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Aquaman, Volume 3: Throne of Atlantis, Walmart Exclusive Edition by Geoff Johns, Geoff Johns
babyfacedoldsoul's review against another edition
5.0
I always teased my sister for liking Aquaman but that has definitely stopped after this volume. This arc was the most intense one I have read in a long time. I simply devoured it as fast as a mind blown person could. Forgive the pun, but I am hooked.
manuelte's review against another edition
4.0
Very good storyline, and I appreciate that DC compiled all the relevant Aquaman AND Justice League comics into this single volume so we don't have to jump back and forth between books. The character just keeps getting better and better.
magicmarcelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jupitermaybe's review against another edition
1.0
I’d love to read more about Orm, his motivations were interesting to me. The rest of the internal plot didn’t capture my attention in the same way. The artwork, as always, is absolutely gorgeous. Mera always steals my heart with her fierce attitude and badass superpowers.
ayoung720's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
rcgeek_13's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rhganci's review against another edition
4.0
Note: As this volume essentially tells the same story as JUSTICE LEAGUE VOL.3: THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS, and collects nearly identical sequences of issues, I'll be reviewing both that one and this together, and posting the review in both places.
(4.5 stars) If our view of Aquaman at the beginning of the New 52 was that his superhero status had been misinterpreted by readers and the citizens of Earth alike, by the time THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS concludes, the reader can do nothing else but agree with the interviewed Boston cop on the volume's final pages:
"He's dangerous."
The twelve issues of build-up and backstory that precede this first JUSTICE LEAGUE crossover deliver an Aquaman who is bursting at the seams with energy and the willingness to use his powers for good. Throughout the entire event, Aquaman takes charge, interpreting and liaising between the surface world and the submerged one, between the heroes and the villains, and between the two sides of himself that rage in conflict just as deep as the one that this story tells. He shows his powers from the second he appears on the scene--assisting Batman with a hostage situation--to the final panel at the oceanside. He's the main character not just of his own story, but of a Justice League story, and that shows Johns' regard for the character as well as how far the character has come in the first two years of the New 52.
For him to take center stage in the most ambitious event DC has offered since the reboot, and in a book that has been at the top of the list since September of 2011, illustrates DC's limitless confidence in Johns and his ability to tell their stories. At this point, Aquaman has more cache than any secondary member of the team. Green Lantern's absence is noted, but not lamented. The Flash is left to his own crisis in Central City (which those of us reading TPBs won't get our hands on until August) and dismissed thereafter. As I said before: Aquaman is the centerpiece of this story, and even the DC's 'Trinity' and their subplots can't steal the show.
The book needs no more than that, not really. As a story, THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS follows a familiar structure, with a steadily rising set of action setpieces and intense speech acts, a big-play reveal as to the nature of the conflict, and a full-issue climax that contains some really staggering artwork by the creative teams. By the time things wrap up, real change has taken place, and while we might not see the aftermath of the citywide flooding throughout Gotham City and Metropolis in books like BATMAN or SUPERMAN, Johns' choice to place the heart of the action in Boston is a credit to his vision, because it's a city that can be safely ignored by the rest of the DC writers. Superman and Wonder Woman can get back to awkward dating, Batman can get back to creepily spying on their makeout sessions, no doubt worrying about being the third wheel, and fighting the Joker. Later, something new and terrible can attack some other city, and the Justice League can regroup and go off to confront it. In my view, that's the way it should be.
The two-issue lead-up in JUSTICE LEAGUE centers on a hunt for the Cheetah, and contains some great-looking art by Tony S. Daniel, who I believe does the pencils for SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN, and whose style makes them look every bit the 'Power Couple.' As a two-issue arc it gets the job done, but while the convenience-riddled conflict underwhelms in the light of the two superbly-developed six-issue arcs that precede it (I did miss Jim Lee's artwork a bit), the epilogue that deals with the aftermath of The Kiss is really the strongest element of that brief story. The easy manner with which Johns connects it to the exposition of the THRONE OF ATLANTIS storyline is yet another example of his flawless control over the plot, setting, and characters over which he has stewardship.
Aquaman's pre-crossover chapters include a #0 issue that picks up with the aftermath of his father's death, and a brief chapter that sort of works as a prologue to the event itself. The #0 issue doesn't dazzle in the way that those of Batgirl or the Flash do, but it is informative and fills in a lot of the gaps, albeit without Johns typical flair or much humor at all. The other is perhaps the most forgettable AQUAMAN issue since the reboot, as it seems a time-killer that offers a LOT of context as to why the Atlanteans hate the surface world.
