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Brightest Day Figure Review:

Aquaman

Oh buoy! Aquaman makes a splash in Brightest Day! At 105 points, he's the most expensive Aquaman to date, but is he the most comic accurate? And can I keep myself from going overboard with nautical puns? Probably knot.

Click Full Story below to find out!

With nearly 10 versions in as many years of HeroClix expansions, fans are finally treated to a "vanilla" representation of the oft lampooned water themed hero Aquaman.


Hypertime Introduced four versions of Peter David's hook-handed King of the Emo seas, while Icons delivered three copies of the hydro-fisted Lady of the Lake's champion.


Justice League gave aqua-fans three more iterations - the One Year Later: Sword of Atlantis (another character entirely) and two starfish faced versions of Arthur Curry.



Brightest Day debuts the first true "original appearance" of the water dwelling hero in full classic costume with no artificial appendages or Starro drone enhancements, but rather riding a giant tentacle earning him the transporter ability.


bd006 V Aquaman
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 105
Keywords: Atlantis, Brighest Day

10 11 17 3

10 10 18 3

8 9 17 3

8 9 16 3

7 9 16 3

6 8 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Attack) Tentacle Whip: When Aquaman occupies water terrain, he has a range of 8 and his line of fire to other characters occupying water terrain is never blocked.

(Special) The Undead Sea: Whenever another friendly character with the Atlantis keyword is KO'd, deal 2 damage to each opposing character that dealt damage to that character this turn.

The Brightest Day incarnation offers a number of enhancements over previous versions, namely a boatload of damage reducers in the way of Invulnerability. Other Aquaman staples are present - Charge is no stranger to the Fisher King, nor is Super Strength or Close Combat Expert - most of these powers date back to his Hypertime REV/LE set. Mind Control is a new feature, representing his dominance over animals (and to that extent man as well), and Aquaman gets a nice boost when he's in the water with Tentacle Whip extending his range to 8 squares. Rear dial, this salty dog mimics his Icons Veteran version, picking up Support and Regeneration.

What really sets this figure apart from all others is the powerful trait: The Undead Sea, which deals 2 feedback damage each time a member of Aquaman's Atlantean Entourage is KO'd. The trait (and the extremely limited keywords) identify this as a "snapshot figure," one from a very specific point in history. This is angry Aquaman, get out of my pool Aquaman, Adult Swim Aquaman, my undead sharks will eat you alive so quit making fun of me Aquaman, I deserve your respect Aquaman: in short, a beat stick capable of delivering (and taking) big hits.

It's a powerful dial, packed full of abilities players should expect to see on one of DC's "Big 7." However, by no means is Brightest Day Aquaman the definitive version of the character. Despite the classic costume, this is still "gimmick Aquaman," a transporter forever attached to that slimy tentacle whether he's fighting in the Bank Vault, or in the debris of the Savage Land crash site. BD Aqua-lung, like AA Black Manta is a silent duo - his dial may as well read "Aquaman and Squiddy.

To date, the best representation of the water boy is the Attack of Starro LEs. Despite the fish-mask, those two dials represent Aquaman well, giving him a power boost when he's in his element, whether it's further speed, better defenses, or regeneration.

jl101 R Aquaman
Team: Justice League
Range: 0
Points: 70
Keywords: Atlantis, Justice League of America, Ruler

8 10 16 3

8 9 16 3

6 9 16 3

6 8 16 2

7 8 15 2

7 8 15 3

6 8 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Speed) Surge: Aquaman can use Charge. When Aquaman occupies water terrain, modify his speed value by +2

(Defense) King of the Seven Seas: When Aquaman occupies water terrain, he can use Invulnerability. When Aquaman does not occupy water terrain, he can use Toughness.


jl105 E Arthur Curry
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 70
Keywords: Atlantis, Justice League of America, Ruler

8 10 16 3

8 9 16 3

8 9 15 3

7 8 15 2

7 8 15 2

6 8 14 2

6 8 14 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Defense) King of the Seven Seas: When Arthur Curry occupies water terrain, he can use Invulnerability. When he does not occupy water terrain, he can use Toughness.

(Damage) Aquatic Rejuvenation: When Arthur Curry occupies water terrain, he can use Close Combat Expert and Regeneration.


Brightest Day Aquaman also features one other, albeit very minor discrepancy - as the most expensive Aquaman available in the game he is still cheaper (ergo less powerful) than his old chum Tempest.


Tempest remains the only teenaged sidekick to weigh at a higher point cost than his master's most expensive version which leaves hardcore fans waiting another day for a 150+ point Aquaman that can go toe to toe (fin to gill?) with Namor.

Still, until that day comes, Aqua-fans will be content, if not elated, to have the Brightest Day Aquaman on the map, earning some much needed respect for the formerly snicker inducing, seahorse riding Super Friend.

I still can't believe it took nearly 10 years to get standard costume Aquaman.

I really want to run BD Aquaman and Tempest together, preferably with some Atlantean Warriors as backup.

LOVE this figure. Sculpt, dial, powers all = win in my book.

Might be one of the only ways to make the Atlantean Warriors playable.

One of the best articles on the front page in a long time. Rep for the awesome read!

I wish they would retrofit the Atlantean warriors with a minion ability.

I was thinking, just grab a bunch of the HT REV figures (3 rookie and whatever of the rest) then have them just swarm your opponent. With the JLA team ability on the EV, you don't have to worry about running out of moves to get them up there. They can take a hit and still be dangerous. With a few of them going after one target, you will probably still have one or two on full, and if they have an object, even better.

How's this for a 400 point team?
1x BD Aquaman
2X HT R Aquaman
2X HT E Aquaman
2X HT V Aquaman
1X HT LE Arthur Curry
7X Icons Submerged (Attached to each of the HT figs)
399 points.

Put Atlantis Rising in play, you now have an army of semi invisible, suicidal figures going in. Pick up what objects you can (Maybe put in a Debris BFC for another round). !0-11 attack, 3 base damage + object. All but two can move without using up one of your actions, and, if the opposing figure is in water, BD AM can see them through your own figures. Third BFC I would go with is Infiltration.

Great article as always.

If you gave BD Aquaman Armor Piercing, would that go through invulnerability when using his special power?

I imagine it would, as you're dealing damage with a trait possessed by him.

To be fair to Tempest, he had far surpassed the the level of "Sidekick" by this point and become a hero in his own right.

I'm no rules guru, but AP reads:

Damage dealt by this character may not be reduced below 1.


Since Aquaman is the source of the damage dealt, then, yeah - it's probably good enough to bypass Invulnerability (think: Arcade's Murderbots).

And we found an aquafan!

I agree - I was merely pointing out that of all the Big Seven with Teen Titans Sidekicks, Aqualad is the only one to surpass his mentor.

Superman > Superboy
Batman > Robin/Nightwing
Martian Manhuner > Miss Martian
Wonder Woman > Wonder Girl/Troia
Flash > Kid Flash (even Barry Allen & Jay are more expensive than JL's Wally)
Aquaman < Tempest

I find it interesting, because sidekicks are often considered less powerful versions of their mentors - with the Big Seven setting the standard for the little guys. Heck, Tempest's power set is nothing like Aquaman's.

i housed a tourney with this team last week....

3x aqualad
Namor + submerged
Namorita + submerged
Aquaman (BD)
Tempest + submerged

i used the fire hydrant and the BD crater map.

the fire hydrant turns the crater into a pool and the aqualads are perfect fodder for the trait.

-RmL