Aquaman #20

This issue is a stand alone and does not directly involve Aquaman himself, other than in the beginning where Arthur asks The Others to help him retrieve an Atlantean relic. We know that Arthur is already locked in conflict with The Scavenger trying to prevent him from accumulating these powerful relics that are too dangerous to be free in the surface world. So the pretty simple set up for the issue arises from Arthur asking the others to go retrieve this relic. He can't do it because he may not be welcome on US soil, although this skirts two issues; the Navajo nation is amazingly remote and pretty invisible to the US government and we are never told why the Justice League can't help despite Johns also writing that book. I suppose there is still bad blood with Arthur or maybe Superman and Wonder Woman are negotiating a reality television deal. The Justice League question is best left alone. Lets not tempt fate.

So after the story dispenses with the set up, we get a wonderful book whose charm and power arise from a couple of different angles. Sky Alchesay is a shaman in training with the ability to walk in both worlds, the world of the living and the ghost world inhabited by the spirits of the dead. From the ghost world, Sky learns of the world around her and the people that inhabit it to a degree other's can't. It is sort of like a supernatural National Security Administration. Her main day to day spirit visitor is her mother who was tragically murdered when she was younger. This crime is central to the book because the murderer shows up later. We also get to know of the Skinwalkers, people that have made a deal with a set of extremely powerful demons for power based in evil strength. Of course, this ties in with the murder of Sky's mother as well.

One of these Skinwalkers has gotten a hold of the Atlantean relic somehow and wants to use that to further his power. So we get a neat confluence of desires setting up a showdown. The Skinwalker has the glove and is going to use to unleash further evil, The Others need to retrieve it, Sky has been directed by the spirit world and the Lightening Beings to help, Sky is promised The Seal of Clarity by a spirit and the seal is in the possession of The Operative, and The Others don't know what to make of Sky. However, this bundle of issues is resolved in a wonderful, touching exchange between Sky and Ya'Wara that is a highlight of the issue. This exchange and the way it gives peace and trust to Ya'Wara thereby creating a bond with the two parties is just great comic writing.

The book goes onto a great battle that resolves the issues but happily we don't get everything resolved. We are given just enough information of Sky and her world to satisfy our understanding as the plot moves forward but not too much. And Sky is also rewarded with some truth that can help bring her peace. I loved the story and how I have been given many more intriguing issues and characters that will populate Aquaman's world. I have read other places that there are set ups her for an Others and Shazam titles. That would be wonderful, but I hope they don't depart completely from my Arthur's world. The tone of this book fits in well with where I see those books developing. Aquaman with the Others continues the tone of friendship, commitment, overcoming your ghosts, and working for others without devolving into a soap opera or blood fest.