Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, has the honor of being our latest Character of the Month! The voters selected him over four other heroes, so now it's time to begin praising the very awesome DC hero! First up, let's celebrate the character by taking a stroll down the Justice Leaguer's very impressive history of covers. Look, there's dozens upon dozens of terrific covers, so if your favorite one isn't below, go ahead and post it in the comments. Now, be good to your eyes and start looking at the following covers!
AQUAMAN #25
Glen Orbik's cover for AQUAMAN #25 is stunning. Not only does Arthur's flowing hair capture the feeling of being in the ocean with the hero, but the work on his expression is brilliant. Just like the cover implies, being a leader comes with a lot of responsibility and a good leader must be careful about their decisions. Orbik's work on Arthur's face is superb and tells us everything we need to know about how challenging it must be to have such power and make difficult choices. The handling of the crown and Arthur's facial features are especially praiseworthy. Do yourself a favor and take a few more seconds to stare at this one, okay?
AQUAMAN #23
Patrick Gleason, Christian Alamy and Nathan Eyring's cover for AQUAMAN #23 makes the list because it's a creative twist on such a simple image. How many times have you seen Aquaman speeding through the water? Plenty, right? The focus on shading and black -- making it seem like he's ripping through the page or a solid surface -- is a striking way to show the action in a whole new way. Plus, the shading really puts an emphasis on his physique and makes him look especially formidable.
AQUAMAN #2
The beginning of Aquaman's New 52 series is full of excellence and the cover for the second issue is quite an eye-catcher. Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis' cover reveals just how horrifying the Trench can be. From the sharp teeth to the rigid features around their reflective eyes, this image makes the reader realize they'd never want to meet one of these violent creatures. To top it off, having the reflection of Aquaman in the eyes is a nice follow-up to the first issue's cover. In that one, the reader is in front of Aquaman as he's locked in a struggle. Now, we see what he's looking at and you can catch his reflection in the monster's eyes. If you didn't think the Trench were that scary, keep staring at this one and odds are it'll change your mind.
AQUAMAN #45
Sometimes a single image can do a phenomenal capturing your attention and make you want to see more. The single picture can reveal a powerful moment that teases a bigger story and leaves you wondering how the characters got there and what'll happen next. Nick Cardy's cover for AQUAMAN #45 is one of those images. Having a "wanted dead or alive" sign on Aquaman's body could have made the image look cheesy, yet Cardy makes it work. From the wonderful work on the environment to the emotional connection it establishes, this is a cover that'll linger in your mind and make you want to read the comic.
JUSTICE LEAGUE #16
For some baffling reason, some people out there still think Aquaman's a joke; that he's just a silly hero with lame powers. Well, those people are very wrong and JUSTICE LEAGUE #16's cover is a nice reminder that Arthur Curry is no joke. Him taking on the entire Justice League by his lonesome is absolutely an uphill struggle, but Ivan Reis, Joe Prado and Rod Reis' cover shows he certainly has what it takes to give them all kinds of hell. Arthur has the strength, skill and durability to hold his own against many of DC's titans and this cover helps illustrate the point that he really shouldn't be sold short. The next time someone calls Aquaman lame or think he's weak, tell 'em to go read Throne of Atlantis. They'll thank you when they're done reading it.
AQUAMAN #1
Covers don't always need to be elaborate to be impactful. In this case, Alex Maleev's cover for AQUAMAN #1 is incredibly simple yet is still so intriguing because it's so handled in such an impressive way. From the grittier take on Aquaman's face and hair to the very direct teaser about his hand, this is yet another example of how Maleev is terrific at bringing images to life and making us connect with the fictional characters.
AQUAMAN #5
AQUAMAN #5's cover almost feels like it could be the character's internal response whenever someone drops a cliche joke about the him, doesn't it? Just like the JUSTICE LEAGUE cover we previously highlighted, Kevin Maguire and Eric Shanower's cover illustrates the point that Aquaman isn't someone you want to upset and him letting loose can be scary. From the rage in his eyes to the hands reaching out towards the reader, this one shows you don't want to be one of Arthur's targets, especially when he's racing through the water.
AQUAMAN #0
Martin Egeland, Brad Vancata and Tom Luth's cover for AQUAMAN #0 is here for one simple reason: Aquaman looks like a total badass! It's deliciously '90s and, just like many of the other covers, it portrays Arthur as a hero you wouldn't want to mess with. From the huge wave to his intimidating expression to the sharp hook hand, this makes him look like one tough dude. You can't help but feel a little bad for anyone who gets in his way or dares to push him.
AQUAMAN #35
There's a whole lot of Aquaman covers that reveal a gorgeous setting or capture an intense moment, but not many of them are haunting. Paul Pelletier and Sean Parsons' cover for issue 35 of the New 52 run is oozing with darkness and it's loaded with intrigue. The red banner on the left is a little distracting, but that doesn't manage to take away from the gripping cover. The strong emphasis on shading -- especially around the eyes and concealing the rest of the skeleton -- really makes this cover pack quite a punch and leaves you wanting to learn more.
AQUAMAN #37
There's a lot of classic covers that come off as a wee bit silly. They were dramatic and gripping at the time, but not all of them hold up and some can even seem unintentionally funny. Nick Cardy's cover for AQUAMAN #37 is still commnedable and hits you with a huge dose of nostalgia. The impressive coloring and Aquaman's expression immediately grabs your attention and, thanks to the lettering, it has a little bit of a horror vibe to it as well. It's a vivid cover that has plenty to appreciate.
AQUAMAN #18
Our final highlight comes from Paul Pelletier, Sean Parsons and Rod Reis. This is making the cut because, simply put, it's awesome. Everything from the throne to the character work to the way it crafts a dark and moody atmosphere is topnotch and amazingly immersive. Seeing as this follows Throne of Atlantis, you can really appreciate the handling of the tone and understand why Arthur doesn't exactly seem thrilled to be in the position. It may not be the most uplifting cover, but we think it's a memorable one and a great way to conclude the list.
What's YOUR favorite Aquaman cover? Share it below!