Aquaman The Becoming #2

Aquaman The Becoming #2

DC Comics 2021

Written by Brandon Thomas

Pencilled by Diego Olortegui & Skylar Patridge

Inked by Wade Von Grawbadger & Skylar Patridge

Coloured by Adriano Lucas

Lettered by Andworld Design

Someone launched a terrorist attack on Atlantis, and Jackson Hyde is the prime suspect! Despite Mera’s best efforts to defend Jackson against the accusations of the Atlantean guard, the evidence is mounting and time’s running out. How far will Jackson go to prove his innocence?

I like that we pick up where we left off last issue. This “real time” of storytelling can be much harder and much more impactful than jumping from point A to C. I am also very much interested in seeing more of this whole Xebel xenophobia feels a lot like the racism we know today and considering Atlantis’ origin and the melting pot of races that inhabited it before it sank into the ocean I find more than a little disconcerting. As fans we’d like to think that there are places like Atlantis that doesn’t see race, ancestry or whatnot as a reason to fear and hate. Though it does have a long history of mistrust what with Garth’s purple eyes making him an instant outcast. So in retrospect and as I type and read aloud this certainly does fit in with Atlanteans point of view.

I am very much enjoying the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well. The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character development as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter which keeps their personalities at the forefront. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story the more of the story we want to see unfold.

I for one greatly appreciate the way that we see this being structured as well as how we see the angles and perspective in the panels continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen. I like how the layers open up new avenues to be explored and how these avenues add so much great depth, dimension and complexity to the story and the story of Atlantis as well. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is immaculately rendered.

The interiors here are nicely rendered. The linework is clean, crisp and strong and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create this amazing detail within the work which we see. There is some gorgeous use of backgrounds here and to see how they enhance and expand the moments is wonderfully done. They also do a fantastic job within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the story. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a sensational eye for how colour works.

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I am very much engaged in this book and seeing Davi was something of a conundrum because I got the impression that Lucia didn’t know him at the diner but she clearly does considering what we see this issue. Unless it was strictly what he wants with Jackson other than a date was really what she meant. I like seeing how Jackson handles the kind of adversity that comes with being a member of Arthur’s family, we all know there’s never any rest for them in Atlantis or the world at large. I’m enjoying this strong writing, solid characterisation and delightful rendered interiors.