Aquaman Crossovers: The Essential DC Events and Key Issues to Collect, article illustration

The must-see Aquaman crossovers are Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), Blackest Night (2009) and Throne of Atlantis (2012), where the King of Atlantis plays a key role in every major event in the DC Universe.

Arthur Curry has never been a supporting character in major DC crossovers. From the heroic sacrifice in Crisis to his spectacular resurrection in Blackest Night, Aquaman embodies the underwater power at the heart of cosmic events. For collectors, his appearances in these sagas offer issues with strong narrative and speculative value.

This guide lists the major crossovers involving Aquaman, with the key numbers to acquire and their current market value. For a complete overview of the character's essential numbers, consult our guide to Aquaman key numbers.

Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985). The Atlantean Sacrifice

The Crisis marks a turning point for Aquaman who sees his universe threatened with annihilation by the Anti-Monitor. His participation in the final battles demonstrates that the Sea King is a pillar of the Justice League.

Collectible Key Numbers

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Issues mentioned : Aquaman Crossovers

Blackest Night (2009). The Resurrection of the King

Geoff Johns brings back Aquaman as Black Lantern, transformed into the undead by the Black Ring. It's one of the most notable moments of the event, culminating in his full resurrection at the end of the saga.

Collectible Key Numbers

Throne of Atlantis (2012): War of the Worlds

A crossover between Justice League and Aquaman orchestrated by Geoff Johns, this arc places Arthur at the center of a conflict between Atlantis and the surface. Ocean Master launches a devastating invasion, forcing Aquaman to choose sides.

Collectible Key Numbers

Forever Evil (2013): Atlantis without a king

While the Crime Syndicate conquers Earth, Aquaman is imprisoned. The tie-ins explore the Atlantean resistance and Arthur's return to free his people.

Collectible Key Numbers

Drowned Earth (2018). The cosmic ocean

Scott Snyder's Justice League/Aquaman crossover, where alien ocean gods flood the Earth. Aquaman is at the heart of the plot, the only one capable of understanding and combating this cosmic aquatic threat.

Collectible Key Numbers

Death Metal (2020). The Last Stand

In Dark Nights: Death Metal by Scott Snyder, Aquaman is one of the heroes resurrected to face the Batman Who Laughs. His participation in the final battle contributes to the rebirth of the DC multiverse.

Collectible Key Numbers

Track the rating of your Aquaman crossovers and identify missing numbers using our collection management application. Organize your run by event and don't miss any key pieces of the King of Atlantis.

Reading and Collecting These Crossovers in the Right Order

These six events span thirty-five years, from 1985 to 2020, and are not collected in the same way. One distinction helps: in some, Aquaman is the center of the story, in others he is just one hero among many within a larger event.

Events centered on Aquaman

Throne of Atlantis splits its story between the Justice League series and the Aquaman series, so you need to read both in alternation to follow the conflict between Atlantis and the surface, rather than settling for one or the other. Drowned Earth works on the same principle, with two one-shots that frame the chapters published in Justice League. For a collector, these are the two events where almost every issue involved counts.

Events where he is one hero among many

For Crisis on Infinite Earths, Blackest Night and Death Metal, there is no need to aim for the whole saga if your goal is the character. Keep the issues where Arthur Curry is really on screen: issues 9 and 12 of Crisis, issues 1 and 8 of Blackest Night that bracket his passage from Black Lantern to resurrection, and issues 1 and 7 of Death Metal along with the two Endless Winter issues.

Numbering traps

Protecting lenticular covers

Forever Evil's #23.1 features a 3D lenticular cover. This type of cover is more sensitive to scratches and rubbing than a standard cover: handle it little, store it flat in a rigid sleeve and examine the surface under raking light before any purchase.

A simple method for tracking everything

Create one sheet per event rather than a single global list. For each, note the main issues, then the tie-ins that concern Aquaman, and tick them off as you find them. You can see at a glance which event is complete, which one is missing a chapter, and you avoid duplicate issues from the same saga.

Frequently Asked Questions

The three essentials are Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), Blackest Night (2009) and Throne of Atlantis (2012). In each one, the king of Atlantis plays a decisive role in a major event of the DC universe.

Blackest Night #1 opens the event with Aquaman as a Black Lantern, and #8 shows the resurrection of Arthur Curry among the heroes brought back to life. The tie-in Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2 stages the confrontation between the zombie Aquaman and the heroes.

The main arc is in Justice League #15 to #17, with the Aquaman chapters in Aquaman #15 and #16. Geoff Johns places Arthur at the center of a conflict between Atlantis and the surface, after the invasion launched by Ocean Master.

It is the Ocean Master issue of Forever Evil's Villain's Month, with a 3D lenticular cover. It ties into an event where Aquaman is imprisoned while the Crime Syndicate conquers Earth.

Drowned Earth (2018), by Scott Snyder, where extraterrestrial ocean gods flood the Earth and Aquaman is at the heart of the plot. There is also Dark Nights: Death Metal (2020), where he is among the heroes resurrected to fight the Batman Who Laughs.