aquaman so far. I might not be completely sold on the artwork (but then again I do actually read these for the stories most of the time), but it is of high enough quality to please most comic fans. The writing is definitely up to scratch and I think this might just be the perfect title for someone who wants to get into superhero comics after getting the bug from watching stuff like the Marvel-based action films. And yes, up until now just about every story has taken place in or near the water. But do not let that stop you from giving this great title a try if you are even slightly interested in the whipping boy of the superhero community.(less)

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Sep 19, 2012 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 2 of 5 stars

ARC reviewed by Chris for Book Sake.

I have to admit I don't know too much about Aquaman. I don't know his origin, his powers or his purpose. This book didn't do a great job of enlightening me. Again another 'New 52' book that fails to relaunch the title. We catch up with Aquaman seemingly already well known and the least favorite of the superheroes. He's basically a joke. The book is full of bad jokes at the expense of Aquaman. Yes, the jokes are meant to be bad and cliche, but that doesn't chan...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Matthew Standridge rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just received my order in the mail yesterday, and quickly tore into Aquaman Vol 1: The Trench. I've been excited to get my hands on it since the day I heard that our hero Arthur Curry was put in the hands of one of my favorite writers, Geoff Johns. After a STELLAR run on Green Lantern, it's amazing that his talents were turned to Aquaman during the DC-wide ravamp.

We all know that Aquaman is kind of a running joke in the superhero world (THANKS SUPERFRIENDS!) But I've always had much love for A...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, might be one the most underrated and unappreciated characters in comicdom. Or at least, he's up there. He's a character who's been around since 1941 and has felt like a B-tier character hanging out with A-tier characters in his 70+ years in comics. He wasn't always like that though. His solo series has (in my opinion) been pretty good through his comic life-span. His Silver-Age comics are pretty good (the showcase collection), the Peter David reboot Aquaman: Time and T...more Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, might be one the most underrated and unappreciated characters in comicdom. Or at least, he's up there. He's a character who's been around since 1941 and has felt like a B-tier character hanging out with A-tier characters in his 70+ years in comics. He wasn't always like that though. His solo series has (in my opinion) been pretty good through his comic life-span. His Silver-Age comics are pretty good (the showcase collection), the Peter David reboot Aquaman: Time and Tide lead to the serious pirate Aquaman that got a small following in Justice League and Unlimited cartoon series, Rick Veitch's slow but beautifully drawn Aquaman: The Waterbearer, Kurt Busiek's surprisingly good take with an Aquaman ringer in Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, Vol. 1: Once and Future, and even the mid to late 70's collection Aquaman: Death of the Prince. By himself, Arthur is a reasonably established character.

But then the Super Friends television show happened in 1973 and well...the stigma of Aquaman began. Since then everyone has made a joke on Arthur's behalf, in all forms of media. He's been portrayed as various things over the year like cannon fodder for the Justice League, as well as simply being the guy that can swim fast and talk to fish thanks to Super Friends. Sure he's has the occasional and decent public portrayal (Grant Morrison's JLA for example or JLA Annual #2 where he lead the group), but nothing great. So it's always felt like he's a B-list character (some would argue C-list) hanging around a league of A-listers...

Until Geoff Johns 2009 event Blackest Night came about and Aquaman came back to the DC Universe as a black lantern. "Aquaman's back as a black lantern?" People thought. "Meh." But then Aquaman summons zombie sharks and kills of bunch of Atlanteans. Wait? What?! People took notice. And even Aquaman's wife, Mera got a following going due to being a main player in the event as well. And then Arthur came back to life and was a key component in the Brightest Day event. And out of all those who came back to life during that event, Arthur was probably the most popular of the bunch. Now with the New 52, Geoff Johns decides to carry on writing Arthur and his "Aquawoman" wife Mera with artist Ivan Reis and Joe Prado, to create a fresh new start on the king of the seven seas.

AQUAMAN VOL 1: THE TRENCH collects issues #1-6 and see's Arthur going about his daily life as super-hero crime fighter on the sea and on land. But the world see's Arthur as "that guy that talks to fish", and so many people see him as joke. Even when Arthur stops a pack of bank robbers, they laugh at the notion of him being a threat and the police feel embarrassed to have Arthur do something they themselves could of done. While Arthur is slowly getting back into the habit of life, a species of being from the darkest depths of the ocean come to land to feast upon those in their paths. It's up to Arthur and Mera to save the day.

