Aquaman #50
Aquaman (Vol. 5) #50 (December 1998) marks the first chapter of Erik Larsen's run on the title, representing the book's second major creative transition in less than a year after Peter David's acclaimed four-year tenure ended with issue #46. The issue introduces several new characters — Noble, the self-declared king of the Lurkers, as well as the Landlovers trio (Lagoon Boy, Blubber, and Sheeva) — who would shape the book's direction through issue #62. It also debuts a new look for Aquaman himself, folding a costume change into the milestone-issue format as a signal of fresh creative ownership. As the opening act of Larsen's run, it set the tone for a period of Atlantean expansion and political conflict that carried the series toward its eventual conclusion with issue #75.
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After Peter David quietly exited the series with issue #46 (July 1998), Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning held the book for three transitional issues (#47–49) before DC editor Kevin Dooley recruited Erik Larsen — best known as the creator of Savage Dragon at Image Comics — to take the reins beginning with the landmark 50th issue. By Larsen's own account, he had never read the series before being approached; Dooley sent him several issues and Larsen consulted an Aquaman fan website to get up to speed before drafting his pitch. Larsen came aboard with specific plans to introduce Noble and the Lurkers as recurring antagonists, and to steer Aquaman's supporting cast in a new direction with the Landlovers characters.
Trivia · 9 facts
- Published December 1998 by DC Comics as part of Aquaman Volume 5 (1994 series); story titled 'Reflections.'
- First appearance of Noble (King of the Lurkers), who claims sovereignty over the deep-ocean territory beneath Atlantis and challenges Aquaman's right to rule.
- First appearance of the Lurkers, Noble's ancient undersea civilization whose tunnels run beneath the ocean floor worldwide.
- First appearance of the Landlovers: Lagoon Boy, Blubber (a humanoid whale of genius-level intelligence), and Sheeva the Mermaid — all created by Erik Larsen.
- Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image Comics co-founder) debuts as writer; Eric Battle and Norm Rapmund provide interior pencils and inks; Larsen drew the cover.
- Kevin Dooley edited the issue; the issue marks Larsen's run spanning #50–62, preceded by a three-issue transitional stint from Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (#47–49).
- The issue introduces a new costume for Aquaman — including bangles and a seashell headband worn open-vested over his green scaly pants — which he would wear only for select royal occasions during the Larsen run.
- The DC Database notes a continuity error within the issue: the narrator misremembers the exact circumstances under which Charybdis caused Aquaman to lose his hand back in issue #2.
- As of this writing, the Larsen-era issues #50–62 have not been collected in a print trade paperback or hardcover, though they are available digitally.
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Reprinted in Super-Homem: O Homem de Aço #13 (2000)
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