Aquaman #10

• Okay, so far every member of Aquaman’s “Other League” has been really cool.
• Black Manta’s goons have really cool uniforms, in that they complement Manta himself while clearly being lackeys.
• I would read a comic about the elderly Operative and his son traveling the world doing super-spy stuff in their aircraft-house.
• This issue turns Black Manta into an actual character! No longer is he an angry black guy who hates those damned white atlanteans. He has good motivation that makes his conflict with Aquaman have a really personal level. (Well I guess Manta did chop off his hand a few times and kill his son but that stuff was stupid)
• Geoff John’s seems to be grooming Black Manta to be his next Sinestro. He is doing the same thing with Cheetah in an upcoming Justice League issue, too. No villain of the Super-Friends is safe from John’s addictive popcorn story-lines. Actually… who is left? Johns did Captain Cold several years ago, Sinestro for the past five years, Braniac and Luthor a while back. Uh. Toyman?
• I really want Manta to become a big deal in the DCnU because i’ve always thought he was one of the greatest looking villains. That helmet is so inhuman, it almost resembles a weird sea-creature you might find at the bottom of the ocean.
• Ivan Reis never disappoints in the art department.
• I’ll say it as many times as I need to until is sinks in: Aquaman is one of the best comics DC is pumping out. A comic. Starring Aquaman. Is one of the BEST. Ten minutes after writing this, I realize I could have made a pun about sinking.

Justice League #10

• Another decompressed issue, but we get some insight into the new baddie with a personal grudge against the League. At least, we see how he gets his powers, we still don’t get to see his motivation. It is getting a little annoying.
• Graves, aesthetically, brings a lot of villainous flair to the DCnU. Where you might see generic 90’s villain-look, I see a sense of Eastern Mysticism that ties into where he gets his powers.
• As ever, the best part of this series is the conversations between the members of the Justice League.
• This comic adds to the supporting casts of both Aquaman and Wonder Woman outside of their own titles. Interesting.
• Weapons Master is such a stupid villain. And his costume his dumb, and I don’t understand why they brought him back in the last issue.
• I don’t know who Scavenger is, but Jim Lee clearly drew The Operative from Aquaman in that hologram.
• Cyborg should join Jem and the Holograms, I think he would be a lot more successful there than in the League. HE’S GOT THA POWAH!
• Seriously Johns you have been grooming Cyborg to be a big hitter for over a year now just give him an ongoing.
• This issue contradicts Action Comics #10, the Leaguers here should already know that Clark is a reporter and that Bruce is rich. Other than that, the big conversation in the middle of the issue actually gels really well with Action.
• They should really work together better after five years. This comic reads like it takes place maybe a year or two after the intro arc, but five?
• Beyond Grave’s “costume”, his powers have a really unique look to them, like cold blue scales or crystals growing through the air.
• I don’t know what to say about Shazam, it is taking it’s sweet time but in this issue we get to see Billy have a great moment with his adoptive brother, and the big reveal of the villain. The art is gorgeous. Magic is making a comeback.
• Next issue has Element Woman in it, finally.
• For all the criticism this comic gets, some of it well deserved, I still love it.