Aquaman created by Mort Weisinger.
"Many have heard the Legend of Aquaman, but who will believe so strange a tale?" - More Fun Comics #73, 1941
Personal Details
Alter Ego: Arthur Curry, Orin
Overview
Many on the surface world remember a rather bland young merman
that was a founding member of the JLA, yet below the waters that
cover two thirds of the surface of his planet he is rightfully
seen as the monarch of those waters. Experience has moulded Orin
from the inexperienced loner to the majestic warrior king that
his subjects both fish and mammal hold in awe.
Aquaman is often seen as a loner but he takes his time forming
friends, a group that includes a long standing friendship with
Wonder Woman, the shared experiences of the former sidekick Tempest
and a burgeoning respect for Conner Hawke the latest Green Arrow.
Aquaman has fought gods for his right to be protector of the seas,
he has paid with blood for enemies made and has lost his way in
the difficult choices that rulers must make. Yet it is impossible
to keep him down, his heritage as the descendent of Kordax and
son of Atlan give him a connection with the oceans that even he
is only now becoming aware of.
Background
"He will know joy and sorrow, darkness and light, for
the blood of Orin and Shalako will run through him. He will produce
a child with a woman from the world of the dark gods and they
will both leave him. He will battle the inner uncertainty caused
by his mixed heritage and he will battle his half-brother, whom
I shall also sire with a woman of the surface. For two brothers
must always struggle for Atlantis. This is fate and when they
battle for the final time, the outcome will determine the ultimate
destiny of Atlantis. Either it will rejoin the surface world or
be forever destroyed." - Atlan - father of Aquaman and
the Ocean Master
The mysterious sorcerer Atlan was father by Queen Atlanna of Atlantis
to the adventurer known as Aquaman and by an Eskimo woman to the
villain known as Ocean Master. Thereby he satisfied the ancient
Atlantis prophesy that two brothers will always be battling over
the fate of Atlantis.
When Aquaman was born as Orin, he was left by King Trevis to die
on Mercy Reef, so called because it was used by the water breathers
to leave others of their kind to die as the waters receded with
the tides exposing them to the open air. However Orin was no
normal child, abandoned because of a disturbing similarity between
Orin and an ancient Atlantis monster known as Kordax. It was this
Curse of Kordax, of having fair hair, that caused the abandonment
of Orin to the air.
As the waters drew back Orin was nurtured by the warming effects
of the Sun. He was truly of both worlds able to breathe both water
and air. He was raised by the dolphin named Porm and wandered
with her pod across the oceans. While a teenager Orin was found
by the lighthouse keeper Arthur Curry. It was this kindly lighthouse
keeper that was to be Orin's first prolonged exposure to humanity.
Arthur raised him as he was his own son, teaching him the ways
of the surface world and how to read.
After Arthur Curry disappeared Orin took the name as a mark of
respect. Orin swam north and lived for months above and below
the water avoiding all human contact until one fateful date he
saved a young Eskimo woman by the name of Kako from a rampaging
Polar Bear. Perhaps it was destiny that had drawn Orin there but
it brought about the first meeting between him and his half brother
Orm who was deeply jealous of Orin and Kako. He set in motions
that would lead to Orin being driven out of the settlement.
Orin returned to the seas, he crossed paths with humans from time
to time but for the most parts he stayed well out of the reach
of humanity. Until one fateful day Orin happened on the city of
his birth. Quite by accident he had found Atlantis. He was captured
by the then dictatorial government of the city and placed in the
prison camp. He was help with another prisoner Vulko who taught
Orin the language and ways of the Atlantians.
A clear screen separated the male from female prisoners and through
it he kept getting glances of a woman that he instinctively knew
as his mother. When see appeared at the screen no more he knew
that she was dead, there was no longer anything to keep Orin in
this foreign city. He broke out and fled back to his endless oceans.
As time passed Aquaman took more of an interest in the surface
world. The media began to call him a superhero and he was christened
Aquaman by Barry Allen (aka Flash II). Not long afterwards he
became a founding member of the Justice League of America. When
he eventually returned to Atlantis he found that via his escape
the citizens had been inspired to free themselves and that Atlantis
was now a free city. He was recognised as the son of Queen Atlanna
and so he became the King of Atlantis.
Times were happy for Aquaman, the new ruling house of Atlantis
slowly reintroduced it to the outside world and the society and
it ruler grew together in peace. There were those that would oppose
his rule and the supervillian called the Shark deposed Orin for
a time. Once the Shark was defeated Aquaman refused to take up
the throne once more preferring to act more as the traditional
superhero (a title what he would come to hate). The cost was high
when the villain Black Manta succeeded in killing Aquaman's young
son.
