The curtains are finally closing on the troubled DCEU with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s release later this year. In preparation for this, DC Comics has now announced a new one-shot comic book prequel that will bridge the story between the original film and its upcoming sequel.
Titled Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1, the 64-page comic book follows Arthur Curry’s wedding plans with Princess Mera. Meanwhile his half-brother Orm, the Ocean Master, and archenemy Black Manta scheme for revenge. The prequel comic book will be available on shelves on October 31.
Here’s a full synopsis of the DC comic:
Discover the shocking events that connect the smash-hit Aquaman movie to the eagerly anticipated Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom! Aquaman balances his duties as king and as a member of the Justice League, all while planning a wedding! Black Manta is on the hunt for Atlantean tech to help rebuild his armor! Orm plots to escape his Atlantean prison! Three action-packed tales crammed into a single special!
Written by Tim Seeley, Joey Esposito, and Ethan Sacks, with artwork provided by Miguel Medonca, Ray-Anthony Height, and Scot Eaton, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1 is just one of DC’s tie-in comics this year.
Prior to this, the American publisher released The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive, a three-issue monthly series that served as a thrilling comic prelude to The Flash movie that hit theaters last month. These tie-in comics are essentially special series that have a limited number of issues and events outside the main comic canon.
Although they usually go unnoticed since they rarely add much value for readers, some, like Dynamite’s John Wick prequel comic, have earned praise for answering fan questions and filling in plot gaps from the movie universe.
The Aquaman prequel comic is unlikely to do the same thing for the Atlantean king, but it might help fans connect to the character. Aquaman has often been viewed as the runt of the litter in the Justice League Team, but he proved to be DCEU’s crowning achievement after his 2018 film earned over $1.1 billion worldwide to become the franchise’s highest grossing film.
James Gunn might not be betting on the profitability of its sequel, considering it’s the last film in a now-obsolete franchise. However, the numerous reshoots, including the removal of Ben Affleck’s Batman cameo, have significantly inflated the budget, which now stands at a whopping $205 million.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom swims into theaters on December 20.
