In this review of Aquaman #4, Arthur continues his Journey into the blue. Can he escape his captors from the last issue? We find out in this months action packed epic!
AQUAMAN #4
Written by JEREMY ADAMS
Art and Main Cover by JOHN TIMMS
Variant Covers: DAVID NAKAYAMA, MARCIO TAKARA, TYLER KIRKHAM, SALVADOR LARROCA
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2025
Aquaman #4 starts out with some great action sequences. These have been portrayed brilliantly with some great artwork and with Timms’ excellent use of close ups and perspectives. This gives us a real sense of traveling at high speed through the seas. Arthur is joined by who I can only assume to be Aqualad, chasing after Mera. Once Arthur finally catches up to her, Mera calls Arthur’s name, slow at first but then slowly transforms into a being that is no longer Mera, then Arthur wakes up.
A great way for Adams to start this issue, a nice dream sequence that was packed with action from the first panel. It could also be seen as a potential flashback into happier and more familiar times in his past, clearly showing that Arthur is missing his family and indeed wishing things were back to how they used to be. Again Timms’ has been given the opportunity to display some beautiful artwork with his full page piece of Mera before the dramatic transformation. The colors from Lokus definitely aid this piece making you gaze in awe.
Arthur wakes abruptly. We’re back on the ship where we were left at the end of the last issue. Arthur tries to convince his captor who he knows from past times to release him, but it doesn’t go to plan. We also get a proper description from Lori how Dagon has arranged the blue, having centralised water from all over in to one place. She explains that Dagon has made everything in the blue focus on the centre.
I really like how Adams is going about feeding us the little details in the story in order to piece together what it is that’s actually going on. It’s as if we are learning everything at the same pace as Arthur which in turn as the reader makes you feel like you’re on this journey together.
Lori leaves Arthur with some harsh truths about Atlantis and his family which bring a look of dismay to Arthur. He uses his newly found power to escape, braking through the Hull of the ship he’s being transported on. At this time King Arion and Vivienne decide it is time to leave and find Arthur, they are then transported through the gate that Arthur was dragged through.
Lokus’ colors across these couple of pages are truly stunning, the brightness used for the home of Vivienne is so beautiful to look at. He also manages to capture the dark and solemn setting of the below deck area that Arthur has been chained up in. Timms again has mastered the perspective of the below deck area, the panel looking down on Arthur gives a sense of pity towards Arthur.
Once Arthur manages to break out from his prison, he is immediately followed by his captors. The chains he was bound in were enchanted with magic. This allowed the captors to locate him in the event of an escape. Arthur quickly realises that he is now in water and can use this to his advantage. I loved the use of a double entendre here by Adams, it really was some clever writing and gave me a little laugh at that point. Again for this action sequence Timms has really outdone himself, with close ups bleeding over in to other panels and more use of his great perspective work to show how big the typhoon that Arthur conjures up in order to deal with the threat of his captors.
It’s here that Arthur is reunited with Arion and Vivienne and he is finally blessed with the weapon that Vivienne spent the last issue crafting for him. He is cut from the enchanted chains so the captors now lose track of where Arthur has gone. We’re also given the name of this weapon and that is Thalassa the Trilance Saber. Arthur is in awe with this gift, and cannot wait to use it. The way in which Sharpe has lettered the name of the weapon makes me think that the weapon bears some greater significance to the story to come with it being bold and colourful. This seems to be a running theme throughout this book as if to show, this is important, don’t forget this!
Arthur deals with the captors in the most spectacular way possible which brings this issue to a close. I won’t spoil how as I found that part to be a rather big ‘wow’ moment, so I shall let you readers pick up a copy of the issue to witness that for yourself.
Final Thoughts
Aquaman #4 has reverted back to a similar format to the earlier issues, where we get lots of action, and fast pacing of the issue. We are also getting holes filled in where needed and appropriately as to not give too much away, though at the same time we can see that we are coming to the end of the arc. Arthur has only one real foe that we know of left to deal with, Dagon himself.
My only slight criticism of Aquaman #4 is that the fight between Arthur and his captors, with him knowing them previously could of been drawn out a little longer. Though I know how these books have to be kept to strict page counts and obviously other bits of the story that we got in this issue take precedence over fight scenes. Hoping for some more flashbacks, action, great writing and artwork from the creative team to round up this arc as it has been a real joy to read. If you’ve been on the journey too, definitely make sure to pick this issue up. If you haven’t and you’re reading this, I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot and picking it up!
