abiThe superhero might be the butt of many jokes, but the best Aquaman comics are right up there with the best of DC’s finest. He’s been a part of the imprint’s mythos for 80 years and has been a part of many of its biggest moments. So, if you only know Aquaman from the memes, give the comics below a try, and you might find your new favorite hero.
Best Aquaman comics as of 2025
Before Jason Momoa brought Aquaman to the screen, the character had a tough time finding his footing. At least in pop culture, anyway. Aquaman superfans, don’t come at me. He did make an appearance along with Scooby Doo on the animated movie, Batman: The Brave and the Bold in 2014, though. So that’s saying something.
Aquaman first appeared as a backup character in 1942, but didn’t get his own solo comic until 1962. And even then, he still wasn’t very well known as far as superheroes go. Since then, some of his stories have been truly outstanding, and some are better left in murky waters. Here are our picks for the best Aquaman comics.
The Trench
Part of the New 52 relaunch, The Trench (Aquaman Vol. 7, Issues #1–7) picks up after the events of Flashpoint, another (though not formally included on this list) contender for one of the best Aquaman stories. Written by Geoff Johns with art by Ivan Reis, The Trench goes a long way toward destroying the old reputation of Aquaman as a second-tier superhero.
Arthur and Mera are trying to live a quiet life on land when a terrifying, insectoid-like deep-sea predator emerges and begins attacking coastal towns. Arthur, AKA Aquaman, soon learns these creatures are kidnapping people to feed to their queen. Alongside the action, we get snapshots of Arthur Curry’s backstory. Even if you’re brand new to this myth, The Trench is a great starting point for new readers. You don’t need to have any info about Aquaman before this, since this one drops you right into a version of Aquaman that’s reclaiming his powers and lore.
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Aquaman Vol 1: The Drowning (Rebirth)
Published in 2017, Dan Abnett’s Aquaman Volume 1: The Drowning is the opening arc of the Rebirth. This storyline sets the stage for everything that follows in Abnett’s run across Volumes 1–5. As far as your back-of-cover plot goes, Arthur Curry is caught between two worlds, both literally and politically. Aquaman has a responsibility as King of Atlantis; he’s trying to build peace with the surface by opening an Atlantean embassy to prove that Atlantis is not a threat. He’s hoping this alliance can show he can be trusted to bridge the gap between ocean and land. Of course, you’d think that would benefit everyone. Unfortunately for the characters but good for readers, tensions rise as humans protest the embassy.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government remains deeply suspicious of Aquaman’s motives. Black Manta is also preparing to strike again, driven by a desire for revenge. Arthur Curry can’t catch a break.
This arc is great reading partly because it doesn’t ignore the old jokes about Aquaman and his so-called “lame” powers, so we get to see how both the character and the writers handle that criticism head-on. We also get more of Arthur and Mera’s relationship, which reminds us why they’re one of the strongest couples in the DC Universe. The story also openly digs into themes of xenophobia, both from civilians and political leaders, giving the superhero conflict some very real-world undertones. Overall, this one is just a solid Aquaman comic all around and is an excellent entry into Dan Abnett’s run.
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Death of a Prince
The Death of a Prince storyline, which originated in the 1970s, is told across Adventure Comics #435–437 and #441–455, as well as Aquaman #57–63. In this arc, Aquaman is dethroned by a newly formed democratic council and declared an enemy of the state thanks to a villain named Karshon, who orders that Aquaman be shot on sight. But when Aquaman returns to uncover the truth, he discovers that Karshon is someone else entirely in disguise. So he’s going to take down the villain, of course.
But rather than reclaim his throne, Arthur chooses to become a full-time superhero. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when another villain kidnaps his young son. Aquaman will do whatever it takes to get him back, but we’ll just say the title doesn’t leave much room for surprises. If you’re new to the character, you have to read Death of a Prince. It can be a little trickier to find in print, but this is Silver Age goodness that’s essential Aquaman reading.
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Time & Tide
One of the most significant runs in Aquaman history, Volume 5 spanned 46 issues over four years and presented a darker, grittier version of the hero steeped in myth. The primary writer was Peter David — a comics superstar — with art by Martin Egeland, Jim Calafiore, and others. But before this legendary run kicked off, Time & Tide laid the foundation, making both Time & Tide and Volume 5 some of the best (and most essential) Aquaman comics out there.
Told in a sort of journal format, each of the four issues of Time & Tide explores Arthur’s early years, from his beginnings as a scorned baby raised by dolphins (it’s a little Tarzan-esque) to his evolution into the hero of Atlantis. We even get a flashback-style standoff between Trickster and Barry Allen’s Flash, which yoinks Aquaman into a confrontation with the villain. It’s classic comic storytelling, and some of the best work, thanks to Peter David, who was known for creating some of the best comic arcs in his work.
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The Triton Saga
The Triton Saga is one of the best arcs in that 46-issue series, covering issues #32–37. Here, we expand on Atlantis and mythology by introducing Triton, the Greek god of the sea, as our main antagonist. He shows up and declares himself the rightful ruler of the oceans. And honestly, being the son of Poseidon kind of gives him a built-in claim to that title, so I can’t say I don’t see his point of view. Still, there’s a lot to take umbrage with regarding the way he goes about it, including dethroning Poseidon himself.
What follows is a mythic-sized ego clash, as Aquaman is forced into a full-blown war with Triton. Not only does Aquaman have to defend his throne, but also the balance of power in the seas. It’s a showdown between earned leadership and divine right, with Atlantis caught in the middle.
How we chose the best Aquaman comics
We tried to include a little bit of everything from across the series. There are some Silver Age classics, origin stories, and major relaunches. We have the best writers here, including some fan favorites, and overall strong portrayals of a character who, for a long time, was thought to be incredibly mediocre. Look, if you think a blonde-haired hunk with a hammer is impressive, there’s no reason the King of the Seas can’t be just as epic. Get into it!
