While most of the surface world was still basking in the happy hopeful glow generated by Tuesday’s inauguration of President Obama, another equally important transfer of power took place 45 miles off the coast of Hawaii: Aquaman was crowned King of Atlantis.
Aquaman Takes the Oath of Office
Aquaman’s coronation came after nearly a year of hard campaigning against rival Black Manta. Despite critics’ claims that the election was an unnecessary exercise, given Aquaman’s royal lineage and Black Manta’s past crimes against the kingdom, the mer-people of Atlantis turned out in record numbers to cast their vote this past November. Aquaman’s message of change and improved relations with the surface world resonated with the younger Atlanteans, and he took the popular vote by a 17 point margin.
After the Justice League had originally thrown their support behind Superman in the Atlantean primaries, some wondered if members of the League would make the trip for the inauguration;as you can see from the photo above, it appears all the fences have been mended. Notably absent, however, were his opponent, Black Manta, and Aquaman’s estranged cousin, Prince Namor – the Sub-Mariner.
Political forecasters are expecting Aquaman’s first hundred days to be eventful. He will be forced to make difficult choices with regard to Atlantean support of the Green Lantern Corps in their extended conflict with the Yellow Lanterns. Relations between Atlantis and Oa have been strained since footage was leaked of Earth GL Guy Gardiner taunting Sinestro while the latter was awaiting trial on Oa. Aquaman’s appointment of John Stewart as honorary abassador to Oa is being interpreted as a sign of continued support of the corps in their conflict; however, Aquaman will be pressured to live up to his promise of setting a “timetable for withdrawing Atlantean troops from space.” Support for the war among Atlanteans has waned considerably as the economic collapse of the surface world began to reach the undersea kingdom.
Aqualad, speaking on behalf of the newly crowned sea king, had this to say:
Aquaman knows the people of Atlantis are looking to him to firm up the Atlantean economy. It’s one of his top priorities, and he intends to introduce an innovative stimulus package at the next meeting of the High Council of Elders.
Another pressing issue Aquaman wil have to address is the surface world’s discovery of methane on Mars. Atlantis has long served as a “safe zone” for the Martian people. The mishandling of waste material by the Martian community and the resulting methane cloud on the red planet have raised concerns about the risks harboring Martians on Atlantis. A recent poll revealed “maintaining Atlantis’ undetectability by the surface world” to be the number one concern among Atlanteans age 130 – 400. Some pundits are questioning whether the increased flow of Martian traffic into and out of Atlantis puts that at risk.
Aquaman is scheduled to appear on Larry King Live next Tuesday to participate in a round table with Al Gore, Jesse Jackson, and Sting. He will meet with new US President Barak Obama, on Wednesday, and he is schedulated to tape an episode of William Shatner’s “Raw Nerve” for A&E later in the week. No air date is currently scheduled.
We wish Aquaman well as he begins his reign as ruler of the seven seas.