The Horror of Aquaman
Aquaman gets no love. He is made into a joke on Family Guy and his fellow members of the JLA keep humming the tune “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid whenever he is around. Hell, I only know one guy who is really into him as a character.
Mind you, Aquaman is difficult. It takes some work to determine how he can really be used, and if the adventure is on land, well, why would an author even use him?
Yet the sea affects us all, so I think that Aquaman must be more powerful then we realize. If that were true, why would he hide it? On top of that, seeing all of he beautifully ugly things that come up from the deep sea, I began to wonder, “What if Aquaman wasn’t a hero?” Oh, sure, he has done lots of heroic things, but what if he did them for terrible reasons? That’s when I started to think that maybe Aquaman, as well as the rest of the Atlanteans, were further removed from humanity than we thought, and, if so, what it would be that they really want?
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 17
Page 17
Superman takes off. Aquaman and Martian Manunter look to each other.
Aquaman: So, will he stand in our way?
Martian Manhunter (telepathically): He knows there is nothing he can do. He wants to fight, but he knows it will not be enough.
Martian Manhunter (telepathically): More than that, he wants to go home, as we all do.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 16
Page 16
Aquaman kisses Superman, spiked tongue and all. Superman’s eyes are wide and his pupils are dilated, he cannot believe what is happening and that he is helpless to stop it.
Aquaman ends the horrible kiss. Superman looks disgusted.
Aquaman: You can’t stop it, Kal, and you can’t fight me if I won’t let you. Just turn away.
Aquaman: I will release you, but if you fight, back down you go.
Aquaman releases Superman. Superman staggers up, retching.
Superman looks a Martian Manhunter and then at Aquaman. Martian Manhunter presses a button, opening an airlock for Superman.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 15
Page 15
Aquaman: I will let you speak.
Superman: Why do you save them? Why do you save people? Aren’t you human?
Aquaman reaches up to his face and pulls off his skin, revealing a fishman underneath. I am thinking something along the anglerfish, and his tongue is covered is a double row of sharp, pointy, hooked teeth in a V pattern.
Aquaman: No, I’m not. And I save people because when the old gods return, they have to eat something.
Aquaman: I do not want to see you die, Kal. I am truly your friend, and unlike those pretenders you hold so dear, I love you.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 14
Page 14
Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman’s mind): You wouldn’t be doing it for nothing.
Aquaman: The gods of the first world can give you want you have always wanted. A home where you belong.
Aquaman: They can remake Krypton for you.
Martian Manhunter (still telepathically): They are giving me Mars.
Aquaman: All they want is to come home. All they want is what you want, a home of their own.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 13
Page 13
Aquaman: This isn’t your world. Never was and never will be. It’s not even the human’s world. It belongs to another people. Mine.
Aquaman: Did you ever wonder about what you would call the first world? With all your adventures, you probably never even gave it a thought.
Aquaman: It never ended. The gods simply left to explore the Bleed, and now they are returning.
Aquaman: My people were charged with taking care of this world for them and we do not need you to get in our way.
Aquaman: All I need from you is this. When they come, look away. There are an infinite number of people across the universe that will need saving.
Aquaman: Save them instead.
Batman Vox Humana Issue 2.5 Page 12
Page 12
Aquaman: I don’t talk to fish. I speak to the brain stem. I control it and willpower has nothing to do with it.
Aquaman: You know why you can’t talk right now? Because I am preventing your brain from reaching your vocal cords and mouth.
Aquaman: You knw why you fell to the floor? Do you know what you just experienced? It was a heart attack.
Aquaman: You are weak as a kitten right now.
Aquaman: You should be glad, for without me, you would have never experienced it, Kryptonian.
Aquaman: I didn’t want to have to do that, but I need you to listen.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 11
Page 11
Superman pimp slaps Aquaman. I would like this panel to mimic the one where Batman hits Superman.
Superman goes to beat the tar out of Aquaman, but finds he cannot move.
Aquaman: Having trouble, Kal?
Superman clutches his chest and falls to the floor.
Black Panel
Panel from Superman’s perspective. He is on the ground, face up. Aquaman is leaning over him.
Aquaman: I don’t think any of you ever really understood what I can do.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 10
Page 10
Aquaman: And when you tried to help him and his fellow humans, he lashed out and tried to kill you.
Superman (shaking his head and with his hand in his hair): Well, I had said-
Martian Manhunter (interrupting) (speaking in Superman’s mind): It doesn’t matter what you said. He tried to kill you, like Luthor has continually tried to kill you.
Superman (businesslike): What are you getting at?
Aquaman: Maybe it’s time you hung up the cape.
Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 9
Page 9
Aquaman: But you still haven’t been. Your confrontation with Bruce demonstrates that. They still don’t love you.
Aquaman comes close to Superman and places his hand on Superman’s shoulder.
Aquaman: Kal, I know that Bruce has been your friend for a long time, but when he needed simple companionship, he didn’t come to you.
Aquaman: He went to someone else.
Superman looks hurt and confused.
