History YMMV / Aquaman

* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: DC has been trying to change the public perception of the character since ''Superfriends'' came out. Amongst many hardcore comics fans, it's worked (particularly with Peter David's run), but [[PublicMediumIgnorance as far as pop culture as a whole is concerned]], he's still mostly seen as a joke character.

** Manta murdered Aquaman's young son, Arthur, Jr. This is awful. But then subsequent writers had Manta bring it up ''[[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied constantly]]'' like some kind of gallows RunningGag which probably peaked with [[https://i.imgur.com/mWDX1fH.jpg this]] infamous scene from ''ComicBook/Aquaman 1991'' #6, where he interrupted a press conference just to ask Aquaman "How's the wife and kid," knowing full well what happened to them. Then he destroyed Mercy Reef, where Aquababy was memorialized.

** Manta murdered Aquaman's young son, Arthur, Jr. This is awful. But then subsequent writers had Manta bring it up ''[[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied constantly]]'' like some kind of gallows RunningGag which probably peaked with [[https://i.imgur.com/mWDX1fH.jpg this]] infamous scene from 1993's ''Aquaman'' #6, where he interrupted a press conference just to ask Aquaman "How's the wife and kid," knowing full well what happened to them. Then he destroyed Mercy Reef, where Aquababy was memorialized.
** Manta once captured Aquaman, and revealed to him that he was going to blow up all of Atlantis. When Aquaman asked why he would do that, Manta's response was simply, "To be perfectly Frank--I'm doing it out of simple spite... I really hate your guts, you know..."

** There was also the time he interrupted a press conference just to ask Aquaman "How's the wife and kid," knowing full well what happened to them. Then he destroyed Mercy Reef, where Aquababy was memorialized.
** Manta murdered Aquaman's young son, Arthur, Jr. [[AndThatsTerrible This is awful.]] But then subsequent writers had Manta bring it up ''[[WouldYouLikeToHearHowTheyDied constantly]]'' like some kind of gallows RunningGag which probably peaked with [[https://i.imgur.com/mWDX1fH.jpg this]] infamous scene from 1993's ''Aquaman'' #6.

* AudienceAlienatingEra: Cullen Bunn's run on the New 52 title. The story is generic pulp fiction which Bunn himself even admits did not suit the character. At the same time, it also did its best to undo all the work the Johns and Parker runs did before it. Arthur is now hated by Atlanteans again despite the entirety of Johns' run focusing on his gaining acceptance. Mera is how hunting Arthur, destroying all the development their relationship went through in both previous runs, particularly Parker's. Literally none of the supporting cast return, not even Tula, who had been consistently used since being introduced. Arthur now has weird powers like teleportation thanks to Poseidon, who literally no Atlantean before this run made mention of, and who Arthur outright denied the ''existence'' of over in ''JLA''. The reveal that Mera has an [[spoiler:evil twin sister]] is laughed at for its incredible soap drama-esque nature. The mere cover of the first issue pissed fans off for very obviously trying to incorporate aspects of the movie design in with Arthur's classic look, the result being an incredibly ugly costume. One of the only redeeming factors of the entire thing was introducing the New 52 Garth (though this also ignores Johns' run which mentions him being a newborn), and even ''then'', Bunn didn't do anything with him, and this was likely ExecutiveMeddling since DC began pushing the original Teen Titans at this time (complete with their own miniseries), meaning anyone could've done it. The other is [[DamselOutOfDistress Mera breaking out on her own]] and declaring that she doesn't need to be saved by Aquaman, but will gladly fight by his side. The backlash to Bunn's run was so strong that Bunn wanted to leave the book before his first issue even shipped, and was convinced to at least finish his arc by his editor.

*** [[CardCarryingVillain Black Manta]], real name David, makes his living as a brutal pirate, often in the employ of others, and is obsessed with [[ArchEnemy destroying Aquaman at all costs]]. To this end, Manta [[WouldHurtAChild killed Aquaman's infant son]] by trapping him in a chamber that suffocated the boy, despite Arthur's best efforts to save him. Manta continues to torment his nemesis by targeting and murdering those he can. Not even Manta's own family is exempt from his cruelty: his own son, the new Aqualad, was the target of Manta's wrath when Manta [[OffingTheOffspring attempted to murder him]] with zealous hatred, for no other reason than rejecting the path Manta wanted for him. In ''ComicBook/BrightestDay'', Manta tries to go straight, opening up a fish market, but when the customers rejoice that Aquaman is alive, Manta murders them with a knife, before burning down his own house and resuming his quest for vengeance. Manta is a vicious, hateful murderer who would poison the entire ocean just for the chance to hurt his nemesis.

* CrossesTheLineTwice

* TheProblemWithLicensedGames: ''Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis'' is universally considered one of the worst videogames ''ever'' created. So bad it even inspired its own special category for awful video games on gaming show X-Play: The "Golden Mullet Award".

* TearJerker:
** The death of Aquaman's son. No parent should have to go through that.
** As shown in ''Blackest Night'', Arthur didn't want to be buried in a massive, royal tomb in Atlantis when he died; [[IJustWantToBeNormal he wants to be buried next to his father at the lighthouse he grew up in an otherwise unremarkable grave]].
** Post-Flashpoint: After going through great pains not just to find his long lost mother Atlanna, but also prove he's not an impostor as she [[BerserkerTears tearfully assaults him]], he finally convinces her, but has to part ways and promise to keep her existence and location a secret.

* HilariousInHindsight: Mera wearing the Aquawoman outfit as a show of good faith despite her annoyance towards the nickname. Come Future State, her now adult daughter Andy is called Aquawoman, wearing a somewhat similar outfit.

* HarsherInHindsight: Early stories featuring Aquababy called attention to how adorable and innocent he was, while Aquaman, Mera, and Aqualad all envisioned him growing up and taking the throne someday, whether as a superhero or a scientist. All of this become extremely hard to read knowing of his eventual murder by Black Manta, especially a storyline where Aquababy was caught in a crossfire between Manta and Ocean Master and saved Orm's life, putting the villain in debt to the infant.