A new report claims that DC’s Aquamen series is ending this Summer. According to Bleedingcool, the solicitations for July 2022 will confirm the series’ cancellation by DC. Earlier this year, DC relaunched Aquaman with two versions of the superhero sharing the lead. Initially, Jackson Hyde would have assumed the main role of Aquaman, but behind-the-scenes changes put both Hyde and Arthur Curry in the wetsuit. Now, DC is canceling the duo’s series, which was going to be a miniseries initially.
Why Is DC Cancelling the Aquamen Series?
Bleedingcool reports that sales are the most significant factor in DC’s decision. According to the site, the series was initially planned as a miniseries. However, the publisher felt that retailers would not order a ton of copies if advertised as a miniseries. So, the Aquamen series received the ongoing series treatment. If the sales for the series were high enough, then the miniseries would become a full-blown series anyway. Unfortunately, sales for the series did not live up to expectations. In fact, the second issue saw a crash in sales that Jim Lee’s variant cover could not save.
Of course, it couldn’t have helped that the upcoming Justice League #75 will kill Aquaman along with the rest of the Justice League. With Arthur Curry destined for death, establishing new stories with him is no easy feat. Not to mention the fact that Arthur Curry is the Aquaman most utilized in film and other forms of media. Without him, DC may have an issue getting fans to show interest in Aquaman.
What Does This Mean For The Future of Aquaman?
Sadly, Aquaman does not have the best track record when it comes to comics. The underwater hero has always flown under the radar when it comes to big superhero titles. With the likes of Superman and Batman dominating the DC line, Aquaman did not really shine. In fact, the New 52 launch of Aquaman is the only time the hero’s comics really performed well.
Of course, the Aquaman film series is quite popular. This is largely due to Jason Momoa’s portrayal of the DC hero. With a sequel film in the works, perhaps that will spur comics sales and see an actual ongoing series for the hero. Until then, the sixth issue of Aquamen will close out this chapter for the underwater defender.
