Reviewer: Mathan “I Miss Orin” Erhardt
Story Title: Loot
Written by: John Ostrander
Penciled by: Chris Batista
Inked by: Dave Meikis
Lettered by: Jared K. Fletcher
Colored by: Nathan Eyring
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Publisher: DC Comics
The issue begins with the moments before San Diego sank, as well as Aquaman’s reaction to the sinking. Then we return to the present, where Aquaman has a confrontation with Admiral William Hitchens. Hitchens and Aquaman butt heads over the future of Sub Diego and the nature of the attack.
The Admiral brings in the Sea Devils to assist in the security of the military applications that were sunk. Dane Dorrance is the only returning member of that team. Their mission is to get in contact with some survivors of the disaster who are cut off from communications and distrustful of outsiders.
Aquaman get through to them, but then an underwater pirate who calls himself Marauder attacks. Not only does he attack, but he disables Aquaman by shattering his water hand. To be continued.
Ostrander fills in on this issue and adds some depth to the reason for Sub Diego’s sinking. His Aquaman is pretty spot on. But the new Sea Devils seem forced. They take up space and don’t seem to add much (at least in the first chapter). It was a nice touch to have a military man, survive the attack and believe that they are at war, as a twist on the old yarn about the Japanese soldier in the cave. I’m curious how the Marauder accomplished disabling Aquaman, as who he is.
Batista needs a regular book. His fill in this issue looks spectacular. Aquaman’s look of fear on page #3 is a jarring image, yet on page five seeing Alan Scott, Superman, Dr. Fate and Aquaman emerge from the water is awe inspiring (I wish it had been a splash page.) He also makes the Marauder look terrifying, and practically inhuman.
