Aquamans adventures have all been pointing in one direction for the past few months the reunification of the Seven Kingdoms of the sea under a new regime thats more about democracy and less about which 1,000-year-old merman dynasties married which.
And you can thank Mera, Queen of Atlantis, for the initiative. Aquaman thanked her by throwing her a surprise wedding/engagement party with their daughter and all of their friends in attendance.
Throwing a successful surprise public proposal without consulting your significant other: Now thats a superpower!
What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? Well tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygons weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. Its part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part look at this cool art. There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. But there will be great comics. (And if you missed the last edition, read this.)
Aquaman #65
Why did it take seven years for these two to tie the knot? Well, once upon a time, the creative team behind DCs Batwoman title quit because DC editorial told them they were not allowed to let Batwoman get married to her girlfriend. In an attempt to quell fan blowback, then-co-publisher of DC Comics Dan DiDio said that it was DC policy to not allow superhero couples to get married, because heroes shouldnt have happy personal lives. And when fans pointed out that Aquaman and Mera were not only cohabitating but also the king and queen of Atlantis, DC reps replied that they werent actually married. 2013 was a real year.
X-Force #14
Image: Benjamin Percy, Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara/Marvel Comics
This week, the tournament between Krakoas champion X-Men and the best of Arrako came to a final head: The score is tied and its all come down to a duel to the death between Apocalypse and his long-lost wife Genesis. But shout out to X-Force #14, which dabbled in that long X-Men tradition of letting Storm absolutely destroy someone in a knife fight.
Die #12
Image: Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans/Image Comics
As is typical for a Kieron Gillen comic, Die wrapped up its second arc with a reveal that completely changes the nature of the story. I still enjoy Die, but I am also struggling to remember what the heck is happening in it every month.
Batman #103
Image: James Tynion IV, Guillem March/DC Comics
Harley Quinn vs. Clownhunter the unreasonable teen who wants to kill everyone whos ever worked for the Joker was a very funny fight.
Marvels Voices: Indigenous Voices #1
Image: Darcie Little Badger, Kyle Charles/Marvel Comics
Marvels Dawn of X titles are a great exploration of the formation of a sovereign mutant nation, and what that could mean for a truly Mutant culture. But I wish the flagship books under that umbrella could take a little time off from inventing new Mutant traditions in order to explore what Krakoa means to mutants who have allegiances to other embattled nations or a cultural heritage driven nearly to extinction.
So far I think the only books Ive seen address this idea are Black Panther, Vita Ayalas Marauders #13, and this story in Marvels Voices: Indigenous Voices, from Darcie Little Badger and Kyle Charles all written by creators of color. Other folks in the X-Men scene should take note.
Something is Killing the Children #12
Image: James Tynion IV, Werther Delledera/Boom Studios
Its hard to talk about Something is Killing the Children without spoiling it, but Tynion and Dellederas horror-adventure comic just finished its second arc and continues to be really solid and keeps hooking me for another one with new world building reveals.
Catwoman #27
Image: Ram V, Fernando Blanco/DC Comics
Kudos to Fernando Blanco for killing it on this page, and to Ram V for getting out of the artists way so he could do it.
The Immortal Hulk #40
Image: Al Ewing, Joe Bennett/Marvel Comics
Ewings slow unfurl of a new installment of The Hulk and the Thing throw down made a delicious cap on this weeks The Immortal Hulk, which continues to be a very good comic with every issue. But its Joe Bennetts Thing who really sells the final moment. The pose, the expression, the rocks. Its a good Thing!
Dark Nights: Death Metal #5
Im not going to try to summarize whats happening in Dark Nights: Death Metal at this stage in the game. I just thought youd like to know that Wonder Woman has an army of Lobos.
Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1
I may be biased, but I thought Devin Grayson did a great job with a quiet but difficult thing with the Widowmakers one-shot: Provide a single-issue character portrait that left me feeling like I liked a character, understood who they were as a person, and would be excited the next time I saw them.
Rorschach #2
Image: Tom King, Jorge Fornés/DC Comics
The second issue of Tom King and Jorge Fornés Watchmen adjacent Rorschach plays out just like a political mystery thriller, to the extent that it wasnt until this panel that I remembered it was set in the Watchmen setting.read more
Aquaman and Mera finally tied the knot, 7 years after DC’s marriage ban
