[Spoiler Warning]
Aquaman Annual #2 is a welcome homecoming for Arthur. Current writer Kelly Sue DeConnick doesn’t hesitate drowning readers right in the feels with this annual, placing our favourite Atlantean Curry (and his doggo!) in a sea of danger, while also serving a much needed dose of reality to both, Arthur and readers alike. In this more down to earth story we see the disgraced, former-King of Atlantis (and soon to be father) back in his classic coastal hometown of Amnesty Bay. The residents of the Bay live in fear, plagued by a supposedly-alien, green symbol that ominously shines in the sky. This is not the focus of this issue however, because Arthur has his own problems to deal with – Where’s Salty?
Chilling on the docks, Arthur and Jackson (Black Manta’s son) encounter a villain reminiscent of Arkham Origin’s Electrocutioner. Introducing himself as the “Sea Daddy”. Challenging Arthur with an Atlantean-like arrogance, he blasts them and Salty (our beloved AquaDog) off the pier and into the water. If you’ve read Aquaman 52, you might remember that Salty cannot actually swim. Jackson doing his best to save Salty, Arthur asks the question everyone is asking “What kind of monster would shoot a dog?!” Before summoning a frickin kraken to oppose the woefully unimpressive villain. As fast as he came, that’s the end of “Sea Daddy”, for now at least… Amongst the shadows a mysterious man arrives and steals our poor boy Salty away, sending Arthur on a Bay-wide search and rescue.
As Arthur searches for Salty, the issue dives deeper into Arthur’s more everyday issues as he finds the balance between his “super” world and his home. Some of Arthur’s inter-dimensional friends are now living among him, disguised as residents of the bay. Inevitably, we see their alien customs and traditions clash with that of our own, resulting in Arthur having to pick up the pieces. This reflects Aquaman (2011) #6, where Mera trials living on the surface and struggles to conform to surface-dweller culture and customs.
KSD flips the coin on the ’life of a hero’, exposing the fact that even when the biggest evils are at bay, your typical kerfuffle can always be found back at the hero’s hometown. In Scott Snyder’s ’Drowned Earth’ (which led into KSD’s first major run on Aquaman Rebirth) we saw Arthur in another dimension, rivalling Gods and beings from other universes. Bringing Arthur home and immersing him in our familial land-dweller existence gives long time readers a welcome sense of comfort.
Finding Salty with the mysterious man who seemingly stole him, Arthur attempts to save his pal right before we see Salty being tossed into the water. As Arthur swims to the rescue, he soon sees that Salty knows now how to swim. Being told by the mysterious man that he should’ve taught Salty earlier. KSD not only shines the light on Arthurs surface struggles, but also his basic responsibilities as a member of society. He is half human after all.
Reminding Arthur of his importance and the amount of hope he brings to people, KSD humbles readers and the civilians of the story by using Arthur’s powers to draw fish with fluorescent features presenting the word “Amnesty” below the surface of the water. We are left with a lasting image of these words, its people and the land itself defiant in the face of the green light in the sky; defiant in the face of fear.
KSD has continued to build Arthur’s storywhile maintaining the original fabrics of what came before. Although in the previous run he had lost his memory, KSD has beautifully tied it all in. With Arthur losing none of his best qualities. New readers wanting to jump in are highly recommended to start with Scott Snyders Justice League: Drowned Earth arc then dive right into Aquaman Rebirth. Don’t miss out on one of the best titles in Rebirth!