Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, was created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger in 1941. Debuting in More Fun Comics #73, it wasn’t long before the character was given his own solo series, and he soon became one of the most prominent DC characters of the Silver Age of comics.
That’s pretty impressive! But why, then, does the character not get the respect he deserves?
Is it because most people remember his campy, comically lame depiction on the Super Friends? Is it because he wears bright orange “scale mail” and green tights? Perhaps it’s because people think the only thing he can do is talk to fish.
Whatever the case may be, Aquaman is a character with a vast, renowned history in the DCU – one that is most certainly deserving of any comic book fan’s respect. But just in case you need convincing, here are 10 reasons you should take Aquaman seriously:
He Doesn’t Just Talk To Fish
Alright, let’s get this one out of the way first – Aquaman does way more than just talk to fish.
In the Golden Age, it is true that Aquaman was initially depicted as being able to speak with marine life in their native language, and only when they were close enough to hear him. However, like any character that’s been around as long as Aquaman, his abilities have undergone massive changes since his inception.
In more recent depictions, Aquaman’s abilities allow him to communicate with sea creatures through telepathy, summoning them from great distances to do his bidding. In turn, Aquaman protects the creatures of the sea, making the relationship mutually beneficial to both parties.
Does he actually “talk” to the fish, though? No, not really. Aquaman has acknowledged that most marine life doesn’t possess the intelligence needed to carry a meaningful telepathic communication. Instead, he subtly alters their cerebellum, adding compulsions to their minds.
So no, Aquaman does not “talk to fish.”
In Fact, He Has A Pretty Impressive Power Set
In addition to his marine telepathy, Aquaman packs a powerful punch in terms of abilities that make him quite a formidable threat.
To survive in the harsh depths of the ocean, Aquaman’s senses, particularly his sense of sight, are far more advanced than those of a human. In addition to this, his amphibious nature allows him to breathe both underwater and on land.
Aquaman also possesses several superhuman abilities, such as superhuman strength, stamina, durability, speed, and reflexes. His strength has been said to be on the order of 150 times the human maximum, and he’s regularly depicted as being bulletproof.
He’s A Founding Member Of The Justice League
Since the Silver Age, Aquaman has regularly been shown to be a founding member of DC’s most prolific superhero team – the Justice League.
In the 1960s, Aquaman was present for most of the team’s adventures in the Justice League of America series. He even took on the role of team leader for a brief period in the mid-1980s. In fact, the only reason he stepped down from this role was so he could work on his marriage with Mera – as admirable a reason as any to take a hiatus from the team.
He Patrols Over 70% Of The World
When the Justice League isn’t facing threats of Earth-shattering proportions, what are they up to? Batman is probably patrolling Gotham from the city’s rooftops. Superman is likely flying around Metropolis, keeping his eyes peeled for trouble. As for Aquaman, though, he has a slightly larger playing field to look after.
The world’s oceans make up about 71% of Earth’s surface. As the defender of Earth’s oceans, that means Aquaman is responsible for protecting nearly three-quarters of the planet on his own. That doesn’t even take into consideration his larger duties as a member of the Justice League.
If there’s any superhero in the DCU with a lot of their plate, it’s Aquaman.
He Regularly Fights Sea Monsters
One of the most terrifying things about the ocean is that we still don’t know everything that lives down there. However, not only does Aquaman know, but he has to protect his people from them routinely.
While Batman battles street thugs and criminally insane clowns, Aquaman fights threats such as the Trench – a race of razor-toothed, monstrous beings that ruled the oceans before the seven kingdoms of Atlantis were established.
He Has Faced Great Tragedy
Some characters, like Superman, had positive upbringings that helped define who they eventually became. Others, like Batman, suffered traumatic events that led them to a life of protecting others. As for Aquaman, he’s a man whose life has been largely shaped by pain and tragedy.
When, to Aquaman and Mera’s delight, they had a child, Arthur Curry Jr., the young boy’s life was cut short by longtime Aquaman villain Black Manta. This led to a temporary, but still tumultuous end to his and Mera’s marriage.
In addition to losing the woman whose hand he took in marriage, Aquaman even lost his own hand. The reason for this varies in different iterations of the character (in some cases, Charybdis orders piranhas to eat it; in others, it’s cut off by Black Manta), but nonetheless, it proved to be a traumatic experience for Aquaman.
Perhaps what’s most tragic about Aquaman, though, is his lifelong struggle to feel comfortable in his own skin. Trapped between the surface world and Atlantis, Aquaman never truly feels at home wherever he is. He always feels like an outsider looking in. Even in the company of the Justice League, he rarely feels like an equal.
He Isn’t Afraid To Kill His Enemies
While certainly not trigger-happy (or should I say trident-happy?), Aquaman isn’t quite as restrained when it comes to sparing the lives of his enemies when compared to other DC heroes.
Aquaman has used his marine telepathy to order sharks to rip his foes apart without batting an eye. Furthermore, regularly stabbing your opponents with a trident doesn’t really qualify as showing mercy.
Arthur’s occasional lack of restraint has even led to unintentional deaths, such as the death of Black Manta’s father. In fact, it was this act that caused Manta to kill Aquaman’s son in an act of retaliation.
He’s A True Leader
Although Aquaman’s tenure as leader of the Justice League was short-lived, that doesn’t mean his leadership skills should be considered a point of contention.
In more recent storylines, it’s Aquaman’s role as King that has taken the front seat. Not only is Aquaman the King of Atlantis, but as such, he commands the Atlantean army – perhaps the most powerful military force in all of the DC Universe.
In addition to leading the army, Aquaman has regularly acted as a diplomat, trying to increase friendly relations between Atlantis and the United States. Of all the major heroes of the DCU, Aquaman arguably juggles the most responsibility, always fighting for what’s right for his people, and for the world.
He Can Stand Toe-To-Toe With Superman
They say in prison, to gain respect, you need to take down the biggest, baddest dog in the yard. Well, in the DC Universe, if you’re looking to prove your worth, you need to be able to hold your own against the Man of Steel himself – Superman.
Most recently, Aquaman achieved this with flying colors in Aquaman #6 (2016), where conflicting ideals between him and Superman led to a big battle with Big Blue. No longer complacent with simply being “the creepy fish guy nobody trusts,” Aquaman gave the Man of Steel a run for his money in an attempt to clear his name after he was detained for suspected acts of terrorism.
Sure, the rumble was fueled more by frustration than true animosity. Nevertheless, the record will always show that Aquaman got the better of Superman in this instance.
He Knows What You Think About Him
If there’s one major reason you should take Aquaman seriously, it’s because he knows what people think about him. He knows that surface dwellers think he’s useless. He knows that people think all he can do is talk to fish. He knows that the world thinks he’s a joke. But perhaps most importantly, he knows that he isn’t.
Aquaman is fully aware of his majorly impressive capabilities and knows that he could prove his worth to naysayers in the blink of an eye. However, his strong morals and his duties as King of Atlantis prevent him from acting rashly, which is fortunate for those who ridicule him. That’s why it’s best to give Aquaman his due respect now because if he were to snap, he could easily leave a good chunk of the DCU sleeping with the fishes.