Aquaman: Futures End #1

Of course, if the Dead King has returned, then you know that means Martinez gets the opportunity to create some of the most beautiful aquatic action scenes you'll ever see. There are also some surprise action scenes from someone that you wouldn't expect. Read Full Review

It is a little sad to see that most of what Geoff Johns was working on gets undone within one issue, but this issue is surprisingly good and definitely a key part in the Futures End crossover. Read Full Review

Successfully gets you to want more, though rather inconclusive for a one-shot. Read Full Review

It's definitely intriguing to see so many running conflicts come to a head five years in the future. But Jurgens' handling of the characters isn't quite on par with Jeff Parker's work on the main series. There's an overabundance of dialogue in places where less would be more. Read Full Review

What this issue does well with jumping forward into the future and giving the reader a "where are they now" update is the same thing that hurts the main series. Aquaman's new outfit is really the highlight here and while the book was just ok, this is one of two parts and I'm intrigued to see how this plays out in the Aquaman & the Others issue. If you're an Aquaman fan and reading the main series, you'll want to pick this up. However, if you're not, pass this one up. Read Full Review

It would have been nice to see something a little different for Aquaman rather than it's standard fanfare. It's getting a little tiresome that the Atlanteans are always unhappy and Aquaman has to always soothe relations between his people and the surface dwellers. It's even more disheartening that this is set five years in the future and nothing has really changed. While somewhat entertaining, this issue continues the trend of making Aquaman a one-trick pony. The art is good"neither terrible nor amazing"and Sotomayor has done a good job of keeping everything looking aquatic when necessary. Overall, it's not a life-changing book, but it's not a rag either. It's somewhere in the middle. If "somewhere in the middle" isn't enough to make you spend $2.99, then go ahead and skip it, though it make behoove you to at least flip through it if you plan on picking up this month's Aquaman and the Others. Read Full Review

Overall, "Aquaman: Futures End" #1 begs the question of how "Futures End" is meant to work. As a reader, I appreciate that Jurgens' story is actually in dialogue with Parker's run in the present, but -- depending on whether the "Futures End" timeline comes to pass -- it also makes this issue something of a spoiler. When the story here continues in "Aquaman and the Others: Futures End" #1, I'll be curious to see how this is positioned: what could be, or what will be. Read Full Review

With the future of Atlantis now in the hands of a dead tyrant, the next issue of AQUAMAN might be history repeating itself. The change to time will definitely play a huge factor in the story from here on out so stay turned and hopefully some answers will be coming very soon. Read Full Review

The writing is stiff and too reliant on shocks. The art is serviceable at best. The one-shot isn't self-contained. Just stay away from this book. Read Full Review

Futures End: Aquaman #1 is a combination of stories that have been done before, over-used plot devices, and forced tie-in event books. One-shot books are meant to be self-contained with everything readers need to know in that issue, but this book clearly requires more reading in order to get the whole story. It is the rare case of the two-part one-shot. While the artwork is visually pleasing, the story is confusing unless readers are keeping up with the weekly Futures End. For casual readers of the regular monthly Aquaman series, Futures End: Aquaman #1 is completely unnecessary. Read Full Review

Though the writing of Dan Jurgens (Booster Gold, Superman) is this books only saving grace, poor pencil work almost makes getting through this read near impossible. Where the pieces lay after Futures End is anyones guess, but if one positive thing comes out of this companion book hopefully its the all new Aquasuit! Read Full Review

Aquaman: Futures End #1 is my least favorite Futures End tie-in yet.  It's exposition heavy, full of awful ideas and pretty much ruins everything that I love about Aquaman's regular run.  To make it worse, it's a setup issue for another book.  Aquaman may get a new kickass outfit, but that, my friends, is not worth $3.99.  Just skip it and save your cash money. Read Full Review

This issue had the potential to be so much more, and I'm saddened that Jeff Parker didn't write it, or that there was no Paul Pelletier here. With them, this would have been a great issue, but sadly that is most assuredly not the case. Read Full Review

JBL Reviews

Sep 06, 2014

Decent issue that felt connected to main series.

Gizmo

Sep 04, 2014

I can't help but wonder if I should know more about the war they keep talking about in this. I'm not reading Future's End because I sure as heck don't need to read an event book every week for a year. This is interesting on it's own merits though, if you are reading Aquaman. I can buy a most of what's happening here and support Aquaman's decisions, especially regarding his personal life ;) but this little surprise alliance that Mera has going on seems like a pretty far stretch.

WhiteLantern

Sep 04, 2014

So much of this book is weird. The description that DC put out doesn't even factor in until the last few pages, and then it continues in the "Aquaman and the Others" issue coming later this month. The reference to "the war" is never explained as to what it was, or the effects it had. As an issue, it just doesn't hold up to the monthly "Aquaman" title. Jurgens doesn't handle the character as well as Jeff Parker does, and the art doesn't measure up to Paul Pellitier. The biggest flaw, in what is honestly not a bad book, is the misleading description of this being a one-shot. It's not. This is part of what I'm assuming is a two-part story. This issue is not a stand alone story, since you're only getting half of it. If you're an Aquaman fan, it 's worth reading. If you're not, just pass on this one. more