Someplace within the South Pacific, the vessel Esperanza sails towards uncertainty. Its secret mission? To analyze and observe a weird sign emitting from the underside of the ocean. A workforce is dispatched from the ship in an experimental submarine—the Andromeda—to find the supply beneath…however they’re not alone. No matter it’s, it’s additionally calling to the Dweller of the Depths, Aquaman. Simply who—or what—within the water is beckoning him?
Aquaman: Andromeda #1 is the primary in a three-issue Status Plus miniseries from DC Black Label. The good workforce of author Ram V and artist Christian Ward trace that we’re in for one thing darkish and drastically totally different from the very first web page. Listed below are simply 5 of probably the most unsettling moments on this unforgettable dive into the murky depths.
Aquaman’s natural new look evokes creeping dread.
That is Aquaman like we’ve by no means seen him earlier than. The intense orange and inexperienced hues of his traditional costume are desaturated, as if Arthur Curry is all the time submerged within the ocean depths. His shoulders are coated in clinging, armor-like coral and barnacles, giving the King of the Seven Seas an otherworldly really feel. And most eerie of all are Aquaman’s pitch-black eyes, reflecting what little gentle there may be within the deep.
All collectively, it’s troublesome to see this Aquaman as the identical superhero we’re aware of, including to the sense of dread that pervades this primary problem.
Level Nemo is a really actual and really mysterious place.
Right now I realized that there’s a level within the ocean that’s the farthest away from any land, and it’s named Level Nemo and it’s the setting of Aquaman: Andromeda #1. Level Nemo is situated between New Zealand and South America. Area junk has been directed to crash right here for many years to scale back any attainable dangers to people…however what else may need fallen to Earth with it?
Due to Ward’s gorgeously atmospheric artwork, the “spacecraft cemetery,” because it’s referred to as within the ebook, feels prefer it harbors scary ghosts from the celebs skulking round every bit of particles. What cosmic horrors does the deep darkish maintain? And what occurs in the event that they’re unleashed?
That chill isn’t coming from the sunless depths—it’s inside.
Even an skilled marine biologist like Yvette Verne, one of many protagonists of the difficulty, can’t assist however really feel uneasy because the Andromeda approaches Level Nemo. Yvette isn’t feeling a chill from the submarine’s recycled air—it’s in her bones. Not solely is the workforce not sure about no matter could be ready for them, even the prototype vessel they’re touring in is unnerving. Its extremely categorized, experimental “quantum gravity propulsion drive” feels nearly natural, as if the submarine is a dwelling creature with the workforce crawling about its innards.
That thought alone is sufficient to provide the shivers.
The cosmic-tinged coloration palette hints on the unseen issues lurking within the deep.
Christian Ward evokes a perceptible sense of the ocean depths by pulling double responsibility as artist and colorist. Very like the flashes of fluorescence from the weird creatures who reside far beneath the floor, the deep colours of twilight are punctuated with explosions of magenta, yellow and inexperienced. You’ll be able to’t assist however marvel if there’s one thing creating these vivid lights. And will they be a lure to attract us additional and additional into the depths just like the anglerfish’s prey?
“Attractive” doesn’t start to explain the artwork of Aquaman: Andromeda #1. The deep could be unsettling, however it’s unquestionably stunning.
Three phrases: Big. Freakin’. Octopus.
UNLEASH THE—properly, you realize. When a monstrous, tentacled creature lastly emerges from the depths, it’s nearly a reduction to lastly discover the supply of the crew’s fixed uneasiness. (Or is it?) Impossibly giant appendages crash into the Esperanza on the floor. Aquaman streaks towards the enormous octopus like a torpedo to defend and rescue the individuals on board. Will he emerge victorious? And what different risks await within the deep?
Aquaman: Andromeda #1 by Ram V and Christian Ward is now accessible in print and as a digital comedian ebook.
Kelly Knox writes about all-ages comics and animation for DCComics.com and her writing will also be seen on IGN, Nerdist and extra. Observe her on Twitter at @kelly_knox to speak superheroes, comics and popular culture.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this characteristic are solely these of Kelly Knox and don’t essentially mirror these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.
