Aquaman #2

In "Uneasy Lies The Head That Wears The Crown," Aquaman grapples with the weight of leadership as he returns to Atlantis, balancing court politics with the urgent mystery of the USS Pontchartrain’s sinking—evidence pointing suspiciously to Atlantean involvement. Meanwhile, Black Manta seizes control of N.E.M.O., turning the organization into a new threat beneath the waves.

In "Unstoppable," Jo learns of Atlantean traditions under Mother Cetea’s guidance while preparing for her future with Arthur, but her trials are interrupted when a relentless creature—revealed to be the Shaggy Man, a shape-shifting foe from the Justice League’s past—ravages Atlantis. With Aquaman, the Drift, and Atlantean forces racing to contain the unstoppable threat, Jo must confront the chaos not just as a warrior, but as someone still finding her place in a world of ancient power and peril.

In "A League of His Own," Aquaman stands alone against the Shaggy Man’s relentless advance, his path of destruction leading to Amnesty Bay. With the Justice League out of reach and Superman’s recent battle still echoing, Aquaman must confront the indestructible threat without backup—facing a crisis that tests his resolve and his limits.

In "Future Tide," Mera grapples with doubt as a prophecy warns of a Fatal Queen who will bring about the Deluge, threatening both Atlantis and the surface world. When the Widowhood refuses to bless her marriage to Arthur, Mera begins to question her place by his side—until a cryptic message from Lt. Joanna Stubbs reveals a deeper conspiracy tied to N.E.M.O. Their meeting is cut short by Broadside, a deadly agent sent to silence them.

In "Condition Critical," Mera and Jo arrive at Amnesty Bay hospital to find Arthur recovering after his clash with Shaggy Man, now hailed as a hero by a grateful public. As Arthur learns the truth about N.E.M.O.’s sabotage from Jo, Black Manta shifts tactics—orchestrating attacks on American cities disguised as Atlantean raids, pushing the world toward war.

In "The Deluge Act Two," Aquaman races to prove Atlantis is being framed by N.E.M.O. as global tensions escalate, pleading with the Justice League to intervene at the White House—only for a N.E.M.O.-controlled ship to launch a surprise assault on Atlantis. Though Aquaman battles the enemy vessel, he fails to secure live captives to expose the deception, leaving the U.S. government unmoved and the Aqua-Marines ordered to eliminate him.

In "The Deluge Act Three," Aquaman races to uncover the truth behind a deadly assault on Atlantis, where the Aquamarines' assassination attempt leaves high-ranking Atlantean leaders dead or dying. With Mera and Jurok Byss at his side, Arthur confronts the escalating tension among his people, who demand vengeance against the United States—yet he vows one final effort to prevent war, even if it means stepping down as king. Tracking a mysterious N.E.M.O. signal to its source, he uncovers a shocking revelation: Black Manta is behind the attack.

In "The Deluge Finale," Aquaman confronts Black Manta at the N.E.M.O. base, leading to a desperate showdown that ends in a self-destruct sequence. With Superman by his side, Arthur carries the evidence of Black Manta’s betrayal to the White House, where he and the President announce a new era of peace between Atlantis and the United States.