10 Things Everyone Always Gets Wrong About Aquaman
2. He Is The First Atlantean Hero In Comics
DC Comics (then known as National Publications) was founded in 1934, and by the 1940s had introduced such mainstays as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. Mort Weisnger joined the company in 1941, and worked as editor before being tasked to create brand new heroes for the company.
Weisnger was up for the task and with artist Paul Norris introduced a slew of new characters, but it was in More Fun Comics #73 that we get our first look at the Aquaman. The character stood out because of he could breath underwater, and knew various aquatic languages, using them to communicate with sea life. We were told he was from the fictional underwater city of Atlantis, and later that he was born to rule it.
Unfortunately it seems like they were beaten to the punch when it comes to Atlantean superheroes, as Namor the Submariner debuted for Timely comics (later known as Marvel) in 1939, in the pages of Marvel Comics #1. Namor is widely considered the first anti-hero in comics and was taken seriously as a character. He was given tons of character development and is a celebrated part of Marvel's history.
He ruled over Marvel's version of Atlantis, and joined such star-studded teams as The Defenders, X-Men and The Illuminati. The two characters have many similarities, right down to the use of a trident, but it's the wings on the feet of Namor that give the mutant away. Good thing there is plenty of room for them both.