Aquaman 4 - and introducing: AQUADOG!

[kirke_novak]

Last time, on Aquaman:

People: You suck!
Aquaman: Well, I'll show you!!



Aquaman showed everyone!

There was rejoicing.

When suddenly!







Bliss. :D

Comments

[ian_karkull]

Meh.. bring back the Octopus that could play the drums, then we'll talk.

Topo 4 lyfe!

[eyz]

^What he said!
XD

[kirke_novak]

Patience! First the dog, then the talking horse, then the musical octopus.

[darkknightjrk]

I love the idea of Aquadog, but yes, BRING BACK TOPO!

[lieut_kettch]

There is much to learn from drum-playing octopi, after all.

You must lash out with every limb, like the octopus that plays the drums

-- The Sphinx

[junipepper]

Oh, please tell me they're not really going to call that poor pooch "Aquadog." Seriously, Arthur and Mera, you can do better than that! Hmm, how about "Krypto;" apparently that's available in DCnU....

This book is becoming a favorite. The art is beautiful and the relationship between Arthur and Mera is so nicely done. I could live without the in-Universe "Aquaman is a joke" trope, but apart from that it's a win. Yay. I've always kinda had a soft spot for Aquaman. :)

[mrstatham]

I do wonder exactly why Johns keeps on bringing up the 'Aquaman is a joke' concept. He made the character - And Mera - pretty damn cool with Blackest Night and Brightest Day, and to be fair, Aquaman wasn't exactly bad beforehand - Johns just seems to have this perception that everyone judges Aquaman based on his Superfriends incarnation, and seems to feel some need to retaliate against that. It's totally unnecessary.

[xammax]

Its kind of true though. The average person and a fair size of comic fans judge based on that cartoon and just what his powers sound like. I like that Johns is making this point early in the run that he plans to shoot that concept and then run it over with his truck.

[mrstatham]

Except there's that classic concept called 'show, don't tell', which is incredibly important in comics above a great deal of other mediums. Johns is just telling us repeatedly that 'these guys think Aquaman sucks, here's why they're wrong', when it's just unnecessary and a waste of pages. For every page with someone doubting Aquaman or not finding him as cool as other heroes, you could have another of him actually doing some kick-ass hero stuff.

[halloweenjack]

"You're wrong for not loving this character as much as I do, and I'm going to show you why you should love this character as much as I do so hard."

--Geoff Johns' comics writing career, summarized.

[auggie18]

I dunno. A few weeks ago, I was at a party and had the following conversation:


Random Dude: So, you're into comics? That's cool. Which ones?

Me: Well, Aquaman's pretty good right n-

RD: SERIOUSLY? The dude who talks to fish?! He's like, the dumbest superhero ever!

Me: Well, he doesn't talk to fish, he controls them. And he can do other stuff too. He's got super strength and-

RD: Yeah, but seriously. That's just to cover for the fact that all he can do is talk to fish.

Me: ...

[mrstatham]

Well, there are some people who'll never be convinced. In some cases, that idea is pretty thoroughly ingrained. Like people who assume the Joker's always Heath Ledger-style and things along those lines.

[meowshi]

"Johns just seems to have this perception that everyone judges Aquaman based on his Superfriends incarnation-"

Because everyone does! At least in regards to people who don't actually read comics.

I think it gives a bit of character and fun to the book. I can see why previous fans of Aquaman would hate it though.

[darkknightjrk]

"Hmm, how about "Krypto;" apparently that's available in DCnU...."

Have you been reading Action Comics? All points are leading to him being trapped in the Phantom Zone...

[auggie18]

Y'know, I've always been a fan of Aquaman in a vague way, but it wasn't until this run were he's actually had a fun book.

[mullon]

Having jerks say how much you suck is almost as bad writing as having likable characters say how cool you are. Having them insult a dag will just be worse.

[darkknightjrk]

You know, outside of the "blogger" and the bank robbers in the first issue, no one's actively insulting Aquaman. The deputy had assumptions but didn't try to insult him, and the asshole cop seemed to be more concerned about keeping the pecking order of the authorities than anything. Plus we had guys who liked Aquaman around, like the divers who envied his ability to breathe underwater.

It's definitely a funny book and Arthur is sometimes the butt of the jokes, but the whole "Aquaman sucks" thing really isn't that prevalent, IMO.

[amaniwolf]

Dang it, i'm liking this more and more....i may have to grab this series after all. Call the doggie....Aquapooch! lol!

