YMMV / Aquaman (1991)

• Catharsis Factor:
  • With the huge Trauma Conga Line of the first seven issues, it's immensely satisfying to see Arthur defeat Thanatos and learn to love and forgive himself again. Shortly after, he and Garth talk and patch things up, promising to talk again soon.
  • The Scavenger's redemption in issue 13 shows the same forgiveness and betterment applied to others, and he and Aquaman become close enough friends to use each other's given names.
• Funny Moments:
  • A single panel of Aquaman in a plane thinking "God, I hate flying" makes it look like the plane itself is thinking it.
  • In the middle of a tense standoff between Aquaman and Black Manta, a mercenary from Tritonis tries and fails to use a gun.
  Ritar: Now, Lord Iqula, I will repay you for the humiliation of Tritonis. With this magic weapon that Manta...Uh...Uh...Fire, you blasted thing! Maybe if I point it this way and press that...No...
  • During the standoff at Tritonis in issue 12, Firtf threatens Vulko with a sword and calls him an old man when he himself is up in years. Vulko takes offense and kicks him away, and Aquaman praises him by calling him young.
• Tear Jerker:
  • Unlike later runs where the Atlanteans distrust Aquaman, the people of Poseidonis have almost too much love for their hero and former king, as they're overjoyed to see him and inadvertently worsen his self-esteem with their hero worship. When he returns too late to save them from surface missiles and a teenager named Marin is killed saving him from more, the people praise her for saving Aquaman—and when the cracked dome brings sharks and many citizens are killed or injured, they're just happy Aquaman is there to help them. Meanwhile, Arthur himself feels unworthy of their praise and privately hides how lonely he is.
  • The first half of the series shows how Black Manta singlehandedly ruined Arthur's life. When not fighting past the point of exhaustion, Aquaman is lonely, depressed, and wonders how he can possibly move on from his past and find happiness again after all that's happened to him. When the Martian Manhunter talks to him and they commiserate over shared loss, J'onn notes that while Arthur has accepted what happened with Arthur Jr. and Mera, he hasn't faced it and is repressing his feelings. Then Black Manta shows up, asks how the wife and kid are, and blows up Arthur Jr.'s grave. By this point, Aquaman is entirely willing to kill his enemy, who he feels taught him hatred. Then after that battle, Thanatos shows up to torment him further with hallucinations of his loved ones scorning him. Thankfully, after all that trauma Arthur is finally able to heal when he overcomes Thanatos, lets go of his self-hatred, and realizes Mera and Arthur Jr. would forgive him if he forgave himself.

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