Aquaman's New Armored Costume Is a Genius Take on His Hardcore 90s Redesign

Aquaman

By Taylor Blake Forsberg

Published May 2, 2024

Thread 1

Aquaman

Summary

Aquaman's new shark-themed armor plays up his role as an ocean predator, adding a fitting and intimidating aura.
The upgraded suit pays tribute to the iconic 90s harpoon-hand look, incorporating bladed glaives for a sleek nod to Aquaman's past.
With high stakes in the upcoming battle against power-stealing robots, the new suits are leveling the playing field for DC's heroes.

Aquaman emerges as the ultimate deep-sea predator thanks to a costume upgrade that resurrects one of the most hardcore and dramatic redesigns in his 80-plus-year comics history. This new armored suit also arrives at a perfect time, coinciding with DC's game-changing blockbuster summer event, Absolute Power, looming on the horizon.

These shark motifs serve to transform Arthur into the epitome of an ocean predator, a fitting portrayal given his status as a protector of Earth.

Mark Waid and Dan Mora's Absolute Power #1 is set for release on July 3, 2024, heralding a showdown within the DC Universe like never before. In this epic battle, the Trinity of Evil will face off against DC's mightiest heroes, a clash with stakes that could determine the destiny of every super-powered individual in the DCU.

ABSOLUTE POWER #1 (2024)

Release Date:	July 3, 2024
Writers:	Mark Waid
Artists:	Dan Mora
Cover Artist:	Dan Mora
Variant Covers:	Stephen Bliss, Puppeteer Lee, Chris Samnee, Dan Mora, Chrissie Zullo, John Timms, and Wes Craig
THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON. DC's epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming...and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It's a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making--and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA--it all starts here!

The heroes are facing high stakes, as failure could mean the permanent loss of their powers. However, artist Dan Mora seems to be leveling the playing field by equipping the heroes with new suit upgrades as they confront power-stealing robots.

Aquaman Gets New Shark-Like Armor Ahead of DC’s Absolute Power Event

Absolute Power 1 Mora Variant Cover: the Justice League in new costumes.

Among the seven Justice League members in Mora’s variant cover for Absolute Power #1 to receive a costume upgrade is Aquaman. Arthur Curry showcases what could be his most dramatic and impressive suit alteration in decades in this variant cover. While he maintains his classic orange and green fish-scale costume, there's a striking addition of extensive armor to his ensemble. Rendered in shades of gray, the armor features sharp edges and points, turning Arthur into a walking weapon that will undoubtedly add to his fighting prowess.

The armor also has a distinct shark-like appearance that is evident in its gray color scheme, fin-shaped design, and sharp edges. These shark motifs serve to transform Arthur into the epitome of an ocean predator, a fitting portrayal given his status as the King of Atlantis. While Arthur's traditional fish-scale armor has long symbolized his ties to the sea, fish themselves are seldom seen as formidable creatures. Therefore, the introduction of shark-themed armor adds a more fitting and intimidating aura to a King of the Sea.

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Aquaman’s New Absolute Power Armor Is a Genius Take on His 90s Harpoon-Hand

In addition to its shark-like appearance, this new suit also pays homage to Aquaman’s iconic harpoon-hand redesign from the 90s. Without revisiting the narrative complexities of Arthur losing his hand, Mora introduces bladed glaives that effectively echo Aquaman’s harpoon hand in a sleeker and more subtle manner. This design choice serves as a beautiful tribute to one of the character's most formidable iterations. And in the face of the impending threat posed by Amanda Waller’s Amazo robots in Absolute Power, Aquaman will need every bit of that brutality to maintain his powers and survive.