Emperor Aquaman #19 Review
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colorist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: John Timms
Variant Cover Artists: Ariel Diaz & Rahzzah
Editors: Michael McCalister & Paul Kaminski
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock
Release Date: July 8, 2026
Arthur Curry loves his wife and daughter. Yet, his
mother-in-law plots his doom. After their time apart, Mera wishes her husband
could spend more time with her. Yet Arthur is always away. And when he spends a
little time at home, he is secretive. Arthur won't even tell her why he's
building his cosmic lighthouses. He claims he's thinking of her safety. Yet
Mera recognizes that Arthur has changed.
After participating in the Omega Tournament, Arthur knows
that's not the end of Darkseid's plans to conquer reality. But as he uses the
Alpha energy Superman shared with him, a friend reminds him that relying on
such power is dangerous. How will Mera's mother attack Atlantis next? And does
Arthur Curry pose an even greater threat to his family and nation than the
Crimson Queen Lolanna? Let’s grab our tridents, leap into Emperor Aquaman #19,
and see!
Story
After their battle with Bill from Omni Omega+ Entertainment
Corp, Hal Jordan and Arthur Curry linger at OOEC Outpost 128723. The company
may have acquired the entire bounty industry to bolster its reality
entertainment programming. Still, both Hal and Arthur were surprised by the
company’s attempt to take over a planet and trademark the Green Lantern symbol.
Such abuses of power prompt Hal and Arthur to reflect on the power they wield
and how much they rely on it.
In Emperor Aquaman #19, Hal Jordan isn’t the only one who
worries about Arthur’s increasing abilities. The Justice League has watched as
Arthur dubbed himself an emperor and began planting lighthouses on other
planets. Ironically, this comes at a time when the younger members of the
Justice League are complaining about Batman, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel's
authoritarian decision to invite villains into their ranks. Thankfully, Batman
and Diana limit the intervention to senior members Arthur knows well. But as
the king of Atlantis and the emperor of an expanding empire, Arthur dislikes
being questioned for fulfilling the vision he received after the Omega
Tournament.
As Jeremy Adams’ story shows Arthur adapting to his
increased abilities and reveals his fellow heroes’ concerns, it also reveals
that Lolanna’s ire has not lessened. With Arthur so often absent, Mera
accompanies Vivienne and Lori on a mission to strengthen the defense of their
growing realm. Yet while Vivienne searches for a new location to build another
forge, Lolanna plots Arthur’s demise. Once, Mera's mother sought independence
for Xebel from Atlantis' control. Now, instead of using her abilities to
empower people, Lolanna attacks anyone who opposes her in Emperor Aquaman #19.
Art
An upshot from a rocky spit of land reveals a spaceship
descending beneath Prataxia Prime's three suns. While Arthur and Hal stand
together, they face opposite directions as if keeping lookout for predators.
But when Hal smiles and walks away, Arthur's expression relaxes. And when the
ship departs, he dives into the wild surf to gracefully emerge like a surfer
before his new lighthouse. Yet amid his homecoming, Batman and Wonder Woman
wait for him. And neither are smiling.
As Paolo Villanelli portrays the tense confrontation between
Arthur and his fellow heroes, Rex Lokus's vibrant palette links the blue ocean
with the Earth spinning beyond the Watchtower window. The blue of Batman and
Wonder Woman's suits suggests their concern for their comrade who lives beneath
the waves. Yet Hawkman's gold-and-green attire links with Arthur's clothes, and
evokes their battles in the Omega Tournament. Back in the ocean, Mera's red
hair links her with the mother who regards her as an enemy. Yet it also binds
her to Lori Lemaris, who helped Arthur reunite with Mera and now helps him
prepare for Darkseid’s return.
Dave Sharpe places black uppercase letters in white dialogue
balloons, Arthur’s thoughts in yellow narrative boxes, and Mera’s in green
boxes. The letters grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and
shrink for lowered or distant voices. Pink and red hearts in a balloon link
with blushing cheeks. Anger prompts brutal blows, smashing, and demonstrations
of Mera's hydrokinesis. Ironically, while white words in black balloons urge
caution, the speaker’s world comes crashing down in Emperor Aquaman #19. Thanks
to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.
Final Thoughts
The call of power is seductive. Those who follow its siren
song often end up in dangerous waters. The Justice League worries that the dark
tide could smash Arthur Curry's morals against the rocks. But with the Justice
League juggling a mixture of heroes, antiheroes, and villains, it doesn’t have
time to watch Arthur too closely. And that’s a bad thing, when his
mother-in-law wants to impale Arthur on his trident in Emperor Aquaman #19.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of Emperor Aquaman #19.
For what happened last time, see my preview of Emperor Aquaman #18.
For how Arthur Curry embarked on his new, interstellar mission, see my preview of Emperor Aquaman #15.
For Arthur's battle against Hawkman in DC K.O., see my preview of Aquaman #12.
For the OOEC's takeover of the Bounty Hunting industry, see my preview of Lobo #1.
