I owe an apology to...

 Chandra Abbott.

You'll be forgiven if you don't remember who Chandra Abbott was; I forgot her, too.

She was the (non-monstrous) police officer who assisted Aquaman during his "Sub Diego" phase.

The monstrous one was Officer Malrey (Alonzo to his friends). I won't get into what his deal was right now because, like most of the Sub Diego storyline, it didn't make much sense.

Chandra Abbot CLEARLY should have been included in my line-up of Mystery Analysts for Aquaman, since that's exactly how she functioned in Sub Diego.

Sigh; Sub Diego. I loved the idea. I actually own original art from the series (including the delightfully memorable Dead Floating Panda), was an early advocate of Loran "Aquagirl" Marquez, and I was happy that Aquaman finally had (again, ahem) what other heroes had: an (American) fictionopolis of which he could be the protector.  Its original issues by Will Pfeifer (Aquaman #15-22, "American Tidal" and the first two of three installments of "With The Fishes") weren't air-tight (as underwater stories should be!), but they were a bold start with interesting mysteries, a unique setting, and intriguing new (or renovated) characters (such as Dr. Geist, Lorena Marquez, Koryak, The Eel).

I was quite saddened as it began to spin off into chaos that had to be retconned away by the next regularly-schedule reboot of the DC.  

Aquaman 15-22    Pfeifer

Aquaman 23-24     Ostrander

Aquaman 25-29    Arcudi

Aquaman 30-31    Guggenheim

Aquaman 32-39    Arcudi

John Ostrander did two issues after Pfeiffer, then John Arcudi became writer and halted all momentum with a three-issue story about Ocean Master magically changing reality to switch roles with Aquaman (the ONLY significant result being Aquagirl's new costume).  Officer Malrey was introduced, and although I kind of liked him, he made zero sense, since no one would happily (and SECRETLY) ask to be turned into a monster just so he could be a better police officer.  Evil corporation "GeneTech" seemed wildly UNDERmotivated as the perpetrators of the sinking of Sub Diego and the only real ongoing effect of which was to make Black Manta capable of breathing underwater.

I don't know, I can't keep track any more; can Black Manta STILL breathe underwater? If so, how is that explained, since that was tied in completely with Sub Diego, which is now retconned away. Just another part of the ongoing editorial chaos in the DCU.

Marc Guggenheim followed with a two-issue Sub Diego serial killer storyline, with ridiculous elements  like scrabble letter clues, Sub Diegans exhaling OXYGEN, and Aquaman hauling his butt to ARKHAM just to consult with Jonathan Crane, of all people.

Then Arcudi came back, with a dying Mera, an angry Tempest, and Atlantean magicopolitical problems in tow, which drew focus off of Sub Diego for the rest of the series. That all tied in with the company-wide crossover storyline of Jean "Eclipso" Loring seducing The Spectre into destroying all free-range magic in the DCU.

You remember: when the Spectre literally STEPPED on Atlantis and gave his silly "Widows of Atlantis, bring out your shrouds!" speech.

And that was the end not only of Atlantis but Sub Diego. Now, once again, after only THREE ISSUES,  Aquaman has wandered off into familiar, chaotic waters of obscure irrelevancy, wherein 

• Atlantis is missing or destroyed;
• Mera is missing or destroyed;
• Everything is all Magicky.

And Aquaman himself has literally wandered off the map.

If only Chandra Abbott were on hand to find Missing Person Arthur Curry.

My New Art

I'm the proud new owner of some artwork by Patrick Gleeson.

This one is, of course, the crowning jewel: it's the first page of the Pfeiffer run on Aquaman. You know ... the one that had Aquaman in it.


That alone would make it worthwhile, regardless of what it was a picture of. But it's a dead floating panda. Not only is that one of the most brilliantly synoptic images in comics that's been created during my lifetime, it is a perfect example of the appropriate use of silent panels and cinematic technique (which I've railed against when they are used for decompression). Besides, like any true Washingtonian, I harbor a secret, seething hatred of all things panda.

This next one is another masterpiece of comic book illustration, where words are not necessary; it's the first view of the new coastline of San Diego.

Note how the panels "pan out" in subject, from the intimate loss of a single loved one to the vast scope of the entire disaster. Oh, Sub Diego, we hardly knew ye.

The third may not impress you much, "why, it's mostly some fish in panels without the background filled in!" Ah, but it's one of my favorite comic book pages of all time, in its subtlety and power. Yep, it's just fish swimming in an aquarium in their usual random way. That is, until the last panel, where they are suddenly facing the same way. Toward to the sea. Toward Aquaman. Who's coming.

It's enormously creepy and a reminder of how scarily powerful Aquaman is; he's not a mere force of nature, he's a force over nature. He tosses around the biosphere like Batman would a batarang.

The final one doesn't have the same kind of simple power as the others, but it's a marvelous example of the use of different visual ranges to tell a story and the use of different spaces to contextualize the images with one another. Besides, it's got both Lorena and Koryak.


I'm still trying to figure out where to display these in my house and which (if any!) should be at the DC Big Monkey store.

I think the dead floating panda one will just go over my bed.

Sub Diego: The Heroclix Map!

Today my extremely deep thanks go out to regular Absorbascommenter Kyle-Latino, who has done me the great kindness of creating an all-underwater map for Heroclix. This is something I've wanted for years now, but no one was able to help me; Kyle was and he did!

Finally, we have a Heroclix map for Aquaman, the fishclix, and other aquatic figures (standard and customized). Behold!

SUB DIEGO

Some of the detail might be a bit hard to see on this picture (which does not do the original justice); you can download the full-size pdf image from this location.

As mentioned before, in an underwater map, hindering terrain affects only line of sight/targeting, not movement; that's because you can just swim over stuff like that. Thus, the collapsed brick walls are simply edged in green rather than being completely outlined.

Note also the fallen highway sign, amended to say "Sub Diego"!

At last, any customs of Aquaman related characters you may have had made, the fishclix pogs, the aquatic objects, all have a home of their own (instead of having to rely on the ersatz "Atlantis Rising" Battle Field Condition Card). I am prevailing upon the good folks at Xion Studios to make this map available for public purchase from them so that as many of you can enjoy it as possible; I'll let you know if they do.

Sub Diego has won its rightful place in the Heroclix world ... at the bottom of the ocean!

CARTOGRAPHERS WANTED!

I have Totaltoyz to make me custom Heroclix figures I want; but I need someone who can use Djundinni or such to create the maps that I want (which Xion can then print for me).

Mostly I want water maps (Atlantis, Sub Diego, New Venice, the beach, the ocean) for Aquaman & His Amazing Friends, but there are other maps I'd like. Please contact me if you think you can help! Thanks.