I realize that the Throne of Atlantis storyline ended a couple of weeks ago, but I started the review promising to finish the story arc and here I am. I apologize for the delay in the review but this story is worth talking about. The Throne of Atlantis arc is hands down the best DC story of the year. Not only do we see Arthur having to fight the league, but we also witness the birth of the JLA towards the end of the arc. Enough of the boring intro, let’s get to the story.
Chapter 3 of Throne of Atlantis occurs in Justice League #16. In this issue, Aquaman is forced to fight his friends in the Justice League as well as his brother Orm and the army of Atlantis. Orm has declared war on the surface world do to a missile strike that hit Atlantis. The league is trying to save the Earth from destruction. While Arthur is trying to prevent the destruction of both worlds, but no one can see that…yet.
Meanwhile, back at the Watchtower, Cyborg and Vulko are trying to figure out who started this war by striking Atlantis. They are also keeping a close eye on the battle. When he sees how bad it really is, he realizes the league needs more members and he activates the accounts of all the supers to create a larger Justice League.
The story continues with Chapter four which is found in Aquaman #16. You see the reinforcements taking on Orm’s army as Cyborg makes the modifications needed for deep sea survival. As all of this is happening, Arthur has to save his friends from the Trench. As it appears that all hope is lost, Arthur is helped by Mera and Cyborg. They manage to get the founders of the league to safety only to watch the creatures of the Trench arise out of the depths of the oceans to attack the surface world. Now as the story has been told, the “surface dwellers” think that Orm released the monsters of the Trench, but we find out that is not the case. How do we find out? Because they attack Orm and his army and he acts as if he never knew who they were. It is then that Arthur realizes that someone else has started this war between surface and sea. It was none other than Vulko.
The story concludes In Justice League #17. The Justice League and Orm’s army from Atlantis have their hands full, not only against each other but the Trench as well. Also, Arthur is forced to fight his brother Orm for the crown of Atlantis. That is the only way this war will end. The brothers trade blows and Arthur finally wins back the crown of Atlantis. Now that he is the King once again, he commands the army to help him rid the surface of the Trench. How does he do this? By getting the mystical scepter that Manta had stolen so many issues ago. With the scepter in hand, Arthur gave the command to leave and they did. He has Vulko taken to Atlantis to face charges of treason, but he lives Orm on the surface to pay for his sins against humanity. At the end of this issue we get our first glimpse of the forming of the JLA due to the outcry from the public wanting more protectors so this mess cannot happen again.
The story however does not end there. In Aquaman #17, we find Arthur getting back in the role of King as he tries to stop the two worlds from causing harm to each other. One way he is doing this, is by reclaiming stolen weapons from Atlantis to set balance back to the seas. The surface world now fears him and most of his kingdom in Atlantis does not trust him. He does however make a pledge to never leave the seas again. Because the wildlife that dwells in its waters are the only family he has left.
This story arc was amazing! I was more into the Throne of Atlantis story arc than the Death of a Family arc in he Batman titles. I understand that by the time you read this review, some of the key issues will be hard to acquire, but try you must. If anything, get the trade when it hits the bookshelves. I give this entire arc a perfect rating of 10 out of 10. The writing was superb and the art was extraordinary! Get your issues now!
