Things are looking rather bleak in Aquaman's monthly title. The Trench is invading. Mera is marrying someone who isn't Aquaman. All of this prompts the return of Aqualad - who uncovers a dark and deadly secret in a race against time.
The modern Aqualad - Jackson Hyde - first appeared in Brightest Day #4, with his appearance coinciding with the Young Justice animated series. Both Jackson Hyde and his Young Justice counterpart are the biological son of Aquaman villain Black Manta. Hyde has the ability to breathe underwater and wield water as a weapon, as Mera can. Like the previous Aqualad, he is a member of the Teen Titans.
Unfortunately, his connection to Black Manta has come back to haunt Hyde, with his ruthless father threatening to target Hyde's mother if he doesn't follow his directives. If that weren't enough, Hyde is forced to make a deal with Black Manta in a bit to save Princess Andy - the daughter of Aquaman and Mera - forcing Hyde to take a treacherous journey. This comes as Hyde must also contend the monstrous Trench, who are poised to invade the Seven Kingdoms - to say nothing of the secret he's about to find. And of course, separate from Hyde's adventure, Mera is slated to drop a major revelation as she prepares for her wedding.
It seems that the newest Aqualad is being tested from all sides now. The latest conflict forces him to deal with his birth father, potentially risking the life of his own mother in the process, even as he tries to save Princess Andy. All of this comes the monstrous Trench begins their own invasion, giving Aqualad one more danger he must navigate in this two-part story. Will Aqualad's pact with his father come back to haunt him or Aquaman - assuming Jackson survives the battle ahead? The answer seems to be an emphatic yes.
Still, the comic looks to be an interesting exploration of Hyde broken down to his core. Despite the popularity of Young Justice and their new version of Aqualad, Jackson Hyde has never quite reached the same level of enthusiasm. Hopefully, this latest two-part story can change that by exploring just how Hyde reacts to threats from all sides - and just how he can rise to the occasion, assuming he is successful in his mission to save baby Andy in the process. Doing so might just be the crisis necessary to bring this Aqualad out from under Aquaman's shadow. Aquaman #63, written by Jordan Clark with art by Marco Santucci, goes on sale on September 15th.