Aquaman Retro Anniversary Variant Covers Revealed | Screen Rant
Aquaman is the star of new retro variant covers for his 80th-anniversary special. Aquaman 80th Anniversary Special is a celebratory issue, bringing together DC creators for new Aquaman stories. The king of Atlantis is shown in covers that show him throughout his lengthy comic history.
Arthur Curry, better known as Aquaman, debuted in 1941. Like other DC heroes this year celebrating the same milestone, he will be receiving an anniversary special. Green Arrow's has already been released, while Wonder Woman's will be coming later in the year.
Cavan Scott has revealed a few new variant covers, as well as some information about the Aquaman 80th Anniversary Special. He will be writing a story for the special, titled "Between Two Shores" which will have art by Scot Eaton, inks by Norm Rapmund, colors by Hi-Fi, and lettering by Rob Leigh. To celebrate this accomplishment, eight variant covers have been announced that focus on each decade of Aquaman's comic history. Cavan Scott shared three, and the others have also been shared on social media. Check them out here:
Each cover represents a different decade, mirroring the art, cover, and lettering styles of each. The attention to these details is incredible and really shows the progression of Aquaman over time. A particularly noteworthy detail is the adaptation of the DC logo to match when it was used, as well as the inclusion of the DC Comics code of authority stamp that mirrors the Comics Code Authority. The adaptation of it to fit within the respective decades it would belong it, while making it a DC-centric label is a very creative way to maintain the cover style of the time period.
The 1940s variant was illustrated by Michael Cho. The 1950s variant was made by the team of Ramona Fradon, Sandra Hope, and Trish Mulvihill. The 1960s Aquaman variant was created by Walter Simonson and Laura Martin. The 1970s variant had the team of José García-López and Trish Mulvihill. The 1980s variant was illustrated by the team of Chuck Patton, Kevin Nowlan, and Alex Sinclair. The 1990s variant was done by Yvel Guichet and Nick Filardi. The 2000s variant was illustrated by Becky Cloonan. The 2010s variant was done by the late Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, and Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Each variant captures different aspects of Aquaman's development or an alternate detail about him - whether it be a change in sea life reflecting the scope of his kingdom or a change in his appearance marking his change in character design. The 1940s variant features the short-haired hero swimming away from a Nazi submarine with a shiver of hammerhead sharks. The 1950s variant places Aquaman atop a giant ray while changing up his belt buckle and giving him his trident. The 1960s variant pits the king of Atlantis against a giant mechanical squid, making the ocean a foe. The 1970s variant shows Aquaman heading towards a shark's mouth, while Mera harpoons another shark. This is the first cover appearance of Mera among the variants, though she debuted in 1963 and married Aquaman in 1964.
The 1980s variant features a battle between Aquaman and two of his deadliest foes: Black Manta and Ocean Master. The 1990s variant shows the biggest character progression, adding in Aquaman's long hair and beard, as well as his iconic harpoon hand and armor from the period. The 2000s variant is a close-up while the 2010s variant captures his life - becoming a father, a mentor while taking on the usual challenges. These covers are gorgeous and really capture Aquaman's history in a beautiful way. Aquaman 80th Anniversary Special releases August 31, 2021.
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