Johns immediately talks about the criticism and perception of our worlds view of Aquaman and attacks it head on which makes for some great comedic use. Everything and anything you can think of, Johns answers it for Arthur. Does he actually talk to fish? Why eat the fish you he talks to? Why the orange colors? Does the A on the belt stand for Aquaman or Atlantis? Or how does it feel being the punch line of the joke? Johns even goes far enough to show Arthur's power set more fully then simply swimming fast. Super hearing, super strength and reflexes, and near-bullet proof skin are little details added to Arthur never quite seen before to establish Arthur really is a powerful being. Johns also shows a likable personality from Arthur that is well-tempered about how society treats him and just wanting to do what's right. All of these attributes make Aquaman stand out as powerful and likable character. And you don't have have read any past Aquaman material at all to enjoy the story.

Although the book is predominantly about Aquaman, you could almost consider it a buddy book, because Mera shares quite a bit of panel time with Arthur. It's one of the main themes regarding the book is Arthur and Mera's relationship together and it's handle fairly well. Mera herself has her share of powers and attributes that we get to see are quite different from Arthur (some bad and some good). Mera gets to have an entire issue of her going solo into town to simply get supplies and you see her personality (which it too is quite comedic). Either way, the dynamics between the two is nice to see happen.

Mention has to go to Ivan Reis. His art alone is amazing. Every fine detail of water and sand (!), to spash pages showing Aquaman in his shining orange outfit are stellar. You'll spend half the time looking and taking in Reis beautiful artwork. Special mention does also go for Joe Prado who does the coloring, as wall as drawing issue #6. Again, the art is stellar.

Now why the 4 star review instead of 5 you say? Two things come to mind. One of which is that the Trench arc is a mere 4 issues. Actually you can argue its 3 issues and it ends very abruptly (Though I do get the feeling The Trench will come back somewhere down the line in Johns run.). And the other thing is the issues collected which I'll explain. Issue #1 deal primarily on establishing Aquaman, while issues 2-4 are the Trench arc. Then issue #5 is the prologue to the next arc, "The Others". And issue #6 is mostly a stand alone tale about Mera going into town. See the problem here? It feels sort of scattered when you look at it, as if Johns played the Trench arc very safely (which it feels like) and just wanted to get to the next arc as soon as possible. It just feels a bit incohesive.

Overall though, AQUAMAN VOL 1: THE TRENCH is still a good start for this unexpected hit in the New 52. It has fabulous art and a capable writer behind it. This short volume may not be perfect, but the current team sure makes it feel like it does have it coming for it down the road. It's a new era for the king of Atlantis. And the fish jokes stop here.(less)

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Aug 23, 2012 Rogier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, favorite, 2012, adult

My thoughts

Cover: An epic cover. I love the Trident

Book: I always liked Aquaman growing up but never liked him as mutch as the popular ones. Until now . After reading this wonderfull comic book written by Geoff Johns, and illustrated by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado ( never heard of those people but they are pretty huge in the comic world).

The Aquaman jokes and Arthur being used as the laughingstock of the superheroes are present in this comic and I felt very sorry for Arthur Curry. I’m still getting...more

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May 16, 2012 Hayden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-graphic-novels

I had never read an Aquaman comic before. Like everyone else, I just never really paid attention to him. I figured he was just there because some writer in 1960 something had decided to throw him in the Justice League, and he had been there as part of the DCU canon ever since. Well leave it to Geoff Johns to blindside everyone, because this series was definitely the sleeper hit of the New 52.

Like I said, no one cares about Aquaman. And, quite brilliantly, that's the angle Johns took with the cha...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

My faith in Geoff Johns wavered slightly with "Flashpoint" but he has since bounced back with a good run on "Green Lantern" but more so with "Aquaman." Johns handles the character and his back story well and makes you care about his struggles. He isn't respected or feared as other people are and he is tormented about his past and his life between land and sea. The storyline explores these things at a distance but weaves it subtlety into the story as well. We see Arthur struggle with decisions as...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: new-52

Prior to reading this book I knew nothing of Aquaman aside from the jokes made at his expense on Family Guy and The Big Bang Theory. After seeing a handful of 5 star reviews and being new to graphic novels, I gave this a go to see for myself. In short, Aquaman rules, and I don't just mean the Seven Seas! The Trench is an engaging read, shot through with humour, character and even darkness. Writer Geoff Johns addresses Aquaman's reputation right from the off and ties it into the threat he faces l...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Justyn Rampa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, mavericks

When The New 52 first started, many jokingly said that Geoff Johns may have engineered the whole New 52 just to make Aquaman a cool character!