That impasse is the one at the heart of Aquaman's struggle, and even though the rest of the Justice League do excellent, impressive, and helpful things (Cyborg plays a major role here, as well), the Throne of Atlantis only applies to Aquaman himself, and Johns doesn't forget that. The focus which the events of the story adhere to that principle objective is its strongest merit, and as the rise of Aquaman has been one of the New 52's greatest successes, THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS provides the climax for the character that solidifies his role as a member of the Justice League, and even of the entire DCU, that can hold his own.
(4.5 stars) If our view of Aquaman at the beginning of the New 52 was that his superhero status had been misinterpreted by readers and the citizens of Earth alike, by the time THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS concludes, the reader can do nothing else but agree with the interviewed Boston cop on the volume's final pages:
"He's dangerous."
The twelve issues of build-up and backstory that precede this first JUSTICE LEAGUE crossover deliver an Aquaman who is bursting at the seams with energy and the willingness to use his powers for good. Throughout the entire event, Aquaman takes charge, interpreting and liaising between the surface world and the submerged one, between the heroes and the villains, and between the two sides of himself that rage in conflict just as deep as the one that this story tells. He shows his powers from the second he appears on the scene--assisting Batman with a hostage situation--to the final panel at the oceanside. He's the main character not just of his own story, but of a Justice League story, and that shows Johns' regard for the character as well as how far the character has come in the first two years of the New 52.
For him to take center stage in the most ambitious event DC has offered since the reboot, and in a book that has been at the top of the list since September of 2011, illustrates DC's limitless confidence in Johns and his ability to tell their stories. At this point, Aquaman has more cache than any secondary member of the team. Green Lantern's absence is noted, but not lamented. The Flash is left to his own crisis in Central City (which those of us reading TPBs won't get our hands on until August) and dismissed thereafter. As I said before: Aquaman is the centerpiece of this story, and even the DC's 'Trinity' and their subplots can't steal the show.
The book needs no more than that, not really. As a story, THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS follows a familiar structure, with a steadily rising set of action setpieces and intense speech acts, a big-play reveal as to the nature of the conflict, and a full-issue climax that contains some really staggering artwork by the creative teams. By the time things wrap up, real change has taken place, and while we might not see the aftermath of the citywide flooding throughout Gotham City and Metropolis in books like BATMAN or SUPERMAN, Johns' choice to place the heart of the action in Boston is a credit to his vision, because it's a city that can be safely ignored by the rest of the DC writers. Superman and Wonder Woman can get back to awkward dating, Batman can get back to creepily spying on their makeout sessions, no doubt worrying about being the third wheel, and fighting the Joker. Later, something new and terrible can attack some other city, and the Justice League can regroup and go off to confront it. In my view, that's the way it should be.
The two-issue lead-up in JUSTICE LEAGUE centers on a hunt for the Cheetah, and contains some great-looking art by Tony S. Daniel, who I believe does the pencils for SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN, and whose style makes them look every bit the 'Power Couple.' As a two-issue arc it gets the job done, but while the convenience-riddled conflict underwhelms in the light of the two superbly-developed six-issue arcs that precede it (I did miss Jim Lee's artwork a bit), the epilogue that deals with the aftermath of The Kiss is really the strongest element of that brief story. The easy manner with which Johns connects it to the exposition of the THRONE OF ATLANTIS storyline is yet another example of his flawless control over the plot, setting, and characters over which he has stewardship.
Aquaman's pre-crossover chapters include a #0 issue that picks up with the aftermath of his father's death, and a brief chapter that sort of works as a prologue to the event itself. The #0 issue doesn't dazzle in the way that those of Batgirl or the Flash do, but it is informative and fills in a lot of the gaps, albeit without Johns typical flair or much humor at all. The other is perhaps the most forgettable AQUAMAN issue since the reboot, as it seems a time-killer that offers a LOT of context as to why the Atlanteans hate the surface world.
That impasse is the one at the heart of Aquaman's struggle, and even though the rest of the Justice League do excellent, impressive, and helpful things (Cyborg plays a major role here, as well), the Throne of Atlantis only applies to Aquaman himself, and Johns doesn't forget that. The focus which the events of the story adhere to that principle objective is its strongest merit, and as the rise of Aquaman has been one of the New 52's greatest successes, THE THRONE OF ATLANTIS provides the climax for the character that solidifies his role as a member of the Justice League, and even of the entire DCU, that can hold his own.
apageinthestacks's review against another edition
5.0
It's really lame that, if you read Justice League vol. 3, then there's only two new issues included in this TPB. Really wish there would've been more actual Aquaman issues, perhaps dealing with the aftermath or something.
But that said, it's still a fantastic storyline, and the two new issues were a great read.
But that said, it's still a fantastic storyline, and the two new issues were a great read.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
4.0
Not just Aquaman but with the whole Justice League.