Aquaman, created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941 during the Golden Age of comics. Initially conceived as a backup feature, the character—whose real name is Arthur Curry—is the hybrid son of a human lighthouse keeper, Tom Curry, and Atlanna, an exiled queen of Atlantis. This heritage grants him extraordinary abilities, including superhuman strength, the capacity to breathe underwater, telepathic communication with and control over marine life, enhanced swimming speed, and durability suited to oceanic depths. In his earliest stories, Aquaman operated from a sunken ship, combating threats such as Nazi submarines and maritime criminals, establishing him as one of the few DC heroes to persist through the postwar decline in superhero popularity.
During the Silver Age, beginning with Adventure Comics #260 in 1959, Aquaman's origin was refined, emphasizing his Atlantean royalty and expanding his marine telepathy to greater ranges. He ascended to the throne of Atlantis, married the extradimensional aquatic heroine Mera, and fathered a son, Arthur Jr. (Aquababy). As a founding member of the Justice League of America, introduced in The Brave and the Bold #28 in 1960, Aquaman gained prominence alongside Superman, Batman, and others. This era introduced key supporting characters and antagonists, including the sidekick Aqualad (Garth), the villainous half-brother Ocean Master (Orm), and the ruthless Black Manta, while exploring themes of duty, family, and tensions between surface and underwater worlds.
In subsequent eras, Aquaman underwent significant retcons and developments to deepen his complexity. Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985), stories incorporated mystical elements and portrayed him as a brooding monarch grappling with political intrigue and personal loss, notably in Peter David's 1990s run, which featured a dramatic transformation including a harpoon hand. The New 52 reboot in 2011 repositioned him as a reluctant hero disdainful of surface prejudice, culminating in arcs like "Throne of Atlantis." DC Rebirth from 2016 onward restored classic elements while introducing new challenges, such as memory loss and demigod enhancements, solidifying Aquaman's enduring role as a powerful, regal figure bridging human and Atlantean realms.