Aquaman: The Becoming #2 is an issue of the series Aquaman: The Becoming (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 2021. It was published on October 26, 2021.
Synopsis for "Until Proven Innocent"
A squad of Atlantean soldiers attempt to arrest Aqualad for terrorism. He manages to fight them off and escape, but suffers grievous wounds in the process.
Two soldiers head to Mera's room in the palace searching for Jackson. One of them, Wallis, is aggressive and accusatory, but his partner Drayton is keenly aware that Mera cannot be treated too harshly as the former Queen of Atlantis and wife of Aquaman. Mera agrees to what is formally an interview but effectively an interrogation, and insists on bringing Andy with her, further heightening the awkwardness of the situation. It appears that relations with Xebel are even more tense than usual, as the Xebelians believe Atlantis was reponsible for the recent attack on their city by the Trench. It is clear that Drayton and Wallis suspect Jackson and possibly Mera are responsible for the attacks due to their Xebellian heritage. Mera insists that they produce proof Jackson is responsible for the attacks, pointing out they would not dare to act the way they are doing if Arthur were on Earth. Drayton and Wallis leave the room but Mera is able to listen in on their conversation using a transmitter she planted on Wallis and a receiver hidden in Andy's barrette, and she hears Drayton say they will do anything necessary to get information out of her, including threaten Andy.
In fact, Jackson did come to Mera before the soldiers came looking for him. She helped him escape through a secret passageway and gave him a Justice League ID card and a gun, promising to buy him as much time as possible to find out what was happening. Jackson swam to Amnesty Bay and took Dwayne Fradon's boat, The Sentinel. He patches himself up with the first aid kit on board and sets sail.
Back in the interrogation room Wallis attempts to threaten Mera but she is not intimidated. Drayton shows her a security image of Jackson planting the bomb, but Mera simply replies that it could be faked. Meanwhile, other Atlantean soldiers head to the surface to bring Lucia to the city in what is effectively an arrest. She notices Delufe chasing the vehicle at superspeed across the rooftops and breaks out, then uses previously unrevealed acrobatics skills to scale the building the speedster is on. She tries to talk to Deluge and it appears that she knows them, but they run away and Lucia also departs when the Atlanteans try to retrieve her. Drayton and Wallis leave the room again and receive the report of Lucia's escape. Mera overhears and also departs with Andy.
Mera takes Andy to a house in Amnesty Bay which is revealed to be a safehouse where Mera and Lucia have been housing refugees from Xebel, including Davi. She meets up with Lucia, who has also been stockpiling weapons, to Mera's disapproval. Lucia is afraid that when Jackson finds out what they have been doing it will ruin their relationship again, if he even survives. Mera assues her that he will make it out of the current situation alive and he will understand.
Appearing in "Until Proven Innocent"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Atlantean Guard
- Chess
- Drayton (First appearance)
- Wallis (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Aquaman (Arthur Curry) (Statue only)
- Deluge (Cameo)
- Xebelians
- Davi (Cameo)
- Black Manta (Mentioned only)
- Dwayne Fradon (Mentioned only)
- Gods of Atlantis (Mentioned only)
- Trench (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Earth
- Atlantis
- Atlantean Royal Palace
- The Well
- Cerro District (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- Amnesty Bay
- Curry Lighthouse
- Lucia Hyde's House
- Amnesty Bay
- Xebel (Mentioned only)
- Atlantis
- Mars (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Justice League ID Card
- Waterbearers
Vehicles:
- Atlantean Speeder
- Mera's Motorcycle
- The Sentinel Ship (First appearance)
See Also