He basically shat upon everything PAD had done over the previous 3 years - from introducing new characters no one asked for (like, a lot of them) and giving them too much page time, to making Mera a cheater... it was just bad. The two writers also had a very public feud going at the time, so there are conspiracy theories to be mined, if that's your thing. Before Larsen the book was selling well, but he drove it down to cancellation numbers. When Jurgens & Epting came on, it was too late; even though there was an uptick, it wasn't enough to save it.
Just start repeatedly singing BARNEY song repeatedly out loud and everything else will vanish from your mind."I love you, you love me
We're a happy family
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too?
I love you, you love me
We're best friends like friends should be
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you
Won't you say you love me too?"
I’m currently reading PAD’s run. I read the first 7 issues, which I really liked, before going back and reading Atlantis Chronicles and Time & Tide.
Atlantis Chronicles isn’t perfect, but I love how much depth it adds to Aquaman’s corner of the DCU.
Time & Tide, however was not my cup of tea at all. I particularly dislike PAD’s treatment of female characters in this era (Kako has no personality and is only there to fuck Aquaman and have his son) and some concepts were downright bad (again, Arthur sleeping with his adopted sister, him drinking Dolphin milk as a baby lol).
But overall I’m still really excited about continuing with his run. It’s not as good as his Supergirl book from a few years later, thought.
Oh wait I just realized that I didn't ask if the YJ interpretation counted.
I feel they did a pretty good job explaining and expanding the various water powers as Atlantean magic attainable through study. Do they count or we look only at the books?
While I'm normally a Kurt Busiek fan, I didn't like his run on the title. I couldn't get past bringing in a new Aquaman who was so similar to the old Aquaman but wasn't him.