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.