The death of Arthur Jr. put a rift between Orin and Mera so they
tried relocating to a flooded city on the East Coast as a change
of scene. It was during this time that as Aquaman he sought to
reform the Justice League. Actually going in front of the United
Nations he disbanded the Justice League and later reformed it
only taking dedicated individuals and four new young heroes in
the guise of Vibe, Vixen, Steel II and Gypsy. Accustomed to the
rank of monarch his leadership style has harsh and caused authority
problems with some of the younger members. Eventually Aquaman
would leave this League.
Mera had been driven insane by grief and had been committed to
an asylum in Atlantis. Shortly afterwards an alien force took
the city. Orin was forced to save the city and in the process
was hampered by an escaped Mera who personally blamed Orin for
the death of their son. In a fit of rage she left this dimension.
After Atlantis was freed Orin remained tied to the city. For a
time he served as it's representative to the United Nations but
always finding himself thrust into the superhero role. Becoming
more and more of a workaholic and solitary figure he returned
to the oceans where he eventually learnt the truth (from the old
Chronicles of Atlantis that he how keeps) about his birth and
the Ocean Master was actually his half brother.
Spurred on by Aqualad, Orin was forced to return to action where
he lost his hand. The shock caused him to become delirious he
experienced dreams filled with portents and omens, of things to
come and things' past. Shortly afterwards he adopted a harpoon
in place of his hand (later to be upgraded to advanced STAR labs
psionically controlled model) and set out to protect the seas
in his own way. Making friends along the way he started a romance
with the mysterious girl named Dolphin, little knowing that she
was being controlled by the monster Kordax in an effort to kill
him.
Lost of all diplomacy, Orin found himself fighting former allies
such as Superboy and even gaining the respect of Lobo of all people.
He found himself reacting to the world around him rather than
acting, discovering he had a son in the form of Koryax and that
his former lover Kako had become the latest fire elemental. Meanwhile
behind his back King Thesily the current monarch of Atlantis was
plotting to kill Orin out of jealously due to the place that Aquaman
had in the hearts of his subjects. In the end Thesily was killed
during an earthquake, one of the many that forced the Poseidonians
to flee to Tritonians as the city began to rise to the surface.
Koryax lead the Poseidonians away as Orin returned. Orin was forced
to deal with the aftermath of his meeting with Thanatos (who had
been using Atlantian equipment to broadcast threats in the guise
of Aquaman) by battling the current Justice League who had come
to investigate with the now floating city of Poseidonis. Not long
afterwards Orin bonded with the ancient cybernetic entity that
the Hunters had left to observe Atlantis. In the process he learnt
of the impending return of the Hunter/Gathers and so began an
epic struggle to gather together the ancient cities of Atlantis
under one banner. He united all the undersea forces and many of
the water related superheroes while at the same time having to
contend with the return of Kordax who was telepathically controlling
the citizens of Poseidonis.
The Hunter/Gathers had returned to Earth and had begun wooing the surface world around to their overtures of peace. However only the undersea forces of Aquaman knew the truth. Assembling a task force of undersea superheroes Aquaman took the battle to the Hunter/Gathers at the Whitehouse. They tried to convince Aquaman of their worth by allowing him a glimpse of future powers, but he refused and tricked them into revealing their plans to the world. The Hunter/Gathers were then forced to retreat. During the battle with the Hunter/Gathers Orin had become more and more the Monarch of Atlantis. However there was a difference, whereas before he had been only acting what he thought that a king should do, he now was truly acting as a king should, ruling the subjects below him.
The change did not sit easily with Orin. Having a magical heritage and destiny he began to feel the inner conflict physically. His body became mutated, his hands webbed and his skin scaled. It took help from the Swamp Thing to awaken Aquaman to his true nature via a form of vision quest into the past of Atlantis. He saw the origin of Kordax as a frightened young boy and not the monster that he became. Aquaman's increasing acceptance of his role as King frightened those around him and the physical transformation frightened his subjects. The matter came to a head when Poseidon forced him to battle his son, Triton, for dominion over the ocean. Aquaman won (partially because Triton let him win) and Poseidon forced on him a fraction of the powers of a sea god. Instantly blinded Aquaman discovered that Poseidon has opened a link between Aquaman and the Clear (the unified life energy field of all ocean life). His sight slowly returned and with the help of Animal Man he discovered that he also possessed the ability of echo location.
