Aquaman
Expected: July 27th, 2018
Character Synopsis: King of the Seven Seas and Ruler of Atlantis, Aquaman is the semi-aquatic hero that can talk to the fishes.
Origin: When he first debuted in 1941, Aquaman described his own origin as being the son of a famous, unnamed undersea explorer who was widowed, and discovered the submerged lost kingdom of Atlantis. Creating a water-tight base down there, he studied the history of the lost civilization and taught his infant son to survive underwater and use the power of the sea to make him “strong and swift.”
His story was then re-written to have him be Arthur Curry – son of lighthouse keeper Tom Curry and Atlanna, an outcast from Atlantis. A brief re-write in 1989 had Aquaman be the abandoned child of Queen Atlanna and wizard Atlan of Atlantis, but The New 52 re-launch returned him to the popular status of half-human, half-Atlantean Arthur Curry who, having ruled Atlantis, abdicates his throne to become Defender of the Oceans.
Powers: Most famous for his ability to communicate telepathically with marine life and will them to do his bidding, Aquaman is adapted to live in the depths of the ocean. This means that he can breathe underwater and has the superhuman durability to withstand immense pressure and extreme cold. He also possesses super strength, super speed, super sight and hearing – including limited sonar. The addition – temporarily – of a magical hand (replacing what was previously a hook, then a mechanical hand), gives him the ability to hydrate and kill instantly, shoot jets of water and create portals to mystical dimensions.
Greatest Enemies: Among the many enemies Aquaman has battled over the years, his greatest foes have been Ocean Master (his own evil half-brother, Orm), Black Manta (a supervillain with many origin stories), The Fisherman (a supervillain thief), and a group of terrorists named O.G.R.E (the creatively monikered Organisation for Genreral Revenge and Enslavement).
Casting: As with Wonder Woman, speculation about the casting of Aquaman began as soon as his appearance in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice was announced. Unlike Wonder Woman, the fan favourite was quickly confirmed – Jason Momoa will be Aquaman.
History and future: With the exception of a few appearances in Smallville, Aquaman has only ever been depicted in animation – despite being among the most popular DC characters. Though not published continuously, his character has been consistently re-launched to great response. With his marine telepathy, he is perhaps one of the more derided of DC’s roster, but with Jason Momoa filling the wetsuit, it’s not difficult to see that perception being radically altered in the near future.
– Sarah Myles
