10 DC Characters Derived From Ancient Myth

The Greeks knew how to craft a good myth or two...

Shazam DC Rebirth
DC Comics

Heroes, villains, gods, monsters, beings of magic and cosmic might can be traced back through the myths and legends of all civilisations to the start of civilisation itself, and comic books and movies are its modern platform.

Comic book characters rest at the forefront of our culture’s modern mythology, and it's no surprise they've taken inspiration from the myths and legends of old.

Cementing new characters in ancient myth is common practice for artists in the superhero domain. In some cases, the ancient sources and characters integrated are already well-known, but with millennia of myth from which to draw, old obscure gods and monsters may be mistaken for new. Or it may be unclear how much of an adapted character’s traits and lore come from modern changes, and how much is derived from original sources.

This article serves to clear up some of that ambiguity for just 10 of the many mythic heroes and villains incorporated into DC’s vast pantheon.

Oh, and to make things more interesting, it's not all about Wonder Woman...

10. Triton

Shazam DC Rebirth
DC Comics

The DC Triton iteration, created by Peter David and Jim Calafiore, first appears in Aquaman Annual #1 in 1995.

He is an Olympian god, and the son of Poseidon. He is fierce and tyrannical in temperament, and enters into a battle to the death with Aquaman. In spite of warning Arthur that he could not be defeated in battle, Triton does lose the fight, and dies by Arthur’s hand, his essence separated from his body to be collected by Poseidon.

In Greek mythology Triton’s origins are the same. He is still an Olympian god, and son of Poseidon. He is also the messenger of the sea. With the upper-body of a man, and the tale of a fish, this god carries a trident, like all the most prominent sea deities, Poseidon and Aquaman included.

The classical Triton also bears a conch, into which he blows to assert his power. With this divine instrument he controls the seas, holding the ability to summon fierce tsunamis.

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Lover of film and literature, and here to talk about it with you guys on the other side of that screen. Yes, you!