Aquaman has been protecting the seas of the DC Universe for 80 years. Now his legacy will be honored with a special anniversary 100-page spectacular featuring some of the industry's top creators, many of which have contributed to the sea king's mythology over the years. Originally created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, Aquaman made his debut in November 1941 in More Fun Comics #73 and has since starred in several solo series and team books.

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Throughout his history, Aquaman has been a founding member of the Justice League, a joke in the Super Friends, and both a part of the DCEU as well as the star of his own major solo movie. His beginnings as a backup feature would eventually lead to a series of solo comic titles, the first launching in 1962. Overall, it has been his comics that have truly defined the character throughout the years.

10 Aquaman's First Appearance In More Fun Comics #73 Gave Readers His Origin

More Fun Comics #73 - 1st Aquaman

In More Fun Comics #73, like many of his early appearances during the 1940s and 50s, Aquaman would face off against the maritime forces of the World War II Axis powers, pirates, and various threats to the shipping routes used by commercial ships. Like many heroes who debuted in the Golden Age, this Aquaman was different from the modern version of the character in the current DCU in both origin and powers.

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This story introduced an Aquaman who could breathe underwater for an hour and could speak to sea creatures using their language (not telepathically like later incarnations) and only if they were within 20 yards. While this version of the character was very basic, it still connected with readers and provided a model for the versions of the character that would follow through the years.

9 The Search for Mera Established Aquaman's Queen & Was One Of The First Times He Showed Off How Powerful He Could Be

Aquaman 40-47 Search for Mera

Aquaman #40-47 spanned an arc entitled The Search for Mera, where the Queen of Atlantis is missing and Arthur is devastated as he tries to locate his wife. Because every king needs a queen, Mera was created by Jack Miller and Nick Cardy and first appeared in Aquaman #11, becoming a supporting character and a love interest for Aquaman.

The story, written by Steve Skeates with art by Jim Aparo, masterfully constructs an adventure of epic proportions while paralleling it with a subplot that examines the political ramifications in Atlantis as a result of Aquaman's absence. The story also includes one of the best confrontations between Aquaman and his arch-enemy Black Manta, showing just how powerful of a character Aquaman can be.

8 The Death Of A Prince Storyline Would Have Lasting Ramifications For Aquaman's Family & Cements Black Manta As His Primary Foe

Death of a Prince

Aquaman has always been a tragic character, and no story proves this more than Death of a Prince, which took place in the 1970s and spanned Adventure Comics #435-437,441-455 and Aquaman #57-63. This story would significantly change reader's perceptions of Aquaman. Leading up to this story arc, Black Manta and Aquaman had sparred and clashed regularly, but this story establishes Black Manta as Aquaman's most lethal and hated foe.

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Taking full advantage of the relaxing Comics Code standards around that time, the story explores trauma, grief, and loss when Black Manta kills Arthur and Mera's infant son. As a result, Aquaman not only loses his kingdom but would drive a wedge between him and Mera, resulting in them being at odds for an extended time.

7 The Second Volume Introduced Aquaman's Short-Lived Post-Crisis Revamp

Aquaman - 1986 Miniseries

In the post-Crisis On Infinite Earths DCU, Aquaman was one of the characters who received a revamp, thought it didn't last for long. In the second volume of Aquaman, Neal Pozner and Craig Hamilton were tapped to bring Arthur into the new DC Universe following an eight-year absence from a solo title. The series attempted to add some mystical elements to the character while remaining faithful to many established Silver Age elements.

One of the most significant changes to Aquaman— besides his blue "camouflage suit"— was to his half-brother Ocean Master, whose origin was fleshed out in a way that connected Atlantis with Arion, the powerful sorcerer-king of ancient Atlantis and Lord of Order. While overall the series was well-received, this version never got a chance due to being canceled due to creative differences.

6 The Legend of Aquaman Retconned Many Aspects Of Arthur's Origin

1989 Legend of Aquaman

The next attempt at retconning Aqumana's origin was in 1989 by the creative team of Robert Loren Fleming, Keith Giffen, and Curt Swan. In this origin, Orin is the child of Queen Atlanna and a wizard Atlan from the Atlantean city Poseidonis who was abandoned to die on Mercy Reef, escaping and growing up as a feral child.

