Justice League #17

If only the Justice League hadn't lost their Green Lantern. Without a Green Lantern, they're just a second tier super group.

The Justice League managed to Boom Tube out of the ocean and back up into the Justice League Watchtower where they find Doctor Shin recovering from Vulko's beat-down. I guess since the entire Justice League was stuck in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, nobody was worried about Cyborg's Boom Tube malfunctioning and sending them to Apokolips. Although if that had happened, the war with Atlantis would probably be over by the time they got back and a fish would be president of the United States.

Turns out Vulko was pissed at Orm and the Atlanteans for exiling him years ago. So he engineered a human missile strike on Atlantis so that the Atlantean Army would come to the surface and attack the humans. Vulko doesn't care what happens to the humans; they're just collateral damage. Vulko merely wanted the Atlanteans on land where they'd be most vulnerable. And then he sent the Trench Fish up to destroy them.

At least that's Mera's theory and I'd believe anything she says. *sigh*

While the elite heroes make plans aboard their fancy satellite headquarters, the foot soldier heroes are down on the front lines fighting the Atlanteans.

I notice Green Arrow and Hawkman are missing from this brawl. It's probably because they were called up to the Justice League of America but I like to think it's because they were let go due to extreme suckage.

When I turn the page, I'm greeted with Hawkman stabbing Orm in the wrist, so I guess Hawkman still made the cut. Even though Batman tried to veto him from the group. Meanwhile Firestorm tells Black Canary that he can't transmute organic material. I remember that being a weakness of his in Preboot history but I think this might be the first time it's been mentioned in The New 52. There's a lot to remember when having read about 900 comics in the last year though, so it's very possible I'm wrong about that.

And then the Justice League risks another detour to Apokolips and Boom Tubes themselves into the battle.

Shut up, Superman. He does. He does indeed.

While Batman meets up with the Justice League Farm Team at the docks, Aquaman battles Orm. Orm has the ability to control water the way that Mera does. But Aquaman doesn't have that power! Is that only an ability of full Atlanteans? Or maybe full-blooded Royal Atlanteans since I haven't seen any other Atlanteans use the power. And what about speaking with fish? Is that just something that Aquaman can do? I think Orm might have sent all of the sea-life out of the area before his army attacked Boston but, once again, I'm not too sure. Stupid memory. And stupid laziness keeping me from looking it up!

Batman organizes the Farm Team into a posse to hunt down Vulko. That's about all they're useful for now that Superman and Wonder Woman are on the scene. Too bad most of them can't take their eyes off of the famous Batman because Vulko is simply standing on a skyscraper overlooking the battle hoping that Aquaman will kill Orm. But after Orm gets all emotional and girl scoutery, I doubt that's going to happen.

So what happened to change the weeping into warring? Give him a hug!

While throwing a bus at Orm, Aquaman tells him how much he loved finding out he had a brother as well! Then they kiss kick and hug hit each other for a few pages until Aquaman finally defeats Orm just as Batman and his posse discover Vulko.

Oh! I guess that's probably what Vulko wanted. Aquaman back on the throne. Thus the name of the crossover! Orm being killed would simply have been an added bonus.

Now that Aquaman is king again, he commands the Atlanteans to attack the Cannibalistic Humanoid Underwater Dwellers. The Trench Fish People are apparently just enough fish for nobody to care about killing them. Why do fish not get any love? Vegetarians are often Pescetarians but you never see any Vegetarians that are Vaccatarians! Although I have known quite a few Pancettatarians! I don't subscribe to any of those terms. I'm just an Angry Vegetarian. I only eat animals that piss me off.

It's possible that most of the heroes like Superman and Batman don't kill the Fish Guys while they fight them. It's hard to tell since the ultimate goal is to simply drive them back into the ocean. That can only be accomplished using the Dead King's Scepter so it's a good thing Batman found Vulko. Batman is always thinking ahead!

Well then it's a good thing it all fucking worked out exactly like you planned it, isn't it? Vulko is a mastermind on the level of Harvest!

With the Dead King's Scepter, Aquaman sends the Trench Monsters home and the war is over. He arrests Vulko and sends him back to Atlantis with the Atlantean Army. And then to prove himself to Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman, he arrests Orm and sends him off to Belle Reve. It's really shitty logic and a fucking crappy thing to do to his brother. Basically Aquaman labels Orm a terrorist because after the fight, Orm is no longer a king defending his nation. Even though he was a king defending his nation when he launched the attack. Fucking Aquaman really is a land dweller now, isn't he? And he's got good old American Rationale down pat too. If Superman really meant what he said earlier about Aquaman not having to prove himself, he should have stepped in and stopped this fucking travesty of justice. Instead, the Justice League are all really proud of Aquaman for doing the right* thing.

*"Right" being what they wanted him to do in the first place. Jerks.

But now Aquaman has to go back to Atlantis and be a responsible ruler.

Good riddance!

This crossover causes three things to happen on the final page. Amanda Waller decides it's time to activate the Justice League of America. Batman thinks it would be a good idea to expand their membership. And the Legion of Doom begins hiring! Beginning with the Scarecrow because he's had the most experience so far in The New 52 having starred in at least two major stories and a back-up story or two.

Justice League #17 Rating: +1 Ranking. Okay, so maybe the big bad Super Villain Co-Op won't go by the name Legion of Doom. Maybe they'll be the Secret Society of Super-Villains. But just knowing they're coming in some form is good enough for me. That was the best part of the story which is why I mentioned it first. The rest of the story resolved itself nicely and in a nice, short manner. I was worried Geoff Johns was going to drag this out for ten years. The only thing I don't like is how Aquaman turned his brother into a scapegoat. It was an international incident caused by a third party while Orm was king. Arresting him just because he gave up the crown after the battle was over seems like a really dick move. But then I don't actually expect anything more from Superman, Batman, and Aquaman! Jerks!