The New 52 Double Splash!

Well there you go! Its Christmas in August for Aqua-fans as DC Comics concludes the first year of its New 52 books with the simultaneous release of Aquaman #12 and Justice League #12 today! Were they late or was this synchronicity planned? Look at those covers and you tell us...

It was this week last year that Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1 were released and we don't think its an exaggeration to say that nobody had a clue just how much of an impact the New 52 would have upon the comic book industry back then.

Needless to say, in terms of both unit sales and increasing the public's awareness of DC's iconic properties, the New 52 has been a resounding success and while some still argue that DC sold out its grand 70+ year legacy for a gimmick -- one thing appears clear from the publisher: There's no going back now.

So with that said, we're going to take a "deeper" look at the past twelve months for the King of the Seven Seas when we recap these issues on Saturday and we'll be asking for your thoughts on Aquaman's first year then...but for now please feel free to leave us your comments about the New 52 in general--What was gained? What was lost? And what does it mean to you as a fan today?

DC Universe Online: The Tides of War

While we are still waiting for an imminent announcement regarding Aquaman as a playable character in the soon to be released Injustice: Gods Among Us, this week did see the update to DC Universe Online with "The Tides of War" featuring the Sea King and his would-be usurper brother, Ocean Master!

Check out some of the screen shots below and watch the video to get the back-story on DCUO's latest update.

(click images to embiggen)

Promo for the update also teases involvement by the Fisherman and "new pets" for players to adopt. Are you playing DCUO? If so, be sure to let us know what you think of Aquaman and the Tides of War!

Flashpoint Action League Aquaman

Check out Li'l Emperor Aquaman!

For some reason, Mattel decided a few months back to release action figures tied into the Flashpoint crossover event, which seemed kinda like a limited-appeal proposition, IMO. But who am I quibble when it gives us such an adorably-mad Aquaman figure like this?

I haven't been buying a whole lot of Aquaman toys lately, but I just might pick this up. Its small and compact, and I just love Aquaman's look of consternation!

Aquaman Vs. Mer-Man - 2010

The Shrine covered this crossover two-pack back when it debuted in Toyfare, but I had not yet seen the actual figures and package--that is, until our newest F.O.A.M. member, Eric Kwiecien, was kind enough to send us these pics!

These DC/MOTU match-ups are a lot of fun and this particular pairing makes a ton of sense; of course, my money's on Aquaman. I only wish we had seen this in the comics!

Very cool stuff Eric, thanks so much and welcome to F.O.A.M.!

DC Universe Ocean Warrior Aquaman - 2009

One of the other items I picked up at All Things Fun on Free Comic Book Day was my very own Ocean Warrior Aquaman figure by Mattel! Whoo!

I'm really amazed this tiny, tiny part of Aquaman's 60+ year history has made into action figure form, and just by DC Direct for the specialty market--no, this is part of the DC Universe line, sold in stores like Target and Wal-Mart coast to coast!

There's no mention of this costume on the back of the package, so people not already familiar with the "Camo suit" will just have to guess why Aquaman looks so different here (although I guess the idea of the same figure repainted over and over is something most kids are used to by now).

Also, the mistake in the Statistics section--listing Aquaman's first appearance as More Fun Comics #72, not #73--has still not been corrected.

Oh well. Its still a handsome figure, and its cool that Aquaman is such a big part of this line!

DC Universe Aquaman Variant - 2008

This variant of the DC Universe Aquaman had been (sorry) floating around toy aisles for a while, but I had never been in Target at the right moment to find one.

Lucky for me, F.O.A.M. member Russell Burbage (otherwise known as "Eagle-Eyes Burbage") spotted one that he figured (sorry again!) I wanted, which was correct. A few days later after telling me he got it, it was waiting for me in my mailbox. Awesome!

Other than the soft mane of romance novel-esque hair (for the ladies!) and the gold wrist thingies, there's not a huge difference between this and the "Classic Aquaman" figure, but hey, anytime a toy company wants to make an Aquaman product, I'm a Guaranteed Sale.

Thanks Russell!

DC Universe Black Manta by Mattel - 2008

Remember what I said yesterday, about it being a (finally!) good day in the toy aisle at Target?

Well, it was actually a really good day, because not only did I finally find a DC Universe Aquaman, but hanging right next to him was his arch-foe, Black Manta! Score and double-score!

I'm glad Mattel went with Manta's older, more universally-recognized look, not the more monstrous, anthropomorphized version they mention on the back of the package--there's something so basic, so elegant about this design that it makes for a perfect bad guy. Manta was rocking the Weird, Creepy Voice Coming From A Soulless Helmet look long before Darth Vader made it fashionable.

DC Universe Aquaman by Mattel - 2008

I was on a dry streak that lasted months--months!--in terms of finding any new figures, either from the Justice League Unlimited or DC Universe lines--at my local Targets.

No matter when I showed up--Tuesday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon, Sunday morning--all I ever found were Justice Lord 3-packs or Ice Skater Superman from the DCU line. I started to wonder, was my town filled with nothing but eBay Power Sellers?

But fortune shined brightly me on me last week, when during a trip to Target for some other items, I took a cursory look in the action figure aisle. And while there were no JLU figures to be had, there was something even better--this DC Universe Aquaman figure! Great Neptune, what luck! I grabbed the one last Aquaman on the peg so fast the sound of it arrived a few seconds later.

As you've no doubt seen from the advance photos, DC Universe is a quite a nice line of action figures. The assortment of heroes and villains is nice, the men aren't too over-muscled, and the packaging is nice. I especially like the close-up on Arthur's eyes, done in monochromatic tones. A nice arty touch.

And as you can see on the back, you get a brief history of the character, as well as a mention of his first appearance in More Fun Comics #72. I guess the only thing that would've been cooler if that was actually correct, since Aquaman first appeared in More Fun Comics #73. A mistake not up there with that upside down stamp, but still!

Aside from that minor detail, it's a fine representation of the King of the Seven Seas, and between this and the DC Super Friends Aquaman, our hero has a higher profile on the nation's toy shelves than he has had in a long, long while!

Coming Soon

Today I'm putting up pics sent to me by F.O.A.M. members of some tantalyzing Aqua-Stuff that will hopefully be on toy shelves near you soon!

The above photo was sent to me by Mark Campbell, who wandered into a Target one day and found all five figures from the second wave of the new DC Universe toy line, which includes the Sea King and his fearsome foe Black Manta. Bah! At my local Target they rarely have any of the first wave! I must have a lot of eBay Power Sellers living in my area.

...and this pic was sent to me by Tommy of The Bat-Blog, who told me he saw this beauty at the WonderCon.

I don't know when this AquaSub from the DC Super Friends line is planned to come out, but its pretty historic--I think this is the first time since Mego that Aquaman got any kind of accessory item! I know Aquaman doesn't need an AquaSub but I don't care--I'm buying as many of these as I can find.

Tommy also sent this photo, of the super-cute DC Super Friends Plush Doll line! Mattel must be pretty happy with the sales of the initial line for them to produce a spin-off, so that's good news. More mixed is that there doesn't seem to be a plush Aquaman (yet, at least), although there is the addition of Hawkman to the line! Shouldn't he come with a plush mace or something?

Thanks guys!