Aquaman Modern Age Key Issues: Recent Comics to Collect

The modern era of Aquaman, from 2000 to present, represents a period of rebirth for the character. Long relegated to the background of the DC catalog, Arthur Curry has benefited from successive relaunches by leading creators – Geoff Johns, Dan Abnett, Kelly Sue DeConnick – who have generated key issues now sought after by collectors.

This guide listsall the key Aquaman issues of the modern era, with their current ratings, sales history and future potential. An essential resource for building a cohesive modern collection or identifying purchasing opportunities before the next speculative wave.

New 52: the founding relaunch (2011-2016)

The New 52 series by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis is the foundation of any modern Aquaman collection. It transformed the perception of the character and generated several significant key issues:

• Aquaman #1 (November 2011)— relaunch of New 52 by Johns/Reis. CGC 9.8: $80-120. Raw NM: $15-25. Very high sales volume, excellent for starting out. The issue tackles the mockery of Aquaman head-on, making it an iconic entry point.
• Aquaman #6 (April 2012)— first full appearance of the Trench (the creatures of the deep). CGC 9.8: $40-60. Significant because the Trench appeared in the 2018 film.
• Aquaman #7 (May 2012)— first appearance of the Others (former group of Aquaman heroes). CGC 9.8: $35-50.
• Aquaman #14 (January 2013)— start of the “Throne of Atlantis” crossover. CGC 9.8: $30-45. Major arc adapted into an animated film.
• Aquaman #17 (April 2013)— first Dead King (Atlan). CGC 9.8: $25-40.
• Aquaman #23.1 (September 2013)— villain month, 3D Black Manta cover. CGC 9.8: $40-60. The lenticular cover is fragile, high grades are rare.
• Aquaman #32 (August 2014)— first Aquaman by Jeff Parker with artwork by Paul Pelletier. Under $15 in CGC 9.8.
• Aquaman #40 (May 2015)— film variant cover by Howard Chaykin. CGC 9.8: $25-35.
• Aquaman #41 (June 2015)— beginning of the Dan Abnett era (which will continue in Rebirth). CGC 9.8: $20-30.
• Aquaman #43 (August 2015)— variant cover Josh Middleton, one of the most beautiful modern Aquaman covers. CGC 9.8: $60-100.

Rebirth: consolidation (2016-2020)

The Rebirth era consolidated the narrative achievements of the Johns period while introducing new elements that could be exploited in cinema:

• Aquaman #1 (August 2016, Rebirth)— by Dan Abnett and Brad Walker. CGC 9.8: $35-50. Raw NM: $5-10. Excellent series underrated in raw.
• Aquaman Rebirth #1 (June 2016)— launch one-shot. CGC 9.8: $25-35.
• Aquaman #25 (August 2017)— start of the “Underworld” arc with new costume. CGC 9.8: $20-30.
• Aquaman #31 (December 2017)— first issue with Stjepan Šejić on the drawing. CGC 9.8: $25-40. Fans of Šejić (Sunstone) actively seek out his DC works.
• Aquaman #38 (July 2018)— variant cover Joshua Middleton, portrait of Mera. CGC 9.8: $50-80.
• Aquaman #43 (December 2018)— start of the Kelly Sue DeConnick era, new post-film creative direction. CGC 9.8: $15-25.
• Aquaman #57 (May 2020)— start of the "Mera: Queen of Atlantis" arc in the main series. CGC 9.8: $15-20.

Infinite Frontier and beyond (2021-2026)

The Infinite Frontier period diversified Aquaman's identity with the introduction of Jackson Hyde as the new bearer of the title:

• Aquaman: The Becoming #1 (October 2021)— Jackson Hyde becomes the new Aquaman. CGC 9.8: $30-40. Key diversity issue with strong potential if the character is suitable.
• Aquaman: Andromeda #1 (June 2022)— Black Label miniseries by Ram V and Christian Ward. CGC 9.8: $25-35. Exceptional artwork, prestige format.
• Aquaman #1 (January 2024)— new ongoing series relaunching Arthur Curry. CGC 9.8: $20-30. First serial number always a solid entry point.
• Aquaman #5 (May 2024)— introduction of a major new villain for the DCU. CGC 9.8: $15-25. Active speculation on cinematic potential.

Most sought-after modern variants

The market for Aquaman variants is particularly active. Joshua Middleton's covers dominate this segment with a popular realistic portrait style:

• Aquaman #33 (Rebirth) Middleton variant— portrait of Ocean Master. CGC 9.8: $70-100.
• Aquaman #38 (Rebirth) Middleton variant— portrait of Mera. CGC 9.8: $50-80.
• Aquaman #25 variant Joshua Middleton— Aquaman in armor. CGC 9.8: $45-70.
• Aquaman #1 (2011) Jim Lee variant— cover ratio 1:25. CGC 9.8: $150-200.

Purchasing strategy for modern people

For modern Aquaman issues, the optimal strategy is to purchase raw and grade selectively. Post-2010 comics in near-mint condition are abundant, so only CGC 9.8 commands a significant premium. Purchase your raw copies from reputable sellers, inspect the edge and corners, and only submit for grading those copies that have a high probability of achieving a 9.8. A 9.6 on a modern is rarely worth the cost of grading.

Also watch Heritage Auctions and ComicConnect sales for high-condition modern lots — prices there are often lower than eBay for issues between $30 and $100.