REVIEW: ‘Aquaman’ Issue 12

Aquaman Issue 12 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jeremy Adams, art by John Timms, colors by Rex Lokus, and letters by Dave Sharpe.

This is part of DC K.O. and Round Two of All Fight Month. Aquaman faces Hawkman, with both heroes calling on the power of the gods.

Aquaman Issue 12 follows a similar structure to the first round, although the nature changes by the end of the comic. It’s a best-of-three contest, where the two fighters get to change their form between each round. The comic doesn’t scale itself down, throwing itself into the figure rapidly and pitting the King of Atlantis against Hawkman. The first round is intense, showing that the levels aren’t as even as some may think. There’s been a change in Aquaman during this run, and he has much more power.

By the second round, Hawkman tries to level it up. The action is just as sensational as the previous round, with a heavy-metal approach from both. There also won’t be a dull rehash of the concept every time. Just because there are three rounds doesn’t mean they’ll all need to be used, and it was a surprise to see such dominance from one of the competitors. Even with an attempt to level the playing field, one of those in the battle has just reached too strong a status.

Respect is the major theme that runs through Aquaman Issue 12. Both participants are noble warriors and friends. They admire the position the other holds and their great qualities. But they are also aware of what is at stake, and what they need to do to win. The narration is shared between the two, with the first round being primarily Hawkman whilst the second is narrated by Aquaman.

It shows the surprise each hero has at the power boost the other gets. Hawkman has a connection to the God Horus, established over decades of experience. He’s not just a guy with wings and a mace. But Aquaman has control of the Blue, a primordial force that grants him power over all water. It makes him an even greater threat in this tournament than anyone realized.

The art is spectacular, presenting a phenomenal fight scene that lasts almost the entirety of Aquaman Issue 12. The opening scenes are intense, depicting how ruthless the competitors are. It starts with a brutal hand-to-hand clash, trident vs mace, that draws blood immediately. Timms illustrates both heroes terrifically. Both have an angular quality, especially aided by Hawkman’s pointed helmet, which makes them look fierce and determined.

The location is pretty bland and bleak, but that is because it’s going to get torn up. Hawkman’s mace shatters the ground, and Aquaman channels water through the cracks left behind. The motion and the clashes of weapons look epic. Aquaman appears all-powerful with the water completely at his control. He’s not just moving through water, he’s commanding it.

If there was one downside to the art, it’s that Timms doesn’t choose to change form or location. There is an alteration, in that one of the competitors gets more power, but there should have been more visual representation of that.

The colors instill an Earthly and godly quality to the page. Both the orange of Aquaman’s costume and the gold of Hawkeye’s equipment aren’t a far cry from the brown shade that makes up the ground beneath them. The water that Aquaman summons has an ethereal glow, appearing as an enchanting blue. The lettering is clear, with notable features in the caption boxes that highlight when the narrator changes.

Aquaman Issue 12 keeps the energy afloat. The fight is phenomenal, embracing the changes in the comics over recent times. The journey the characters have been on is on display, coming to fruition through violence. This issue is three perfect examples of what All Fight Month is about. Two heroes that would never usually clash, forced into fighting to the death. The escalation is incredible, and it really feels like two warriors who are friends, but understand what they need to do.

Aquaman Issue 12 is available where comics are sold.