Review: Aquaman/Suicide Squad- Sink Atlantis
Quick Summary
Pros: The conflicts here are typically fun and exciting. The story’s conclusion is satisfying and wraps things up nicely.
Cons: Outside of the action, this collection does not offer much in terms of meaning.
Overall: This is an alright event that highlights a conflict between two interesting sets of characters. The resulting conflict has plenty of fun moments and reads well as an overall story. The problem is that, outside of these fun moments, the collection has little to offer, as most meaningful or emotional moments play out rather poorly. In the end, this book will appeal to readers who are just looking for action from Aquaman and the Suicide Squad.
Story
Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis, by Rob Williams and Dan Abnett, is a short but decent crossover event that offers some fun and excitement. It revels in clashes of action between a variety of enjoyable characters. This creates showdowns that feel serious and exciting while still managing to find time for some lighthearted frivolity. Unfortunately, the more meaningful elements of the story fail to truly define themselves, which leaves the collection without much in terms of emotion or message. However, for readers just looking for a book about action, this will likely prove satisfying.
(spoilers start here)
The primary draw in Sink Atlantis is the action. This event pits the members of the Suicide Squad against the citizens of Atlantis and, later on, against each other. This results in some intense conflicts over the very fate of Atlantis itself. Specifically, King Shark and Dolphin have plenty of time to showcase their skills as warriors, which is a fun treat to behold.
However, outside of the action and tension, many of the elements in this story simply end up falling flat. The betrayal by Urcell and her eventually death both appear to be moments designed to strike shock and awe in the reader. However, her character feels so tertiary to everything going on that the moment just passed by with little impact. The same thing happens with Master Jailer. He is set up as a tragic character who is going through a doomed redemption arc, yet he is so underdeveloped that his arc doesn’t create anything near the emotions necessary to drive the point home. Essentially, the action in this volume is fun but it fails in establishing anything meaningful over the course of the narrative.
Luckily, the conclusion to Sink Atlantis is solid and wraps things up nicely. Killer Croc’s internal trauma plays out better than the other story elements and the way in which Atlantis is saved ends up being satisfying. Meanwhile, the seemingly ever-present threat of war between the US and Atlantis appears to have simmered down for the moment, which is great because this particular plot point was overused to the point where it felt stale. I was also happy to see that this collection preserved Atlantis’s new status quo, since I was a bit worried it would actually sink over the course of this comic.
(spoilers end here)
Art
Like the story, the quality of the artwork in Sink Atlantis is good but doesn’t really stand out as anything incredibly noteworthy or special. Joe Bennett and José Luís present bold and dynamic takes on the characters throughout this book, which works well in allowing the intense action to play out. Both artists also manage to maintain a very similar artistic style, which helps maintain the visual consistency between chapters of this event. However, the backgrounds throughout this collection are pretty lackluster and fail to offer much of anything. Overall, the artwork here isn’t the greatest in the world but it does looks good and will likely prove satisfactory for most readers.
Continuity
Aquaman/Suicide Squad: Sink Atlantis is primarily a continuation from Aquaman Vol. 6: Kingslayer (Review), which explains the current situation in Atlantis. In a lesser way, this crossover event mentions some of the recent activities of the Suicide Squad, specifically those from the conclusion of Suicide Squad Vol. 7: Drain the Swamp and Suicide Squad Vol. 8: Constriction.
The main story here continues in Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth. The Suicide Squad’s story continues in Suicide Squad Vol. 8: Constriction.
This volume also references the stories from other comic books, detailed below:
- This entire crossover makes a number of mentions to the recent rebellion that has taken place in Atlantis. This rebellion started at the conclusion of Aquaman Vol. 3: Crown of Atlantis (Review) and has stretched through Aquaman Vol. 4: Underworld (Review), Aquaman Vol. 5: The Crown Comes Down (Review), Aquaman Vol. 6: Kingslayer (Review) and Mera: Queen of Atlantis (Review).
- Aquaman’s wish at the conclusion of Dark Nights: Metal (Review) (Reading Order) is mentioned here.
- Aquaman’s recent trouble with the government, from Aquaman Vol. 2: Black Manta Rising (Review), is also mentioned here.
- Deadshot’s problems with the “Kobra deal” occurred at the beginning of Suicide Squad Vol. 8: Constriction.
- Enchantress/June Moon’s current situation is explained by the events of Suicide Squad #39, collected in Suicide Squad Vol. 7: Drain the Swamp.
- Aquaman mentions dealing with the Suicide Squad in the past. This is likely a reference to the events of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad (Review) (Reading Order).
- King Shark’s hatred for Amanda Waller is likely due to his previous tenure on the Suicide Squad. He served as a member of the Squad from Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth (Review) to Suicide Squad Vol. 5: Walled In (Review). For more details see King Shark’s reading order here.