Chandra Abbott.
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.
9 comments:
Have they ever tried a spin on Aquaman where there is an aquatic threat to the surface, and he's trying to defend the surface-dwellers from them? I'm trying to figure out how to make Aquaman check all these boxes:
- In a setting that's basically familiar to the reader;
- It is a good place for the hero to use their powers;
- There is something meaningful going on where the hero is needed.
Hell, maybe Aquaman can do like near the end of "The Beverly Hillbillies": the annual grunion invasion was happening and the Clampetts thought it was the inhabitants of the isle of Grun. Maybe the people of Grun are on the attack again.
- HJF1
"where there is an aquatic threat to the surface, and he's trying to defend the surface-dwellers from them?" I think there a lot of STORIES where that is the case (such as when aquatic monsters threaten sea-goers or shore-dwellers).
I somehow missed the entire Sub Diego era. Probably because back then I had less disposable income and tended to buy popular titles, to my chagrin. I should probably try to find some trades to catch up.
She makes a good point: How do you even investigate an underwater crime scene?
I have to agree Aquaman lacks his own fictionopolis. I guess Amnesty Bay fills that role nowadays?
Does anything even happen in Amnesty Bay? That should oughtta be part of a fictionopolis. Some sort of setting that makes the heroe's powers relevant: Metropolis has tall buildings, Gotham has allies, Coast City should have a bustling space industry.
Back in the 70s, I think Aquaman operated out of a place called New Venice, which I assume was a little archipelago city in Florida maybe. Archipelagos make sense for Aquaman. Maybe base him in Hawaii? Reasonably large chunks of land surrounded by ocean, and there's even a volcano.
- HJF1
New Venice was introduced in 1959. Like Sub Diego it was created by an earthquake that partially submerged, and, narratively, it was intended to do exact what you suggest: give Aquaman a fictionopolis which was especially suited to his ability. Unlike Sub Diego, no one became water-breathers and only the streets were submerged, not the buildings.
Oh ... ! A baby-faced Jason Momoa was in "Baywatch: Hawaii". It's been sitting right in front of us all this time!
- HJF1
Amnesty Bay is a bit too undeveloped to be a fictionopolis. Arthur needs a port city, with a robust shipping industry and a significant population (with criminals who smuggle stuff in and out of the port, of course, and gangs and so forth -- also evil scientists just because). Ideally there should be a fairly large island connected to the mainland with bridges. I may have just described New York.
"no one would happily (and SECRETLY) ask to be turned into a monster just so he could be a better police officer"
No matter the situation, someone, somewhere, wants it. Isn't that one of the many, many lessons that the internet has taught us? :-)
Post a Comment