Aquaman #45 Review

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick / Artists: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, and Sunny Gho / DC You’ll recall from Aquaman #44, the lesser gods took Arthur/Andy/Arausio out for a dunk, presumably knowing he’d make it out alive. This issue opens with him coming to on the beach, very much alive, and ready to take on the challenge ahead: ferrying Caille to the island to meet her mother, Namma. Unspoken Water, Part III

Arthur, having survived drowning, has stopped flopping around on the shore and is taking control of things. He and Caille hop on the boat and set sail for the other island. Over the dramatic trip, which is tinged with connection but never romance, there’s a second narrative, that of the first gods, Father Water and Mother Salt. The old people are left behind and we’re introduced to an entire new pantheon, birthed by water and salt, and spanning the entire globe. Deconnick presents a well crafted myth, with echoes of other creation stories, while also going in different directions. In good Grecian fashion, the father and the children are at odds, with the usual results. But what happens after they commit patricide? That’s the really interesting part. This is the issue where all the roles get complicated. Next issue, Aquaman finds out the truth and has to make some decisions. It is going to be a riveting conclusion. I have a for-serious question at this point of my Aquaman adventure: Has Aquaman always been such a hunky, blond, bearded viking-looking guy? Because the vers…