Aquaman #5 (2025) – Return of the King

As the All In saga intensifies, Arthur Curry’s journey through the mysterious dimension of “The Blue” reaches a boiling point. In Aquaman #5, titled “Return of the King,” Arthur transitions from a lone survivor to the leader of a burgeoning revolution. This issue is packed with political intrigue, brutal justice, and the formation of an unlikely alliance that could shatter Lord Dagon’s tyranny. Here is a detailed breakdown of the story, covering the events.

The Prophecy of the God Killer

The issue opens with a powerful recitation of the prophecy of Ahri’ahn (Arion). It foretells the coming of a “God Killer” who will rise from the end (Omega) to crash upon his enemies like a “Dark Tide.” The text describes Arthur as an “empty vessel to be filled,” wielding blood and stilling turbulent waters. However, it also offers a grave warning: Arthur must beware of “the Old One, the Witch, and the Darkened Mast,” as well as “illusions” and “enemies of thy past.” This sets a mythic tone for the conflict, framing Arthur’s struggle not just as a fight for survival, but as a destined cosmic event.

The Court of Dagon

We are then transported to the High Court of Dagon, located in the “City of the Blue.” A desperate mother pleads for her life before a tribunal of masked Magistrates. She admits to hunting outside the city limits to feed her starving children, as food supplies are dwindling. The Magistrates, cold and unyielding, declare that “Dagon’s law is clear” and sentence her to be “dealt with swiftly.”

As the executioner prepares to strike, a trident-like weapon pierces the scene. Arthur Curry—Aquaman—crashes the trial. He doesn’t just stop the execution; he unleashes a brutal new level of violence, with sound effects like CRUNCH and CHON indicating that the “Dark Tide” is not showing mercy to Dagon’s enforcers.

The City of Dry Water

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Arthur’s companions Arion and Vivienne (The Lady of the Lake) observe the strange environment. They note that the city is built “within the water, yet completely dry,” a paradox maintained by Dagon’s magic. The people here are marked by sadness and hopelessness. Arion points out Dagon’s symbol is everywhere, marking the city as under his “protection.”

Suddenly, they are accosted by guards who recognize them as outsiders. The Magistrates declare that the punishment for stealing from Dagon’s waters is to be “given back to them”—a death sentence. Just as the situation looks dire, a new player enters the fray.

Captain Nemo and the Nautilus

The stranger is none other than Captain Nemo, the legendary literary figure and explorer. He intervenes to save a group of innocents, declaring, “No one lays a hand on Captain Nemo without his permission!” Nemo displays a swashbuckling style, punching a magistrate while quipping about dignity.

Arthur, Arion, and Vivienne join forces with Nemo. Arthur is initially reckless, driven by his anger at Dagon’s cruelty, but Arion warns him that causing a scene will attract Dagon’s elite “Mer-cenaries.” Despite the risk, Arthur refuses to stand by while innocents suffer, a choice that impresses Nemo, who states, “Any friend of Dagon’s… is an enemy of mine”.

A Alliance of Outcasts

The group retreats to a “disreputable place” to confer. Nemo explains his backstory: he was an explorer on Earth who reached a depth never before seen, only to be transported by a blinding light to this endless ocean. He has been searching for a way out ever since, resupplying his ship, the Nautilus, at various impossible cities.

Nemo reveals that Dagon’s influence is spreading like a cancer. Cities that were once free are now falling under his control, their people starving and oppressed. He explains that the Magistrates impounded his ship and sentenced him to death for his refusal to bow to Dagon. When Arthur mentions he is looking for Atlantis and his wife Mera, Nemo confirms that the journey to Dagon’s stronghold is treacherous—thousands of leagues below. He agrees to help, but first, they need to retrieve the Nautilus.

The Jailbreak and the Verdict

Arthur devises a plan that involves getting “into trouble” to draw out the Magistrates. He loudly blasphemes Dagon in the city square, calling the Magistrates “blowhards that look like their faces were dipped in an acid bath.” This successfully summons Titanus, a massive enforcement beast, and the Magistrates.

The trap is sprung. Arion uses an invisibility spell to aid the fight, while Nemo and Arthur battle the guards. They manage to locate the Nautilus, but they are ambushed by the Mer-cenaries, elite hunters who have been tracking Arthur. A chase ensues, with Arthur and Nemo barely making it inside the ship.

As they board, the Magistrates demand their surrender, promising “Dagon’s mercy.” Arthur, now fully embracing his role as the “Dark Tide,” delivers a chilling rebuttal: “Dagon doesn’t know anything about mercy. So today… neither do I!” He uses his powers to shut the bay doors, locking the Magistrates outside with the hungry sea beasts (likely Grindylows) that have gathered. He sentences them to “Guilty on all charges,” leaving them to a gruesome fate as the Nautilus escapes.

The Dark Lord’s Gaze

Safe aboard the Nautilus, Nemo charts a course for the deep. The victory feels significant, but the issue ends with a shift to Lord Dagon’s perspective. Far from being angry, the tyrant is amused. He reveals that he allowed them to escape. He could have ended them right there, but he sees a darker opportunity.

Dagon muses that Arthur’s reunion with his wife might be more painful than death. He hints that “love” will not conquer all, and that seeing what has become of Mera and Atlantis might break the King more effectively than any weapon. The final caption teases the next grim chapter: “The Fate of Atlantis!”.

Read: Aquaman #4 (2025) – The Rise of the Dark Tide and the Birth of a New King