There may be some truth to that:-)

Aquaman has always been considered a joke, mostly due to the Superfriends cartoon, and he has never really had great arcs to stand on to fight all the haters. Geoff Johns is doing what he can to change all that. The volume will serve both as an introduction to the character as well as inside jokes that basically acknowledg...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Brian rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excerpt from my review:

"The New 52 event marked a fresh starting point for characters in the DC Universe, so this series, as well as Justice League, serves as the introduction for this updated version of Aquaman. In The Trench, Johns has wisely stripped away most of Arthur’s supporting cast, leaving only Mera and introducing Dr. Stephen Shin. This affords more time for developing Aquaman. That space paid off as Johns does arguably the best effort at humanizing Aquaman; a character readers someti...more

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Jun 08, 2013 Sean Kennedy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Aquaman tends to have a bad rep with comic lovers - I'm not sure why, he's always been one of my favourites - and this reboot tends to tackle this perception head on with some sly one-liners about civilian reactions to Aquaman in comparison to other superheroes. Aquaman's powers seem no more sillier than other superheroes, and this book takes him seriously, and grounds those powers so that they do seem strong and heroic. The villains of this volume are grotesque and threatening and give Aquaman...more

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May 24, 2013 Nicole Whitehead rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm in love with this volume. Aquaman has always been my favorite hero, though even I sometimes have gotten upset with how pathetic of a role he plays in some series or the underwhelming villians he is placed against in the older series. Johns presents Aquaman in a very modern light with him being a well rounded hero who deals with not belonging under the sea or on land where he is constantly belittled in the media. He faces compelling enemies from the trench of the ocean and deals with the mora...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Gavin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics

I've read about 5 of the new 52 from DC, and this ranks right up there. Not as good as Batman, but better than Superman, Superboy, and Blue Beetle. I remember picking up issue 1 of an Aquaman Miniseries (by Robert Loren Fleming, Keith Giffen and Curt Swan) when I was around 9 years old, and thinking it was awesome (I went to spend my allowance on the other issues as soon as I could find them at the corner store) as I'd never heard much of anything about him, but knew that Issue #1s were always a...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Gael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Everyone who's mocked Aquaman for being a lame superhero should get a copy of the first issue in this collection. Instead of using The New 52 as an excuse to give the character a clean start, Geoff Johns struggles with its unpopularity -somebody actually asks him "How's it feel to be nobody's favorite super-hero?"- and the results are great. The action-packed 4-issue opening arc,"The Trench", is followed by two self-conclusive stories: one that hints a major storyline in the future, and one that...more

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May 09, 2013 Alec rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic

You know how Aquaman is the worst super hero ever! You will never think that again after this. Geoff Johns (writer of Blackest Night and Green Lantern, duh) plays this off as a great joke and makes the first half off the book one of the funniest things to date.
Since the new 52 Aquaman has been put down but after the introduction you learn of a chilling new foe that haunts Arthur for quite a time afterwards until the Throne of Atlantis.
You here see some of the most important character development...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Kris Jou rated it 3 of 5 stars

The first New 52 Aquaman trade demands patience from its readers. The six issues it collects could be bought in its 'monthly' form with less money than the hardcover ($3 X 6 = $18, versus the trade's $23). Even setting aside pricing concerns, the story by Geoff Johns/Ivan Reis* barely starts; what little pages it could use for character development are spent on people commenting about the lameness of Aquaman and Mera (who the in-story civilians always refer as Aquawoman).

It reads like a defense...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Thaco Latvaria rated it 5 of 5 stars

It has become somewhat of a pass time for comic fans to poke fun at DC's King of the Sea and this book doesn't just acknowledge Aquaman's loser stereotype, it proves us all wrong in a smart and fresh way. This is in my opinion the best title out of the New 52 series and so far the best comic I've read in 2012. You feel pitty for Aquaman and his loyal wife as they try to live and protect their city from the creatures that lurk bellow. I love this book because it just shows that any character in t...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Tonyhsieh rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have completely enjoyed Geoff John's rebirth of Green Lantern and his recapturing of the wow factor of being part of something galactic... something bigger than we can understand.

I had high hopes for his work to make Aquaman cool. I think he did a good job.

