32 AQUAMAN
In 2006, the most recent Ant-Man, alias Eric O’Grady, debuted in Th e Irredeemable
Ant-Man #1, by Robert Kirkman and Phil Hester. As the title suggests, O’Grady is
not quite as heroic as his predecessors. After obtaining the latest Ant-Man suit and
technology through a series of accidents, O’Grady largely uses it for his own benefi t.
Not an outright villain, he nonetheless proves to be a callous egotist who does not care
about the lives of others, let alone their feelings. When his solo title was cancelled after
12 issues, the character began appearing regularly in Avengers: Th e Initiative and, in
2009, moved on to Th underbolts.
Selected Bibliography: Daniels, Les. Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World’s
Greatest Comics. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1991.
Marc-Oliver Frisch
AQUAMAN. Introduced in late 1941 in More Fun Comics #73, Aquaman, who com-
mands an undersea kingdom and protects three-quarters of Earth’s surface, is one of
the most enduring heroes in the DC Comics roster. Th e character is the creation of
Mort Weisinger (writer) and Paul Norris (artist). Aquaman’s special abilities allow him
to breathe underwater, swim through the ocean at 100 miles per hour, and telepathi-
cally communicate with and control all sea life. Th e aquatic superhero’s origin has been
altered signifi cantly over the decades. Originally, he was the son of an undersea explorer
who was instructed by his father in all the secrets of the ancient civilization of Atlantis.
In 1959, this tale was altered as it was revealed that Aquaman was really Arthur Curry,
the son of a lighthouse keeper who had discovered, and later married, a beautiful out-
cast from Atlantis. Th e origin was changed again in the 1990s by writer Peter David in
Th e Atlantis Chronicles (1990). In this story, Aquaman’s true Atlantean name is Orin
and he is the child of Queen Atlanna and Atlan, a demigod. Th roughout most of the
decades Aquaman has been seen wearing a scaled orange tunic, black swim trunks, and
green gloves and leggings. In recent years, he is often portrayed carrying a large trident, a
three-pronged spear associated in mythology with either Neptune or Poseidon.
During the 1940s, Aquaman’s sea-based adventures primarily depicted him as
defending the oceans against threats by modern-day pirates like Black Jack, his longtime
enemy, and Nazi U-boat commanders. While most superheroes ceased publication
after the World War II era, Aquaman’s stories continued. Th e “King of the Seven Seas”
is one of only fi ve superheroes of the Golden Age to remain in print during the 1950s.
Th e Silver Age of Comics saw a great expansion of the hero’s role in the mainstream
DC Comics universe, as he was given a large supporting cast, a more menacing rogues’
gallery, and new psychological depth. He also acquired a new weakness: after an hour
without exposure to water, he would die. Aquaman was a founding member of the
Justice League of America, appearing in the team’s fi rst story in Th e Brave and the
Bold #28 (1960). Th is era also revealed him to be the king of Atlantis. Th e primary
artists of Aquaman stories of this period were Nick Cardy, Jim Aparo, and Ramona
Fradon , one of the few female artists drawing superheroes at the time.