Orin meets Arthur Curry, a lighthouse keeper, who teaches him about the surface world before one day disappearing and leaving Orin on his own. Orin returns to Atlantis, where he is imprisoned in The Aquarium and is befriended by Vulko, learning his true heritage. Orin escapes and joins the Justice League, and years later, returns to Atlantis to assume the throne and marry Mera, only to leave Atlantis after the death of their son.

5 Aquaman Time And Tide Continued The Story That Began In The Atlantian Chronicles & Set The Status Quo For The '90s

Aquaman - Time and Tide 1993

Writer Peter David has one the longest histories with Aquaman and Atlantis in the DC Universe. His 1993-94 Aquaman: Time and Tide miniseries continued the story he began in 1990 with the seven-issue Atlantis Chronicles series. In Time And Tide, Aquaman learns the history of his people through the historical texts of the Atlantis Chronicles passed down through the centuries.

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The biggest reveal from this series was Aquaman learning that Orm is his half-brother and setting the stage for their later confrontations, as it was foretold in the Chronicles that "two brothers will battle for control of Atlantis." This series also set up the fifth volume of Aquaman's solo title, which David wrote from 1994 to 1998.

4 Peter David Pulled No Punches In The Fifth Volume Of The Series, As Aquaman Faced New Challenges With A New Look

Aquaman 1994 Peter David Run

Taking the reigns of the fifth volume of the Aquaman series, Peter David wasted no time in putting Arthur through the proverbial wringer, leaving the clean-cut Aquaman behind and introducing the bearded, rough around the edges brooding monarch.

David doesn't stop there as the Charybdis forces Aquaman's left-hand piranha-infested water, resulting in the loss of his hand. This event not only introduces the harpooned-hand Aquaman but also causes him to become unhinged mentally. Culminating in issue #25, this opening storyline of Peter David's run established Aquaman and Atlantis as major players in the DC Universe that continues to the current continuity.

3 The Post-Obsidian Age Aquaman Returned To His Mystical Roots As The City Of San Diego Became Completely Submerged

Aquaman _American Tidal Sub Diego

Spinning out of the JLA story arc, The Obsidian Age, Aquaman once again found himself banished from the sea and Atlantis. His adventures would take a more mystical direction as Arthur is gifted his water hand by the Lady of the Lake thanks to writer Rick Veitch. While The Waterbearer arc was a slow build for some, Arthur, like readers, found himself in unfamiliar territory, adjusting once again to the new status quo.

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As soon as Arthur begins to understand his new powers and potential, he is faced with the ultimate challenge when Will Pfieffer and Pat Gleason sink the entire city of San Diego, and all who live there can suddenly breathe underwater. This new sense of purpose would define the character until Infinite Crisis and One Year Later.

2 The New52 Cemented Aquaman's Origin As A Man Of Two Worlds & Introduced His Team, The Others

The New52 relaunch of DC Universe in 2011 found Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Joe Prado helming Aquaman's new adventures. After bringing Arthur back to life during the Brightest Day event, Johns continued to reestablish Aquaman's place in the DCU. Aquaman's origin was now as the half-human son of Tom Curry and Atlanna, relinquishing the throne of Atlantis and return to Amnesty Bay with Mera and being a full-time superhero.

Along with reestablishing him as a founding member of the Justice League, Johns reveals that Arthur was also a member of another team called The Others, a loose-knit and mysterious group led by Aquaman who each had possession of an enchanted Atlantis relic. The Aquaman and his fellow Others— Ya'Wara, Vostok-X, Prisoner-of-War, the Operative, and Kahina the Seer— would go on to be featured in their own limited series.

1 The Rebirth Era Story Underworld Found Arthur Exploring the Forgotten Parts Of Atlantis After Being Deposed

Aquaman - Rebirth Underworld

The Rebirth Era started reasonably well for Aquaman, as he was engaged to Mera the sovereign of Atlantis and was using his status as a man of two worlds to try and foster better relations between Atlantis and the surface. Of course, things then took a change for the worse before the events of the multiversal Drowned Earth event began.

Unhappy with Arthur's attempts to foster better relations with the surface, the Atlantian counsel removes Arthur from the throne, installing Corum Rath, an imprisoned Atlantean fundamentalist, as the new ruler. The Underworld story arc by Dan Abnett and artist Stjepan Sejic explore the forgotten parts of Atlantis and reintroduce Dolphin, as Arthur hides from Rath's secret police and makes plans to take back Atlantis.

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