REVIEW: ‘Aquaman: The Becoming,’ Issue #6

Aquaman: The Becoming #6 is written by Brandon Thomas, penciled by Serg Acuna and Diego Orletegui, inked by Acuna and Wade von Grawbadger,  colored by Adriano Lucas, and lettered by Andworld Design. . It’s published by DC Comics. “Before And After” picks up from the ending of the previous issue, as Jackson Hyde and his family battle the terrorist cell hellbent on sabotaging relationships between Atlantis and Xebel. Flashbacks peppered throughout the issue reveal why Arthur Curry is training Jackson to be Aquaman.

In this script, Thomas finally bestows the mantle of Aquaman upon Jackson and delves into the similarities between the younger Aquaman and his mentor. Like Arthur, Jackson is a child of two worlds. In this case, Xebel and the surface world. And in the same way that Arthur was shunned because of his heritage, the shadow of Jackson’s father Black Manta hangs over him. But as Arthur rightfully points out, Jackson isn’t the Black Manta, and he shouldn’t let his father’s legacy define his own. Tying past to present, Thomas has Jackson failing to manifest a trident out of solid water while talking to Arthur. In the present, he finally manages to summon his own trident and uses it in battle. Thomas has slowly been making his own mark on the Aquaman legacy with this series and the Aquaman/Green Arrow: Deep Target miniseries and the results are worth the read.

The art team also leans into the divide between past and present, with Lucas using brighter colors for the past section (especially when Jackson and Arthur have a training session on a sun-drenched beach) and darker, cooler colors for the present section. Orletegui and Acuna deliver an issue packed full of action. Jackson uses his trident to deliver punishing blows to the Xebelian terrorists, and he and Mera utilize their hydrokinesis in a climactic scene, sending torrents of water shooting like bullets from a machine gun.

But a single page stands out, especially with the emotional weight it brings to the table. A series of panels features Jackson delivering heavy punches, with the coloring growing darker and redder, resembling blood. The letterer depicts a series of word balloons entering the picture, starting off rather faint at first and then growing in intensity. The same goes for the sound effects; their shape and size bring the uncomfortable image of breaking bones and bleeding flesh to mind.

Aquaman: The Becoming #6 marks the end of a story fraught with family drama and tragedy, as Jackson Hyde finally inherits the mantle of Aquaman. This miniseries is worth a read for DC fans old and new, especially if you’re a fan of Kaldur’ahm in Young Justice or just love Aquaman in any shape or form. and I’m looking forward to the story continuing in Aquamen, a series that Thomas will also pen.

Aquaman: The Becoming #6 is available wherever comics are sold.