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Best Battles in Comics: Aquaman vs. Ocean Master (JUSTICE LEAGUE #17)

It's time to take another look at Throne of Atlantis' epic brawl.

Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, was selected as our latest Character of the Month, and now his time in the spotlight is almost over. He's had a good run, though! We've looked at some of his best covers, highlighted some of his great stories, and even talked about why his live-action movie has a lot of potential. He's also done a mighty fine job in the Battle of the Week segment. Now, it's time to praise one of his best fights. There's decades upon decades of brawls to choose from, but we wanted to go with something recent: Aquaman vs. Ocean Master! Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to take another look at Throne of Atlantis' superb conclusion in JUSTICE LEAGUE #17.

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Don't worry, we won't spoil any of the big twists. We're kind like that. This is a story you need to read for yourself and we don't want to ruin any of the fun. The New 52 has some pretty good story arcs, and Geoff Johns' event is definitely one of them.

All you really need to know is Arthur's brother, Orm, a.k.a. Ocean Master, is the King of Atlantis and he's declared war on the surface world. He believes humanity has purposely attacked Atlantis and he's going to hit back at least twice as hard. As the United States' east coast is struck by flooding and invaded by Atlantean forces, the Justice League attempts to bring an end to the chaos. Aquaman is stuck in the middle as the tries to figure out who's to blame for all of this madness and wonders how he can save both worlds. Boom! There's your simplistic and as spoiler-free as possible recap. Obviously, everything builds up to a cinematic fight between Arthur and Orm and that's what we're here to praise. Once again, the way we're highlighting it won't reveal any big twists. I mean, we're not even showing you the final blow!

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Sometimes big events can end on a pretty disappointing note. In fact, that tends to happen a little more frequently than many of us would like. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here and we're treated to an appropriately epic finale. Character, big action, and a game changing ending are all present here, people. Not only does this clash satisfy because it's a fun and intense brawl, but you can also feel all of the weight behind the emotions these two are experiencing. Orm's driven by anger and even disappointment that his brother isn't standing by his side. Arthur is fighting yet wants nothing more than a peaceful resolution to this crazy situation. He attempts to talk some sense into Ocean Master, but the guy just won't stand for it. As Arthur talks, Orm assaults.

While Arthur uses his words and seemingly refuses to go all-out, Orm has no problem unleashing magical and oh-so-vivid lightning. It's not an attack that's easy to withstand (just ask Superman and Wonder Woman), but Arthur knows the fate of both worlds is currently in his hands. Hundreds have already been killed by the flooding and, if he doesn't stop Orm, there's no telling how far the war will go. To top things off, the Trench -- frightening creatures from the ocean -- have also arrived. No pressure, yeah?

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If you're going to have a gripping, attention-grabbing clash with absurdly high stakes, you need to make sure it looks good. Luckily for Johns, he has one heck of a visual team working on the issue. It's packing art by Ivan Reis and Paul Pelletier, there's three inkers (Joe Prado, Oclair Albert, Sean Parsons), and two colorists (Rod Reis and Nathan Eyring). A big story deserves equally grand visuals, doesn't it? Right with the very first page, you're pulled right into this world and it isn't long before you're struck by an absolutely jaw-dropping double-page spread. Keep in mind, we're only showing you a section of this issue and there's a lot of gems that we're leaving out. Still, these highlighted bits do a more than fine job showing just how well the big scope of this story is being presented. From Orm's blinding projectiles to the dramatic expressions to the damaged city, the art team makes Johns' story look every bit as excellent as it should. Of course, the final strike earned a splash page and man, it's one that'll make you want to cheer. But before the fight ends, we receive a little more insight into Orm.

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Based on the images we've posted, it may look like Arthur's getting wrecked and that may leave some of you questioning how this could be one of his "best" battles. Well, there's so much more to the conflict -- and not to mention we couldn't use some bits because they reveal a big spoiler -- and seeing as Orm's crazy powerful, isn't enduring this kind of punishment a huge testament to Arthur's toughness? I mean, the guy is getting zapped and viciously tossed around and he's still trying to reason with his brother. Besides, when all is said and done, the comic most definitely gives the character a lot of respect. Once the dust settles from this fight, there's one splash page that is simply awesome. It's undoubtedly worthy of being your wallpaper or even a poster.

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Throne of Atlantis offered an enormous conflict which pushed Aquaman's body, heart, and mind. It's full of great looking and unforgettable action, but it's also a terrific tale -- one that's sure to keep your interest until the very last one. Seriously, do yourself a favor and give this story a read. If you've already read it, we hope this motivates you to experience it all over again. It definitely deserves to be read more than once!