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Aquaman (Arthur Curry)

The Religious Affiliation of
Aquaman
Arthur Curry

Religion: Atlantean Greco-Roman classical religion CBR Scale: S

Name: Aquaman

Alter Ego: Arthur Curry

Other Names: Orin; Orin the Second

Classification: hero hero  

Publisher(s): DC

First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 (Nov. 1941): "The Submarine Strikes"

Creators: Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris

Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes

Number of Appearances: 2,384

   Comic Book Appearances: 2,279

   TV, Film Appearances: 104

   Video Game, Computer Game Appearances: 1

Teams/Affiliations: Super Friends; The Justice League

Enemy of: Black Manta, Ocean Master

Ally: Mera
Ally: Garth

Occupation: king

Nation: Atlantis

Birth Place: Poseidonis, Atlantis

Race: Atlantean, human, white

Gender: male

Discussion

From: "Superman Wedding -- why a Christian ceremony?" forum discussion, started 11 October 1996 on the rec.arts.comics.dc.universe newsgroup website (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.comics.dc.universe/browse_thread/thread/4d17a1ff0ee9c715/d141c36005b90ea4; viewed 5 June 2006):

From: Jon Ingersoll
Date: Wed, Oct 23 1996 12:00 am
Email: Jonathan.Ingers...@yale.edu

re: "Just out of curiosity, is there any major character in the DC Universe definitely shown as being Jewish?"

For that matter, what characters have been portrayed as having any definite religion?

...Some others are, I would guess not followers of any religion found on our Earth. I'm thinking of any alien who came here after childhood like J'onn J'onzz, the pre-Crisis Hawkman, Starfire, etc. This also would apply to Aquaman depending on what his current continuity says about when he left Atlantis.

From: "Religious Themes in Comics" forum discussion, started 21 May 2003 on the Sketchy Origins website (http://www.sketchyorigins.com/comics/archive/index.php?t-1380.html; viewed 12 May 2006):

Taranis
05-29-2003, 07:14 AM

I was reading about Alex Ross in Wizard 141 last night and he said that he liked the DC characters so much because each one was like a "god" of his realm. Aquaman of the water, Batman of Gotham, Superman of Metropolis, J'Onn J'Onzz of Mars. Each one has the ultimate power in their given sphere of influence. So, he equated it to like the best of the best.

Well, I bring this up here not only because he mentions that they are gods, but also because it seems to me that they are often set up as saviors as well. Batman is to rid Gotham of crime. Superman protects humanity. Aquaman protects the oceans. J'Onn J'Onzz is the last of his kind from Mars and is supposed to save his civilization. These are all Christ-like attributes.

This doesn't just go for DC characters, but I only mention them because that's what Alex Ross talked about in the article. As I said earlier in this thread, I think that this "christian" influence on the character development and story creation could be more a reflection of that influence in our society and our popular mythos, more so than a direct allusion.

These are archetypes that we are looking at here. That's why we recognize similar traits among them.

From: "Any Christian Superheroes?" forum discussion, started 22 April 2004 on the rec.arts.comics.dc.universe newsgroup website (http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.comics.dc.universe/browse_thread/thread/4e5839f075fecf76/394c4ad930a0e68c; viewed 20 June 2006):

From: Gustavo Wombat
Date: Thurs, Apr 22 2004 12:03 pm

I can't think of any major superheroes that strongly believe in any real faith, and that surprises me. Certainly not in the DC Universe. I think there are more minority superheroes than religious ones...

From: AJSolis
Date: Fri, Apr 23 2004 2:12 am

Don't the Atlanteans still venerate the Greek gods in DC? I've gotten that impression anyway. (Aquaman didn't seem to have any problem interacting with the Greek gods)...

From: "Vegetarian Superheroes" forum discussion, started 18 March 2005 on the Brian Michael Bendis section of "Jinxworld" website (http://www.606studios.com/bendisboard/archive/index.php/t-231.html; viewed 31 July 2007):

Agent Desmond
03-18-2005, 01:01 PM

So... out of curiousity are there vegetarian superheroes? I'm not talking about supporting characters, but the actual heroes who wear tights and a cape. And are any of them vegan?

Bill
03-18-2005, 01:09 PM

Aquaman. Oh, and Animal Man.

changingshades
03-19-2005, 10:52 AM

Aquaman eats fish. A lot.

From: "Superhero Religious Views?" forum discussion, started 9 June 2007 on the Newsarama website (http://forum.newsarama.com/archive/index.php/t-116001.html; viewed 13 July 2007):

hippyhunter
06-13-2007, 01:43 AM

...Wonder Woman, Troia, and Wonder Girl obviously worship the Greek gods. So does Aquaman (primarily Poseidon)...


This character is in the following 212 stories which have been indexed by this website:
Action Comics
Adventure Comics
The All-New Super Friends Hour - Season 1, Episode 1 (10 Sep. 1977): "The Brain Machine/Joy Ride/Invasion of the Earthors/The Whirlpool"
Aquaman
Aquaman Secret Files & Origins
Aquaman Special
Aquaman: Time and Tide
Armageddon 2001
The Atom (vol. 1) #8 (Aug.-Sep. 1963): "Lockup in the Lethal Lightbulb" (cameo)
Batman and the Outsiders
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1 (Mar. 2009): "The Panic of the Composite Creature" (cover & 3-panel cameo)
Black Lightning (vol. 1) #2 (May 1977): "Merlyn Means Murder" (cameo)
Blasters Special #1 (Mar. 1989): "Blasters" (cameo)
The Brave and the Bold
Catwoman (vol. 3) #77 (May 2008): "Waking Up On the Wrong Side of the Universe, Part Three" (1-panel cameo)
Challenge of the Super Friends - Season 1, Episode 1 (9 Sep. 1978): "Wanted: The Superfriends"
DC One Million #1 (Nov. 1998): "Riders on the Storm"
DC Special #28 (June-July 1977): "A Creature of Death and Darkness" (lead character)
DC Special Series #1 (Sep. 1977): "A King without a Sea!" (lead character)
DC/Marvel All Access
Deathstroke, the Terminator
Detective Comics
Genesis
JLA
Joker: Last Laugh #2 (Dec. 2001): "Siege Mentality" (illusion)
Justice League America
Justice League Heroes (10 Oct. 2006)
Justice League of America
Justice League: Cry for Justice #3 (Nov. 2009): "The Origin of Prometheus" (1-panel cameo)
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (19 June 2012)
Marvel Knights 4 #9 (Oct. 2004): "Frozen: Part 2" (mentioned)
Millennium #1 (Jan. 1988): "Over"
More Fun Comics
Nightwing (vol. 2) #52 (Feb. 2001): "Modern Romance" (1-panel cameo)
The Outsiders
The Super Friends
Teen Titans (vol. 1) #25 (Jan.-Feb. 1970): "The Titans Kill a Saint?"
Teen Titans: Year One
World's Finest Comics
Young Heroes In Love #1000000 (Nov. 1998): "Happiness Is a Warm Nanite"
Young Justice - Season 1, Episode 1 (26 Nov. 2010): "Independence Day"


Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
  - http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Aquaman.html
  - http://www.comicvine.com/aquaman/29-2357/
  - http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=aquamanga
  - http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=aquamanga
  - http://www.dcuguide.com/who.php?name=aquaman
  - http://www.dcuguide.com/chronology.php?name=aquaman
  - http://www.comicvine.com/aquaman/2357/
  - http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000227/
  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Superman/Aquaman_Hour_of_Adventure
  - http://www.comicvine.com/comic/justice-league-of-america/2014/15547/&i=47015