It’s high time we have some genuine character development for Aquaman.

True enough, Geoff Johns has brought breadth and worldbuilding to the title; Aquaman suddenly has a readable (and bodaciously sexy, in some cases) supporting cast, a mystery, a dog, and a host of ravenous baddies to pummel. Infusing a title with scope and fertile ground for big events is seemingly second nature for Johns, anymore. If what you want out of Aquaman is a blockbuster event machine, you may have found the right place.

In a number of ways, however, Aquaman #5 is a step backward for Arthur as a character–the issue supplies a strong entrance for him (with some truly striking artwork) but Aquaman devolves fairly rapidly into the self-concerned, unsure and “mopey” character he’s been in less successful titles that bore his name over the last decade. Even as Johns catapults Aquaman into what is undoubtedly his next substantial story arc, he still writes the titular character generically and ambiguously with no real motivation or convictions to speak of beyond wishing he could be or be with his father. The character simply deserves better.

Aquaman is the former King of Atlantis–he tossed aside a moving vehicle in the first issue, he shrugged off a bullet to the face, and he lives essentially nudist in a lighthouse with arguably the most attractive female in DC Comics. The guy needs to be indued with some more confidence if he’s ever going to really take off, even if his series soars into epic-country.

The Wrap-up: The art is still extremely strong and the dialogue and storytelling are serviceable, but the main character is still being written without the gravitas due him and his fans and much less characterization enough hold the leading role. It’s a good comic only a margin, albeit a critical margin, from being great.