If you’re a regular reader here at BSR, you’ll remember back in December whent Clobber-Tron and I reviewed the first issue of Ian Churchill’s Marineman. In that review I kind of groused a bit about how the story kind of hit a brick wall, and has various other issues with it, but agreed that it had vast potential. I’ve been keeping up with the book, and now I’m happy to say that Marineman is now probably my favorite aquatic-based superhero of all time.
While I wont spend a couple paragraph recapping the series thus far, some of the things we’ve learned since the debut issue is that Steve Ocean does indeed have powers, including webbed hands, echolocation, and the like. He’s also an Atlantean (we think), but he’s lived his whole life as a human, and that’s the big difference for me. It’s hard for me to get into characters like Aquaman and Namor because they are so defined by their status as Atlantean kings that I find it hard to relate to them. Wheras Marineman is just this guy, you know? Anyway, onto the issue proper.
It may look like he's commanding fish, but this is actually echolocation.
Last issue left off with a cliffhanger, Steve (Marineman) Ocean’s military liaison/partner Charlie was stranded 20,000 feet under the sea in Marine Base Alpha’s experimental ship Deep Marine One (the military isn’t known for creative names). Most of the issue deals with Steve doing his best to save Charlie before the ship’s air supply runs out or the intense pressure crushes the ship. We’re treated to the single most heroic act I’ve seen in a comic for a while. It’s right up there with Superman wrestling an angel, in my book.
And he plans on lifting that monstrosity for 20,000 feet!
Sadly, Steve isn’t quite up to the task, and just as all seems lost, a mysterious white light appears and the ship and Steve alike are suddenly gone. The story does one of those cutaways where you find out how exactly everyone got into this situation in the first place, which at first was actually a little off-putting. I didn’t see the “Three Hours Earlier” blurb since it wasn’t in a caption per se, but I acclimated quickly. Anyway, after that vignette, we find out heroes face to face with some shadowy figures that have been lurking about the past couple issues. The issue itself ends with a revelation that is both intriguing and has me impatiently waiting for the next issue.
Note: This isn't the issue's big revelation.
After the story proper, there is more supplemental material focusing on real-life Oceanauts, and they are very informative and keeps with the spirit of the book. I really like Churchill’s art style. The only problem I had with the writing was what I mentioned before about transitions. I must say that I don’t think the book would look as nice as it does without the superb coloring by Churchill and Alex Sollazzo. I don’t really do star ratings or anything when I review books, so I will say that if you’re like me, and never gave water-based heroes a second thought, Marineman may just be up your alley. There is definitely enough here to keep you coming back month after month.