I havn't read an issue of Aquaman since, well, the 1,000,000 issue (which was the previous), but before that it was, like, issue 4 or some such. Writer Peter David had started the series and made it a solid read, I am told, but I never got into it. I know David to be a great writer, but I never gave him a chance on Aquaman. I was told of Arthur's budding romance with Dolphin and that was end-time for me. I'm sick of the melo-drama that Aquaman's life has been since the mid-80's.
So, when I heard that David was leaving and Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen was taking over, I was, well, surprised. The news didn't make me want to read it any more than before, but then I came across an interview with Larsen and I was intrigued. The word "freaks" popped up more than a few times in this interview and I was hooked, because if Aquaman should be about anything, it should be freaks.
Aquaman 50 was solicited 2 months ago in Previews, and it trumpeted word of a costume change (to which I said, "not again") and a story that sounded, well, dull. Flipping through the issue a few days ago, I thought the same thing. Actually reading the issue today and everything's changed.
This is an absolutely beautiful Aquaman story (not beautiful in the sense of emotionally, but rather beautiful storytelling). Everything that went on in the David stories that is important is retold, along with bits and pieces of important Aquaman history, but with only a little wallowing in the past, Larsen moves things forward, rapidly.
New, important characters are introduced (Lagoon Boy(?), Ishmael, Noble), and the relationships between the main characters are instantly established (Aquaman's webbed hands are a nice touch too, just keep it consistent!!!). The conflict begins quickly, and flows in a natural, interesting manner. The conversation between Arthur and Noble, two rulers of the sea, is very... medievil... the resemblence of Aquaman in this tale to King Arthur is a statement long awaited. This is what I've been waiting for, the undersea Knights of the Round table, so to speak.
An ad in the issue for Babylon 5 trade paperback reminds me of the tv series, and that brought into my head a connection between that and what I was reading. I hope to see a huge, cataclysmic, multi-part storyline featuring Arthur leading the light sea dwellers into battle against Noble's higher-tech shadow sea dwellers, not unlike the huge Shadow War on B5.
I can tell already that interesting things are going to be coming in the future, and maybe soon we can see an Aquaman not wallowing in his own self pity and see a strong ruler, a powerful leader, and a thoroughly legendary man.