Aquaman: The Dark Tide (Comics) | Review

Atlantis disappears overnight. Arthur Curry returns from saving a falling plane to find his entire kingdom, family and people gone without any explanation. The only clue is a mysterious pearl that opens a gateway to the Blue, an outer elemental realm where water itself originates.

This isn't the Aquaman story anyone expected. Following the Absolute Power event, Arthur now possesses Mera's hydrokinesis abilities while she's been depowered. He can manipulate water like an Avatar character, creating massive constructs, which came at Mera's expense.

Jeremy Adams (The Flash: One-Minute War, Green Lantern: Back in Action) handles the writing duties. The Flash and Green Lantern architect brings his signature continuity-deep storytelling to Aquaman, pulling from decades of lore while adding fresh elements. His approach prioritizes fun adventures, over gritty realism for this story.

John Timms (Inhumans: Attilan Rising, Young Justice: Gemworld) provides the artwork across most issues, with Michael Shelfer contributing to later chapters. Timms brings kinetic energy from his previous work on Action Comics and Harley Quinn to underwater action sequences.

Here's what happens across Aquaman issues one through eight. Arthur enters the Blue searching for Atlantis and immediately encounters Jenny Greenteeth, a horrific creature who drains water from blood. She captures him and nearly kills him before he weaponizes his own blood to escape, gaining a new unexpected ally.

The Lady of the Lake, Vivienne from Arthurian legend, was trapped in Greenteeth's form for centuries. Arthur frees her and she joins his quest. This marks the first of several literary and mythological characters Adams incorporates, creating an eclectic cast that absolutely works.

Arion appears next. The ancient Atlantean sorcerer predates Arthur's kingdom by thousands of years and understands the Blue's mysteries better than anyone. His magic knowledge becomes essential for navigating this alien dimension's dangers, though his arrogance creates friction.

Captain Nemo joins the crew in issue five. Yes, that Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. His inclusion feels absurd but Adams sells it completely. Nemo brings the Nautilus submarine and swashbuckling expertise to a team that desperately needs both for surviving Blue's hostile territories.

Zan from the Wonder Twins becomes the final member. Separated from his sister Jayna, Zan's water-transformation powers make him uniquely suited for this mission. Adams gives the character meaningful development independent of his twin while maintaining his personality.

The Blue functions as more than a setting. It's a sentient cosmic force, the elemental source connecting all water throughout the universe. Villain Dagon severed it from reality, hoarding its power using residual Omega Energy from Darkseid's death. He knows an ancient prophecy concerning a "Dark Tide", which will destroy him.

Lori Lemaris reappears as one of Dagon's enforcers. Superman's former mermaid girlfriend leads the Mercenary Maids, hunting Arthur through the Blue. Her heel turn feels unexpected but Adams uses her effectively as a recurring antagonist. The twist adds personal stakes.

Time flows differently in the Blue. While Arthur spends what feels like weeks searching for Atlantis, barely any time passes on Earth. This creates narrative tension when his daughter Andrina appears aged-up significantly, having lived years while Arthur experienced days.

Adams connects this storyline to broader DC continuity. The Omega Energy angle ties directly into DC All In's overarching Darkseid narrative. References to Future State Aquaman suggest Adams is building toward endpoints from that timeline. His Flash and Flashpoint Beyond runs get callbacks for readers tracking world-building.

Issue eight delivers the climax where Dagon's forces overwhelm Arthur's team. Garth and Jackson Hyde die unceremoniously, impaled by Dagon's tentacles in a brutal panel. The deaths feel cheap given these characters' histories, though Adams might be planning resurrections.

Arthur himself gets fatally wounded during the final confrontation with Dagon. As he dies, the Blue speaks to him directly. It reveals that Darkseid's Omega Energy has infected the entire universe and only a counter-force can restore balance. The Blue chooses Arthur as its avatar.

Artwork and Writing

John Timms elevates Adams' script with spectacular visual storytelling. His crowd scenes pack hundreds of detailed characters into single panels without sacrificing readability. The Blue's alien civilizations feel lived-in and authentic, each location designed with distinct architecture that expands DC's aquatic myth in creative ways.

Timms' facial work captures emotional nuance that grounds fantastical scenarios. Arthur's desperation when searching for his family reads clearly in subtle expressions. His character designs for the Blue's bizarre inhabitants recall Star Wars cantina scenes with aquatic twists.

Rex Lokus handles colors with vibrant teals and purples that distinguish this dimension from Earth's oceans. Water construct effects pop with luminescent intensity that makes Arthur's hydrokinesis feel powerful. The color work prevents visual monotony across eight issues.

Michael Shelfer's guest artwork in later issues maintains consistency with Timms' style. His spreads during the Dagon confrontation deliver epic scale while keeping character acting sharp. One splash page shows Arthur wielding the Blue's full power, drawn with exceptional detail that ranks among the run's strongest visual moments.

The Dark Tide succeeds as high-energy adventure despite legitimate criticisms about its treatment of Mera. Stripping her powers to give Arthur water-bending abilities feels regressive. Adams restores Arthur as king without explaining why monarchy trumps democracy.

Adams' decision to build Arthur's supporting cast from water-themed literary characters and deep-cut DC mythology creates unexpected chemistry. The absurdity becomes the point, leaning into high fantasy swashbuckling that feels refreshing after years of grim storytelling.

The Darkseid connection elevates what could've been a standalone dimension-hopping tale into essential DC All In reading. Omega Energy corruption as a universe-wide threat positions this series as more central to continuity than expected for an Aquaman relaunch. Adams clearly has long-term plans to expand into future storylines.

Timms' artwork alone justifies picking up the collection. His design work for the Blue's inhabitants and locations demonstrates imagination that rivals cosmic-scale Green Lantern stories. Combined with Adams' plotting, the package delivers consistent quality.

Aquaman: The Dark Tide is available in physical trade paperback formats through major bookstores and comic-book shops. Digitally, the storyline can be read on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and DC Universe Infinite platforms, making it easy for readers on screen.