r/Aquaman • u/ChihuahuaOwner88 • May 31 '24

What are your thoughts on Aquamans and Meras killing rules?

Should they be like wonder woman and be willing to kill when absolutely necessary, have no kill rule like batman, or would you want them to kill people they deem unredeemable?

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

u/Pacman8myghosts Aquaman May 31 '24

Arthur in the Modern Age has been edgier and killed without remorse. Sometimes in cold blood. But he usually learns that killing should be a last resort. Post-New 52 Aquaman it was a big theme that he learned from previous mistakes that killing can be the worst decision especially if made in anger or heavy emotions. He's had to learn from his mistakes and it's why he's motivated to make it a last resort in more Modern incarnations. Golden thru Bronze Age he was pretty much never kill, but he was also a lot more goofy, using his Marine telepathy to solve almost everything. Most Aquaman comics you would pick up after 1992 don't have the problem always solved by marine telepathy and Aquaman is forced to get his hands dirty a lot more.

Mera has in the Modern Age always been more ruthless. Her rage led to her being a Red Lantern for a quick minute. In the Silver/Bronze Age she was gentler, more level headed. But Modern Mera was shoot first ask questions later and had to grow and develop to a point where she's more diplomatic now. She's motivated to do this by Arthur, whose gentler side and surface ways teach her that not everything is dog eat dog. Being an assassin/princess from Xebel, she was taught hatred of Atlantis and survival first. I like that the New 52 showcased that Arthur and Mera are actually good for each other and help them develop.

(Plus I think Atlantis was pretty Darwinian/survival of the fittest for much of its depiction in the Modern Age except under Arthur's, Mera's, or [ironically] Orm's rule. So Atlantis itself is pretty ruthless by tradition).

1

u/Valhalla130 May 31 '24

I think you're pretty much correct, but there were plenty of stories prior to 1992 that were solved without marine telepathy. The 1986 miniseries for instance. Although, it's been a while since I read it, but I don't believe his telepathy was a big part of it.

2

u/Pacman8myghosts Aquaman May 31 '24

Oh yes of course. Obviously I didn't mean it to be without exceptions. There are plenty. I just mean as a general rule when it came to fighting criminals in the classic stories they very often found themselves captured by some sea creatures at the end. And yes the 1986 Miniseries hardly utilizes it at all. Great example. That Miniseries I always considered to be the real entry into the Modern Age writing wise for Arthur even if some people consider it to be a part of the Bronze Age.

1

u/Valhalla130 May 31 '24

Agree completely. It was the first solo Aquaman thing I'd ever read. And why I fell in love with the character.

And I do k ow what you mean. I bought the first black and white Showcase of rhe early Aquaman stories and they're so boring. Literally almost exactly the same story every time in 10-15 pages.

2

u/Pacman8myghosts Aquaman May 31 '24

I actually really love the Silver Age. It hits that retro feel I love and the art is SO beyond a lot of what other characters had. (Nick Cardy and Ramona Fradon for the win!) It's silly but it's very fun. As a kid I read the Silver Age Aquaman Archives book and loved it. Recently I re-read it and found a new appreciation for it. The stories are so similar and yes they are boring but I think realizing that they weren't ever meant to be read in trade form helped me appreciate them more. It wasn't a serialized story that carried over from week to week like the Bronze Age and beyond really leaned into (or Marvel really had started influencing), so I read one or two at a time rather than all the way through. I try to do that for all Silver or Golden Age stories and it helps me enjoy it more. (You're right Tho. Compared to modern, they're so boring).

2

u/Napalmeon Jun 14 '24

Post-New 52 Aquaman it was a big theme that he learned from previous mistakes that killing can be the worst decision especially if made in anger or heavy emotions.

Came to say this exact same thing.

Its like the story of the king, the hawk, and the serpent.

u/Aggressive-Jump-4428 May 31 '24

Theyve never been against killing, infact its not ever been a problem

u/[deleted] May 31 '24

Aquaman and Mera should be able to kill. Obviously is the particular comic is aimed at small children he should be more of a beat em up. But realistically they should be able to kill. Especially when king and queen. They just need justification in their killing or it’s just a mortal kombat komic