Overview:
Throne of Atlantis is a 2012-2013 DC Comics crossover event written by Geoff Johns, with artwork by Ivan Reis and Paul Pelletier. It spans Justice League #15-17 and Aquaman #14-16. The story focuses on tensions between the surface world and Atlantis, with Aquaman caught in the middle as both a Justice League member and the King of Atlantis.
The story centers around Aquaman, the Justice League, and Mera, while the adversaries include Orm (Ocean Master), the Atlantean military, and other forces from the sea. Much of the conflict arises from misunderstandings and a battle for control between the surface world and Atlantis.
Critically, Throne of Atlantis was generally well-received, with praise for its action-packed story, solid character development, especially for Aquaman, and strong visuals. Fans were impressed with the crossover’s handling of Aquaman’s dual identity and the tension between his two worlds. Ivan Reis’ detailed and dynamic artwork also received significant positive feedback for its ability to bring large-scale battles to life. The story solidified Aquaman’s role as a central figure in the DC Universe, marking an essential step in his development under the New 52 reboot.
Background Reading:
- TBD
Related Guides
- Aquaman
- Justice League
Best Way To Read:
Main Collection
- Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis
- Collects: Justice League #15-17 and Aquaman #0, 14-16
Alternative Collections
- Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis
- Collects: Justice League #13-17 and Aquaman #15-16
For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.
For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.
Reading Order:
| Title | Importance | Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Aquaman vol. 7 #14 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Justice League vol. 2 #15 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Aquaman vol. 7 #15 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Justice League vol. 2 #16 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Aquaman vol. 7 #16 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Justice League vol. 2 #17 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis | |
| Aquaman vol. 7 #17 | Aquaman Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis |
References:
Feature Image from Aquaman #17 cover art by Art Thibert, Rod Reis, Tony Avina, and Paul Pelletier
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