Following 2011’s FLASHPOINT event, much of Aquaman’s history was heavily altered. He was once more the son of lighthouse keeper Tom Curry and Queen Atlanna of Atlantis, and he grew up in Amnesty Bay. When her father died, Atlanna returned to Atlantis to take the throne, so Tom was forced to raise Arthur alone. As a child Arthur developed powers, having inherited his mother’s abilities. To understand him better, Tom sought help from Dr. Stephen Shin, a scientist he had once saved from a storm.
Tom expected Shin would help train Arthur in the use of his powers. But Shin became obsessed with Atlantis, and attempted to release his findings to the public. Tom Curry managed to destroy all of Shin’s research except a vial of Arthur’s blood. Shin hired the bounty hunter Black Manta to steal the vial from the Curry home. But when Tom Curry encountered Manta, the stress from the ensuing fight caused Tom to suffer a heart attack. He died soon after. Arthur tracked Black Manta down and accidentally killed his father, believing he was Manta. Arthur was then brought to Atlantis by his mother’s royal adviser Vulko.
Arthur ruled over Atlantis for a brief time, until his half-brother Orm, the son of Atlanna and her second husband, took the throne. Arthur went on to form the Others, a team composed of outcasts, who traveled the world searching for ancient Atlantean weapons so they could be kept from those who would use them to do harm. Among these artifacts was the Trident of Neptune, which Aquaman kept before eventually parting ways with the Others. After leaving the Others, Aquaman joined forces with the DC Universe’s greatest heroes to form the Justice Leaguebecame a founding member of the Justice League. And just as in the previous timeline, Arthur met and fell in love with Mera, a Xebellian princess sent to kill him. After Orm declared war on the surface world, Arthur defeated him and was crowned king.
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History
FIRST APPEARANCE:More Fun Comics #73 (September, 1941)
FIRST POST-FLASHPOINT APPEARANCE: Aquaman Vol 7 #1 (2011)
POWERS:
- Ability to breathe underwater
- Control over sea life
- Exceptional swimming ability
- Durability
- Super strength
OCCUPATION: King of Atlantis
GROUP AFFILIATION: Justice League, The Others