This is a crossover done right

“Sink Atlantis” from Suicide Squad (2016) Nos. 45-46 and Aquaman (2016) Nos. 39-40
DC Comics
Creators: Dan Abnett, Rob Williams, Jose Luis, Jordi Tarragona, Vicente Cifuentes, Adriano Lucas, Pat Brosseau, Joe Bennett and Steve Wands
Release date: 2018

I was very pleased with how smoothly this crossover between two DC titles came together. It stems from events in a previous miniseries and one of the ongoing titles and leads directly into another major upcoming crossover event. Still, this story contains its own definite beginning, middle and end. And it also reads pretty smoothly from issue to issue.

A major story line in the Aquaman comic came to its conclusion with issue No. 38 of that title. A new monarch was named in the wake of a vicious tyrant being deposed. At the very end of that issue, due in part to events depicted in the Dark Night: Metal miniseries, Atlantis was raised partially above the surface of the Atlantic. Relations between Atlantis and the United States were somewhat strained before despite efforts to cement peace on both sides. Having the mysterious underwater nation suddenly appear above water just off the U.S. coastline has further strained relations as well as thrown Atlantean culture into upheaval.

A new Task Force X (Suicide Squad) is formed to restore the previous status quo. But tensions are high among old and new members of Task Force X even before the mission parameters begin to change mid-stream. And don’t expect the Atlanteans to make the mission go any more swimmingly.

Tensions remain high even though all-out war is averted in this crossover event, which I’m sure will lead directly into the next Aquaman/Justice League crossover, “Drowned Earth.” But “Sink Atlantis” is still a self-contained story as all plot elements raised within these four issues are also resolved within these four issues.

I have to think that is at least in part due to collaboration between the writers of these two respective titles. Dan Abnett is the regular Aquaman writer and Rob Williams is the Suicide Squad scribe. Both men are given story credits in each issue. That is not normally the case with crossovers of this kind. The writers collaborate, sure, they plan and coordinate story beats. But rarely are both writers credited with each chapter of the whole. That leads me to believe there was a greater level of collaboration in this instance. There are certainly just as many Aquaman-centric scenes in the opening Suicide Squad chapter and vice-verse in the second Aquaman chapter.

The result is a much-more cohesive narrative. Kudos to all involved!