[perletwo]

Oh, Aquaweds, you so pretty. Still not particularly interested, but damn that's some nice eye candy!

[kurenai-tenka.livejournal.com]

They're just such an attractive couple, aren't they? XD

[silverzeo]

I KNEW IT!

[perletwo]

"If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." - Anton Chekhov

[terrykun]

This is officially the second best Arthur ever. (see Icon)

I want him to hang out with Bunker, and Kyle, and the JLI, and Lucien/new Ray... all the FUN people. :D

[darkknightjrk]

Honestly, I'd say this is even better than B&TB. That Aquaman kinda wore out his welcome for me after a few seasons.

[bradygirl_12]

The story's fun, the art is GORGEOUS, and now we've got a cute dog! What's not to like? ;)

[daphnie_1]

"Last time, on Aquaman:

People: You suck!
Aquaman: Well, I'll show you!!" - :'D

This is amusing me like anything.

[littlepunkryo]

I really liked this before and then they went and added a really, really cute dog. That's just not fair.

[whitesycamore]

I'm disappointed that Aquadog is not actually a seal.

(What? That's what a seal is. It's exactly like a sea-dwelling dog! I'm right on this one, trust me).

[mrstatham]

You and Karl Pilkington could have some... Hm, interesting chats, I think.

[whitesycamore]

I don't know what you mean, but that... that doesn't sound good. D:

[mrstatham]

Karl Pilkington is one of Ricky Gervais' friends, along with Stephen Merchant - And Karl is arguably the real star of the animated Ricky Gervais Show that HBO have done two seasons of. He's known for making somewhat dubious suggestions, including one that a seal is a cross between a fish and a dog;

I don't know how to put youtube videos in here, but here's the link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaC0VUuwlZc

[whitesycamore]

Oh, I've listened to some of the original podcasts, I just didn't remember Karl's beliefs about seals.

Unless maybe I *did* remember - but Karl's mind is so, so similar to mine that his THOUGHTS BLENDED SEAMLESSLY WITH MY OWN (and, recalled later, were mistaken by me for my own ideas).

...In which case we wouldn't so much have great chats, as we would sit gazing wordlessly into each other's eyes, communing on a spiritual level.

[mrstatham]

I don't think Karl could quite get to a spiritual level, somehow. He'd probably get bored and complain to Ricky, at which point Ricky would start squeezing his head.

[lieut_kettch]

Actually, you're kinda right. Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are grouped under the suborder Caniformia (dog-like) along with dogs (and other canids) and bears.

[viridian5]

I spend a lot of that show thinking that Karl may have some eccentric ways of expressing himself but he's often right. Also, that Ricky Gervais needs to stop interrupting him and stop cackling like a hyena.

[kenn_el]

LOVED this scene! Actually, since this series was planned and announced before the 'new' Universe, it seems to flow rather smoothly from the 'old' Universe stories of Blackest, Brightest, etc.

[star_of_airdrie]

"Let's call him 'Puddles'" Looks like a Norwegian Duck-trolling Retriever!

[icon_uk]

I googled that to see if it was a nerdy reference I'd forgotten. Who knew the Norwegian Duck-trolling Retriever is a real breed? (Forgive me, it does SOUND a little made-up.

[star_of_airdrie]

They are very real and they are lovely! My dog vet always lists other wonderful and unusual dog breeds to entice us away from our 'unique' Basenjis. Norwegian Duck-trolling Retrievers are like smaller, more refined - in bone and in temperment - Golden Retriever.

[nezchan]

Apparently it's better known as the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriver, which is also the province's official dog.

Needless to say, they're a pretty popular breed back home.

[star_of_airdrie]

You are right and I've been drinking (owning hounds can lead to such things) Nova Scotia much more sense...

[nezchan]

Booze hounds, one would expect.

[star_of_airdrie]

exactly!

[star_of_airdrie]

They actually love to drink - they even like things with fizz!

[lieut_kettch]

Can't swim? But retrievers love water and can swim instinctively! Unless the poor guy experienced some previous trauma that made him fear water.

[darkknightjrk]

I think "attacked and stuffed into a cocoon by viscous creatures from the deep sea" would probably count as previous trauma.

[superfangirl1]

D'aww very cute. <3

[kurenai-tenka.livejournal.com]

D'aww these two. :D

Though my favourite page was the one before this with the kid.