And ancient leviathan called the Karaqan is awakened in the depths of the ocean near Finland and, of course, goes on a rampage.  This creature is even larger than Topo the huge octopus creature that Aquaman attempted to use to defend Atlantis and has a crab-like head and tentacles.

Aquaman discovers that members of his Council don’t care for the fact that his loyalties still lie with the surface world and some don’t recognize Mera as their queen because she is from Xebel, the penal colony where Atlantis banished its criminals.

Aquaman has to rush off once he discovers the Karaqan on the loose, using Mera’s water control powers to fling him into the stratosphere and back down to Earth, where he comes crashing down on the Karaqan’s head, but it doesn’t phase the beast.  Aquaman cuts loose but can barely get the monster’s attention.

The book has passed from the hands of former writer Geoff Johns into those of Jeff Parker, and Parker actually manages to make the book his.  He introduces several new characters and storylines and they actually connect.  And he gets Aquaman and Mera’s voices just right.  So the transition is smooth sailing so far.

The pencils are provided by Paul Pelletier and Netho Diaz, and their styles mesh fine.  There’s TONS of fine detail work and storytelling.  It’s really quite strong, however, aesthetically, it just wasn’t my favorite.  The faces weren’t great to me, but over all I don’t want  to be too critical.  An artist’s style is just that, THEIR style and that isn’t going to appeal to everyone.

In all, this book remains strong, so I hope its sales remain so.  No one would have guessed just five years ago that Aquaman’s comic would outsell The Flash’s and Superman’s!  I hope it wasn’t just Geoff Johns’ name attached that attracted readers.  The writing is still solid.  The art was a little less thrilling, but still very well-done.

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AQUAMAN #26
Written by Jeff Parker
Pencils by Paul Pelletier and Netho Diaz
Cover Pencils by Pelletier