Aquaman: Rebirth #1 (2016)
Written by Dan Abnett
Artwork by Brad Walker
Inks by Andrew Hennessy, Colors by Gabe Eltaeb
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Chef’s Note: Food is a commonality shared by all people and, as such, it is often used to facilitate diplomacy, as we see here with King Arthur and Queen Mera in their efforts to unite the separate worlds of land and sea.
That is, if Captain Sark can keep his anti-cheese straw views to himself. De gustibus non est disputandum, Captain! You don’t want a bad Trip Advisor for the food, after all.
Chef’s Note: The reactions of the two surface dwellers to the food is significant. Lieutenant Stubbs tries the Elokway, even after being informed of what it is, and finds it delicious (I mean, it’s seasoned with sea-spice and a barnacle jus, so who wouldn’t?). Whereas Ray Delane Daily Planet is immediately stricken by the tummy rumbles when he discovers it’s not the commonplace shrimp he thought it was.
Why is this significant? Because, later on, [SPOILER ALERT] Stubbs helps save Queen Mera’s life while Delane turns out to be a dastardly villain in disguise! Nice use of food as foreshadowing, Mr. Abnett.
‘True’ sea slugs are molluscs – in fact specialised snails. If you have a look at the earlier messages on the Recipes Page you will find that very few have ever been considered edible, and many are probably poisonous…
However there is another group of animals which are also called ‘sea slugs’. These are variously called sea cucumbers, holothurians, beche de mer, trepang, etc. These are definitely edible. The ‘skin’ is dried, and form a major fishery in Asia and parts of the Pacific.
Some barnacles are considered edible by humans, including Japanese goose barnacles (e.g. Capitulum mitella), and goose barnacles (e.g. Pollicipes pollicipes), a delicacy in Spain and Portugal… Additionally, the picoroco barnacle is used in Chilean cuisine and is one of the ingredients in curanto.
Onomatopoeia: Mmmslug? | Mmnnnggb | Mmggpp
Not bad, but lacking in verve somehow. 2 stars (★★)