AQUAMAN 33
Th e expansion of Aquaman’s world began in 1959 with the addition of a teen side-
kick known as Aqualad. Th e boy, whose actual name was Garth, had been expelled
from Atlantis as a child due to the kingdom’s prejudiced view that those born with
purple eyes were inferior. Adopted by the Sea King, Garth served as an apprentice to
the hero and eventually gained his own love interest, Aquagirl. In 1964’s Th e Brave
and the Bold #54, Aqualad joined with other sidekicks Robin and Kid Flash to form
the Te e n T i t a n s. Other additions to the supporting cast included Vulko, Aquaman’s
Atlantean advisor; Quisp, a water sprite, and, most signifi cantly, Mera, a beautiful
red-haired humanoid alien from a watery dimension. She and Aquaman soon fell in
love and eventually married. Th e couple welcomed a son, Arthur Jr. (nicknamed “Aqua-
baby”) in 1965. Aquaman was the fi rst Silver Age hero in the DC Comics universe to
father a child.
Aquaman’s main foes include the Fisherman, the Scavenger, and Ocean Master, who
was revealed to be Orm Curry, Aquaman’s troubled and jealous half-brother. Th e most
notable member of the rogues’ gallery is Black Manta. Clad in a dark wetsuit and an
ominous looking metallic helmet with large red eye pieces that allowed him to fi re laser
beams, the character was one of comics’ fi rst African American super-villains. His main
objective was to take control of the seas and establish them as a home for African Amer-
icans, who had been oppressed for so long on the surface. Th e villain and Sea King
battled repeatedly with their most notable confrontation occurring in 1977, when Black
Manta kidnapped and murdered Aquaman’s infant son. Th is event is one of the most
signifi cant moments in the Aquaman mythology.
Over the years Aquaman’s solo stories appeared in a number of titles, such as Aqua-
man , Adventure Comics , Action Comics , World’s Finest Comics , and several miniseries
and specials. Th e most dramatic alteration of the hero came in Aquaman #2 (1994)
which saw him lose his hand in a piranha-infested trap. His costume and appearance
were redesigned so that the once clean-cut superhero was now seen shirtless, with a
long hairstyle and beard, and a menacing harpoon replacing his missing hand. He was
often written as an angry warrior king who possessed little sympathy for “surface dwell-
ers.” By the early 2000s, the more familiar-looking Aquaman had returned as he served
as the protector of “Sub Diego,” a portion of San Diego that had plunged into the
Pacifi c Ocean after a massive earthquake. During this period he gained a new female
sidekick named Lorena, who soon became the new Aquagirl. In 2006, Aquaman starred
in the short-lived series Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis , which took the character in a new
direction by emphasizing a more mythological tone.
Aquaman has also often appeared in other media forms outside of comics. He was
fi rst seen on television on Th e Superman /Aquaman Hour of Adventure from 1967 to
- From 1973 until 1986 he appeared in the various incarnations of Super Friends , a
Saturday morning staple. Many of Aquaman’s fans believe this series has led to a nega-
tive perception of the hero by the public at large. Th ey claim that the series’ decision
to focus almost exclusively on Aquaman’s “talking to fi sh” telepathy made the character
look weak and ineff ective. A more masculine Aquaman made several guest appearances