I found some of the self-awareness of Aquaman's perceived shortcomings humorous and poignant because of the good that he is trying to do. Also I really like the presence of Mera and her protectiveness over Arthur. And the fact she is far mo...more

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Jun 08, 2013 M rated it 3 of 5 stars

Is there anything Geoff Johns can't write? Aquaman gets a serious upgrade with his first volume from the DCnU. Having been relegated to a joke by the denizens of the DCU, Arthur Curry still protects his adopted land life. Facing a new threat from the deepest recesses of the ocean, Aquaman must discover the truth behind the flesh-eating creatures called the Trench. Johns uses the preconceived notions of a "useless" Aquaman to perfection; every trope is mentioned and reversed as quickly as possibl...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Christa (More Than Just Magic) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, genre-comic-manga-graphic-novel, part-of-a-series, publisher-dc-comics, sent-for-review, the-new-52

Originally posted at Hooked on Books

Storyline: Aquaman has always been the big joke of the superhero universe. I always thought this was a little unfair, because I had always been so envious of his powers. He could stay underwater for the longest time, communicate with sea life and he knew where Atlantis was! Apparently Geoff Johns felt the same way because he brought Aquaman back and is attempting to depict him as the superhero I always knew he could be.

The premise of this story is that Aquaman...more Originally posted at Hooked on Books

Storyline: Aquaman has always been the big joke of the superhero universe. I always thought this was a little unfair, because I had always been so envious of his powers. He could stay underwater for the longest time, communicate with sea life and he knew where Atlantis was! Apparently Geoff Johns felt the same way because he brought Aquaman back and is attempting to depict him as the superhero I always knew he could be.

The premise of this story is that Aquaman is just as big a joke within the pages of the comic book as he is outside of it. People laugh at his costume, tease him about talking to the fish, ask him if he's going to dehydrate if he goes too far from the water and worst of all they tell him they don't need his help, even after he fights alongside them against a vicious attack from the creatures in the trench. He faces a major identity crisis about whether or not he should even try anymore. It's a fascinating story and one that sets straight all of our misconceptions about Aquaman and his mythos.

Characters: Aquaman (or Arthur Curry) is an incredibly interesting character in this new series. He's facing a major crisis of identity and Geoff Johns does an amazing job of depicting just how torn he is between doing what's right for the people, doing what he thinks will make him happy, and deciding whether or not to return to Atlantis. The people of Earth don't make it easy for him but he is always on their side and I found him incredibly sympathetic and relatable.

And then there's Mera, his wife and mermaid (just don't call her Aquawoman!). I never knew all that much about her and her role in the Aquaman story, but I can honestly say I never expected her to be so badass. Whereas Aquaman simply turns the other cheek to the people's mocking, Mera bites back with her sharp tongue and attitude. I really admired her ability to stand up for herself and those she cared about. Plus with the ability to manipulate the water, she's a pretty tough superhero in her own right.

Artwork: Ivan Reis is an amazing artist. I was floored by how detailed some of his panels are and how much emotion he's able to convey in such a small space. And the creatures from the trench! They're still giving me the shivers. But it is the full page pieces that are the real treat of this collection.

Readability for new comic book fans: If you have never read a comic book before (let alone an Aquaman comic) you can read this one. Part of the premise is that people no longer understand Auqaman, so the story sets out to educate you/them on exactly who he is and what he can do. It's a great intro into one of DC Comic's most famous heroes. (less)

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Mar 05, 2013 Steve rated it 5 of 5 stars

Aquaman is back, and now he's relevant. Making references to his status in pop culture and clarifying some of the misconceptions, Geoff Johns creates an updated version of Aquaman that is no longer the butt of jokes.

Aquaman is a fierce biracial Atlantean, and his life if ripe with political struggle. He is the supposed king of Atlantis, he has a super hot wife who can control water, and monstrous creatures have come up from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

A nice side story with Mera going into...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Boots rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels

aquaman has alway fascinated me, but let's face it, he's infamously lame throughout successive attempts to bring him in to the modern era (post copper-age, let's say). and he was probably lame before that but then so was pretty much everything else post comics-code for a while there.

but enough about how lame aquaman is because goeff johns is doing wonders to revitalize him! here's a story that's smartly written, takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the aforementioned lameness, and is perfectly c...more

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About Geoff Johns

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990’s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career...more

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Books by Geoff Johns

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title link	preview: Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench
avg rating	preview: Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench Goodreads rating: 4.07 (1272 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://discovereads.com/book/show/13497711-aquaman-vol-1?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347403211l/13497711.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://discovereads.com/book/show/13497711-aquaman-vol-1?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench by Geoff Johns[/url]

Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench (Aquaman Vol. VII #1)

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