Aquaman 35: Surrender to the Darkness

Check the issue out for yourself!

Darkness Falls

Dan Abnett - Writer, Robson Rocha - Pencils, Daniel Henriques and Danny Miki - Inks, Sunny Gho - Colors, Travis Lanham - Letters, Howard Porter & Hi-Fi - Cover, Andrea Shea - Assistant Editor, Alex Antone - Editor, Brian Cunningham - Group Editor

Initial Reactions

While I have truly liked the political intrigue in this title, there have been some extended time spent without action.  That is certainly not the case in issue 35.  This issue is packed with battle scenes aided by amazing art.  After months of story about the tyrannical reign of Corum Rath, things are finally starting to come together to form a meaningful resistance. Hopefully this means more up-tempo action in the issues to come.  I am ready, let's dig in to Aquaman 35!

The Story

 The issue opens with Elder Leot and Commander Urcell discussing the actions of King Rath.  They decide that it is their duty to Atlantis to attempt to reason with him before raising a coup.  When they knock on his chamber door, they are told to leave.

Meanwhile, the Drift (the elite fighters for Corum Rath) are taking on the resistance forces in the Ninth Tride.  The combined rebels are making good progress when Abyssal Dark-effected Kadaver joins the fray to shut them down.  Not even the Drift can stand to look at him, he is incredibly hideous.  He announces himself as the King of Always, and transforms the soldiers into dark creatures like him, and take the fight to the resistance.

Aquaman comes at just the right time, and begins to annihilate Kadaver and the soldiers.  As he begins chasing them, Arthur is struck by Murk, who appears to be effected by the dark as well.

At the Tower of the Widowhood, the Reverend Mother fills everyone in that Rath is indeed using the Abyssal Dark, and that their fight is doomed to fail.  Meanwhile at the Palace, Rath is enjoying his certain victory.  However, the Abyssal Dark has more in store for the King.  It takes over Rath, and promises that even if Atlantis trembles, he will endure.

Back at the battle, Murk and Aquaman have it out.  Murk discloses that he faked the earlier death of Arthur, but he intended for him to live on the surface world and stay out of Atlantis.  He did not want Aquaman dead, he just didn't want him to be the king.  Arthur assures Murk he does not want the crown back, he just wants to stop Corum Rath.  After this, they join hands, seeming to signal an alliance between the two mighty warriors. 

Back at the palace, Leot and Urcell are reserved to the fact that they need to unseat the king.  They have the people's support and go to charge the throne room.  They are greeted by the Abyssal Dark-endowed Rath. 

Final Thoughts

This issue was visually stunning!  It progresses the story along well and it was such a blast to read.  However, we also see what happens when we allow the darkness to effect us.  Between Kadaver and the Drift, the Abyssal Dark turned them into horrifying mindless creatures.  They are now only instruments of death.  This is a powerful metaphor for us when we surrender to our dark impulses.  No matter what that is for you, there comes a time when you reach that point of no return.  When we make that decision, our hearts can become hardened to the rest of the world.  It may seem helpless, but know that you have a Savior who can soften your heart and offer redemption.

What did you think of this issue?  I would love to talk about it with you.  You can comment below, or find me @behindthecapes on Twitter, or by liking the Behind the Capes Facebook page.  Also, something new, Behind the Capes has a group called Behind the Capes' Nerd Out Round Table, where we talk about a bunch of geeky stuff.  It is technically a closed group, but anyone can join if they agree to the simple rules laid out in the group.  I would love for this group to grow!  

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