Aqualad Prepares to Shed His Sidekick Status in Aquaman: The Becoming #1

One of the many developments during DC's two-month Future State event was Aqualad (Jackson Hyde) graduating to Aquaman status. Now a six-issue miniseries set in the present day looks to peel back the curtain on how this transformation takes place.

A preview of Aquaman: The Becoming #1 by writer Brandon Thomas (Future State: Aquaman), artists Diego Olortegui, Wade von Grawbadger, Scott Koblish, Skylar Patridge and Adriano Lucas, with letters by AndWorld Design's Deron Bennett gives fans a glimpse of Jackson reconnecting with his mom in Amnesty Bay. While they're out for breakfast, Jackson catches the eye of their waiter, Davi, which leaves the young hero a bit tongue-tied. Luckily, a police car with its sirens on breaks up the moment and sends Jackson off to help save the day.

"Aquaman: The Becoming is a coming-of-age story for Jackson Hyde, marking his final transformation from Aqualad to Aquaman," said Thomas. "When the series begins, Jackson has everything he's ever wanted—acceptance, respect and a strong web of found family and friends around him. He and his mother are finally on the same page and his training with Arthur Curry (with an assist from Batman) is going extremely well. The shadow of his father Black Manta still looms, but he's refusing to let that completely define him and his life. Everything is perfect."

He added, "So naturally, we spend the entire story challenging and damaging everything he's created, forcing him to fight for it and prove himself worthy of even having it. Jackson's spent so much time trying to distance himself from his infamous father, but if he's going to endure what's ahead, he'll need some of that darkness, that commitment to survive against all odds."

Some of the events Jackson will have to contend with in Aquaman: The Becoming include the destroyed and abandoned West Coast Titans Tower and a mysterious villain named Deluge. But before the miniseries arrives, his journey kicks off in Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super-Spectacular #1 on Aug. 31 with a short story by Brandon Thomas, Diego Olortegui, Wade von Grawbadger and Adriano Lucas.

Aquaman: The Becoming #1 goes on sale Sept. 21 from DC. Covers are by David Talaski with variant covers by Khary Randolph and Emilio Lopez. Francis Manapul's variant cover for Aquaman: The Becoming #1 connects to his variant cover for Black Manta #1, on sale Sept. 7.