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Friday, June 11, 2010

The New Aqualad

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Here's our first glimpse of the new Aqualad, courtesy DC's The Source blog today.

Despite this cover, I'm assuming the new Aqualad will end up being a hero, considering the character will be part of the new Young Justice animated series:
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21 comments:

R Duncan said...

My first impression is, I don't think I like it.

If he's some ghetto kid that ended up with Aqua-powers, that will suck. If he's from some sort of black undersea community, that might work better. We'll see.

It's a shame DC writers aren't creative enough to come up with successful new characters that are minorities. They have to 'steal' established characters and make them into tokens. Atom, Beetle, Firestorm, Spectre...now Aqualad?

R Duncan said...

I forgot Aquagirl.

R Duncan said...

Just read the Source about Aqualad's origin. Never mind.

Joe Slab said...

WOW! That cover is HOT, and dry too!

Brightest Day #4 is next week, YES!

David J. Cutler said...

@R. Duncan--DC's built on legacies so I think "stealing" is a bit harsh. New characters have a really hard time surviving in this industry. DC and Marvel both often feel the safer bet is to take an established name that isn't being used to its full potential and rework it into a new character. I'd take Jaime Reyes and Ryan Choi over Ted Kord and Ray Palmer any day of the week. (Or over Dan Garrett and Al Pratt, the originals--were Ted and Ray using stolen identities?)

My bit of cynicism is more along the lines that every time I see a new (or "new" if you prefer) DC character, much less a teen minority, I just shrug and sigh and write them off as cannon fodder to be killed in a future crossover book to add some gravitas. Hopefully this Aqualad resonates with people well enough to last more than a handful of issues.

Joe Slab said...

More info on the new Aqualad over @ Newsarama:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/meet-the-new-aqualad-100611.html

Those who are worried about the "cannon fodder" argument need to remember that those stories occurred while Dan DiDio was solo Editor in Chief at DC. His role has changed greatly and with Geoff Johns and Jim Lee also steering the ship at DC, I have no doubt they will make every effort to avoid mistakes of years past.

Shellhead said...

Well at least the comic version doesn't look as dumb as the toon version. I'll reserve judgement until I see the story. Still want Garth back, though.

R Duncan said...

Garrett and Pratt were more of an Earth1/Earth2 thing. It seems like Aquaman's cast (including Atlantis) is nothing but cannon fodder: Aquababy, Aquagirl, Vulko, Koryak, Kako, Koryak, and now Cerdian, Dolphin, and Tempest?

I know. Same old story. "Aquafan's Lament."

I know it doesn't fit into the storyline, but I think Geoff Jones missed missed the boat. He could have had Aquaman reappearing at the end of Blackest Night with Arthur Jr. in his arms, handing him to Mera, saying "I brought him back for you, Mera."

Shellhead said...

I disagree. The death of Aquababy is probably the most important character development for Arthur since his marriage. To retcon it away would be a mistake. I'm still annoyed that he lost the water hand. It gave him some interesting powers.

David J. Cutler said...

Making Earth 1/Earth 2 exception for identity theft is kind of weak. There's not really a difference--the writers were still trying to breathe new life into old franchises with some young blood heroes for a modern audience. Tim Drake, Kyle Rayner, Wally West... Garth hadn't even been using the Aqualad name for nearly two decades, so it's hardly a big upset. Really excited to see what this new guy is about, and I hope he can do something toward bringing some prestige to the name.

I'm probably alone in this but I have no interest in superhero parents, at least not as the lead in a book. Superheroes should be young and free and cool. As a kid I dropped Spider-Man comics as soon as the pregnancy thing started. The Aquababy is something that in my mind should be glazed over, not brought back into the stories.

Joe Slab said...

All every interesting comments and the alternate ending to Blackest Night sounds intrigues me...However, Arthur Jr. was 5 years old and well beyond his Aquababy phase when he was killed. Everyone seems to forget that, including the artist who drew him as a Black Lantern infant in GL #50.

Jack B. said...

I'm all for waiting and seeing what they have planned but it bums me that it seems now that Garth (who hasn't been called Aqualad in years) and his family were killed off just to make way for this character.

Why can't they have both?

Wings1295 said...

I am still going with him being the offspring of Black Manta and wanting to go down a different, more heroic path than the one his father chose. And what better way to rebel against your super-villain dad then to become the protege of your arch enemy?

Diabolu Frank said...

I like him better with the Connor Hawke dye job in the cartoon poster. I also like the idea Wings had about tying Aqualad to Black Manta, although having him be the kid of one of Manta's militant followers from the '70s would serve better, since it wouldn't age the villain contingently. What was the fella's name from Tad Williams' run? Caleb or something? He could be the daddy...

Louie Joyce said...

Cal Durham? Yeah, that would be interesting. And Cal dates back to the Adventure Comics days with Black Manta.

I dunno how i'll feel if it's Manta'
s and Mera's son. I gues it all just depends on how well it's all done.

But he looks pretty cool on the cover. I'm pretty excited for this.

And even with a new Aqualad there's always room for Garth/Tempest to return (look how many Batmen & Robins are running around).

TheZONER said...

I think we all want Garth back, and it's a shame he's gone. But hey people, don't you think it's time to move on?

And we should be happy this much attention is being given to Aquaman's mythos, considering how DC's top chief, Dan Didio himself didn't care for him much.

For me, anything they do to make Aquaman more popular, is fine by me... I'm sure that in a couple of years once Aquaman is firmly established, Garth WILL return!

HollyH said...

Gotta say, Wings, I like that idea. It would shake up some of the underpinnings of the Aquaman-Black Manta enmity, which for my money remains a classic hero-villain relationship, but could always stand a new twist (that isn't "let's turn Black Manta into a monster half-manta half-man creature").

I really like the look of this guy. I'll be interested to know what the reason is behind his makeover for the Young Justice series... but for the moment, I prefer his look on this cover.

HollyH said...

Darnit, I meant to add -- put me in the camp that feels that a new Aqualad doesn't necessarily preclude Garth/Tempest coming back at some point. I hope DC keeps that in mind.

David J. Cutler said...

@Wings--Aqualad as Black Manta's son. I have to say, I would be very on board for that.

rob! said...

Wow, a lot of people are very passionate about Aqualad...who knew?

Josh Hill said...

it didn't occur to me, but I would love it if this new Aqualad were Black Manta's son. that would just be so amazingly tragic.