The new abilities that Aquaman now possesses reinforces his dominion over the creatures of the sea and it's inhabitants. He has established the position of Poseidonis in the surface world (even to the extent of a trial period where he opened it up to tourists). However his actions have not won universal acclaim amongst the people of the city. Vulko in particular feels as if he is out the decision making loop now that Aquaman is making his own decisions as King. Troubles brew for Aquaman in every corner, Triton recently killed his father and now sees Aquaman as his main obstacle between his goal of supreme command of the element of water.
Powers and Abilities
Born an Atlantian Orin is naturally adapted to the deep ocean
environment, giving him enhanced hearing and strength while on
land. He can breathe both water and air, but must return to the
aquatic environment at various intervals, this length can be prolonged
by the humidity in the air.
While before Aquaman had telepathic abilities and a certain command over sea life his newly opened link to the Clear has opened up a whole new world to him. The Clear can best be likened to the Green of the Swamp Thing, it is a universal consciousness of all sea life. Via it he can communicate or command sea life on the other side of the planet. He can see what they see and much more what he is only beginning to realise. He can also push his telepathic powers to reach out to the higher land creatures to find that element of their brains that dates to their ancestors time in the ocean.
Since his hand was severed by piranha he has used a prosthetic
hook developed by STAR labs that he can control psionically. This
allows him to fire it on the end of a line or to spin it like
a drill.
Recommened Reading
Overpower Cards
Aquaman - Uncommon - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
Energy: 2 Fighting: 5 Strength: 6 Intellect: 6
Allies from the Deep - Uncommon - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
Dolphin - Uncommon - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
Hook - Rare - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
King of the Seas - Uncommon - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
Line - Very Rare - Jim Calafiore/Pete Palmiotti
Allies
Aquagirl - Deceased: Tula a native-born Atlantian that aided Aquaman
and Aqualad during their more innocent adventures.
Atlan - Father or Aquaman and Ocean Master, a wizard from the
Chronicles of Atlantis.
Arion - Grandfather of Power Girl and at one time the greatest
wizard on the planet. Spending the rest of his immortal retirement
amongst old Atlantian sorcerers and wizards somewhere in New York.
Deep Blue - Daughter of Neptune Perkins and Tsunami
Dolphin - A genetically altered surface dweller that Kordax used
as a weapon against Aquaman, how freed from his control. In love
Aquaman she also has growing feeling towards Tempest.
Koryax - Illegitimate son of Aquaman he sided with Vulko in a
political move to improve his standing with the people of Poseidonis.
Mera - The separated wife of Aquaman and the mother of two of
his sons (the eldest was killed by Black Manta).
Neptune Perkins - A long standing golden age super and member
of the All Star Squadron now a politician in Washington, US.
Tempest - Garth, as Aqualad he was the former sidekick of Aquaman
a founding member of the Teen Titans he has recently learned how
to bring forth his ancestral powers under the tutelage of Atlan.
Tsunami - Mother of Deep Blue and a former member of the All Star
Squadron. She has the ability to generate massive tidal waves.
Major Enemies
Black Manta - The murder of Aquaman's eldest son by Mera. He initially
used a specialist suit to operate underwater. But now he has physically
mutated into a half human half manta-ray being able to survive
in deaths that test even Aquaman himself.
Kordax - An ancestor of Aquaman from the past of Atlantis. He
is s green skinned, blond hair mutant whose legend prompted Aquaman
to be abandoned at birth.
Ocean Master - Orm, the half brother of Aquaman by the same father.
The two are locked in the ancient cycle of brothers who vie for
the control of Atlantis. He is a member of the Injustice Gang.
Thanatos - A deranged being who desperately wanted Mera to believe
that he was Aquaman in a nether dimensional pocket. He managed
to escape only to be killed by Major Disaster who mistook him
for Aquaman.
The Shark: A wild Shark that was mutated by radiation that leaked
from STAR Labs into the sea. Over the years he has fought both
Aquaman and Hal Jorden. He once managed to seize control of the
city from Aquaman.
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Occupation: Adventurer Monarch of Atlantis and
King of the Seven Seas.
Known Relatives: Mera (wife, separated), Arthur
I (son, deceased), Tom (adoptive father, deceased), Atlanna (mother,
deceased), Orm (half-brother), Atlan (father), Koryak (son), Arthur
II (son), various ancient rulers of Atlantis (deceased - mostly).
Group Affiliation: Justice League of America formally
the Justice League Europe.
Base of Operations: Poseidonis, the world's oceans.
First Appearance: MORE FUN COMICS #73 (November
1941)
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 325 lb.
Eyes: Aqua-blue
Hair: Blond
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