First, maybe because of the rotten, like dead fish stored in a hat box rotten, reputation that Aquaman has been handed over the years. OK, maybe not handed (or dehanded), possibly at times earned, but never deserved. The second is because of the misinformed musings of an intelligent young lass who sought to berate and belittle the sovereign of the Seven Seas without giving me a chance to navigate for her a course to true understanding of the greatness of Aquaman. Allow me to now elucidate.
I mean, yes, Aquaman has been an easy target for jokes like "Hey, Aquaman, what's your power...I talk to fish.", however, this power is much more than simply small talk with a mackerel. Aquaman can telepathically communicate not only with fish, but also mammals, cephalopods, crustaceans, and all manner of sea life. Now here's the even cooler part. Yes he can communicate with them, but that is not why they come at his call. They do so because Aquaman is the KING OF THE SEVEN SEAS! Schools of tuna help him out because they are in awe of him, whales come to his aid because they respect him, octopuses lend him eight hands because it's the right thing to do, and sharks do what he says because, well, he's da boss. Aquaman stands for and fights for the rights and well being of all creatures of the ocean and they love him for it.
In the past (pre-Crisis for those keeping track) you could defeat Aquaman by denying him access to water. For how long you ask. A day? Several hours? No, 1 hour. Yes, 60 minutes out of the water, 60 minutes without a bucket of H2O tossed in his face, and Aquaman was so much soggy toast. This limitation actually has changed several times over the years and was basically just added in the '60s to give him a sort of vulnerability a la Superman and kryptonite. Now the real fact of the matter (and I know so because I've read my DC Who's Who) is that Aquaman's connection with water makes him more like the Superman of the seas. He can swim astoundingly quickly, even being able to swim up Niagara Falls. His body is adapted to the greatest of ocean depths making his muscle tissue incredibly dense. Who here passed "Super-Hero Science 101"? If you did you'd know this means Aquaman is invulnerable (i.e. more or less bullet proof) and has immense super strength. Aquaman will kick your butt wet or dry.
He hung out with a walrus and rode around on a giant sea horse (but who wouldn't want to do that.. oh, that's right, Batman who has no time for fun when he could be out bruising his knuckles on the faces of lunatics). So Tusky leaves a little to be desired in this day and age of grim realities and stark futures, but that doesn't mean that Aquaman is immune to the dark times down in the deep. Consider his family. His half-brother is the villainous Ocean Master who is constantly trying to usurp and even kill his heroic sibling. He is married to Mera, a refugee from a dimension of water who ironically was sent to murder her future husband. They had a loving relationship despite this and produced a child aptly named Aquababy (Arthur Jr. actually). That all was nice until the Black Manta killed their child by drowning him in air. That's right, Aquaman had his baby killed in front of him. Bruce Wayne lost his parents, Aquaman his infant child! Now that leaves scars, the kind that trashes your marriage, alienates you from your best friend, and casts shadows of self doubt over your role as champion and protector of the seas. Despite all this he forged on and became not only one of the first super-heroes to show real concern for the environment, particularly the oceans of the world, but also a respected world leader and peace maker. Aquaman acts locally, but thinks globally.
Aquaman has been challenged by a seemingly never ending string of style disasters over the years. Short hair, long hair, clean shaven, bushy beard, two hand, hook hand, hand made out of water hand, fish scale, sea shells, sea weed, and even a baby blue leotard are all aspects of Aquaman's often disparate visual makeup that have cost him a more dignified reputation. His early '60s costume, however, is iconic. A shirt of glistening fish scale mail, the warmth of orange off set by the coolness of green, and the understated stylized "A" belt buckle make him as easily recognizable as any of the classic DC characters.
So, yes, on the surface if you just think Aquaman is a guy with a hook for a hand who talks to fish he seems a bit lame. If you dive into the depths of the true character of Aquaman you will find he is, much like the oceans of his world, multidimensional, mysterious, full of wonder and life,and, dare I say, deep.
I've rambled enough for now, but I suggest you check out the following for yourselves. Aquaman: Death of a Prince TPB (detailing the sad demise of Aquaman's family is new and on the shelf at the store now) and Showcase Presents: Aquaman Vol.1 are both currently available. Aquaman: Time and Tide TPB while currently unavailable is also a great read. For more on the Aquaman relaunch as part of the DC New 52 check out this link- http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/27/preview-first-four-pages-of-aquaman-1/
Until next time cheers and remember to respect da (Aqua)man!
