10 Best Aquaman Storylines in DC Comics, Ranked by Impact

Aquaman has a funny history – he’s often been seen as both a powerful hero and a source of comedy, largely due to his portrayal in the classic Super Friends cartoon. But when writers treat him with respect, Aquaman becomes one of DC Comics’ most compelling characters. Despite the running gag about him only talking to fish, he’s incredibly powerful – on par with Superman – and possesses a similar regal presence to Wonder Woman. He’s a king, a displaced person, and a ruler haunted by loss, and those themes are frequently explored in his stories. In the 1990s, writer Peter David helped redefine Aquaman as a tragic, dethroned king, and that’s just one example of the many great stories featuring the character.

Aquaman has starred in some of DC Comics’ biggest and most imaginative stories, ranging from tales of lost underwater cities and fallen rulers to terrifying cosmic adventures in the ocean depths.

10) Aquaman: Andromeda

In 2022, Aquaman starred in a three-issue comic book series called Aquaman: Andromeda, part of DC’s Black Label line. Written by Ram V with art by Christian Ward, the story takes a sci-fi horror approach to the DC hero’s adventures. The plot centers around the crew of the Andromeda, a deep-sea submarine exploring Point Nemo – a remote Pacific Ocean location where sunken spacecraft rest. Simultaneously, Black Manta is searching the same area. This leads Aquaman to uncover a strange structure connected to the Darkworld, one that warps reality and is shaped by the thoughts of those nearby, creating a mix of psychological thriller and Lovecraftian horror. Aquaman: Andromeda offered a different take on Aquaman, presenting a more mature and thoughtful story in a high-quality, limited series.

9) “Underworld”

The “Underworld” storyline, part of the DC Rebirth era, unfolded in issues 25-30 of Aquaman Vol. 8, created by Dan Abnett and Stjepan Sejic. The villain Corum Rath seized control of Atlantis, becoming king and imprisoning the city with a magical barrier called the Crown of Thorns. He then began to oppress Atlanteans he considered flawed. Though Rath thought Aquaman was defeated, the hero survived and went into hiding. He joined a secret resistance group in the city’s poorest district, working with allies like Vulko, a dishonored Mera, and the silent Atlantean known as Dolphin. This arc depicted Aquaman, the rightful king, operating as an outcast while striving to take back his throne.

8) Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis

In 2006-2007, DC Comics revamped Aquaman with a new series called Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis, running from issues #40-57. Kurt Busiek and Jackson Guice took over the creative direction. This relaunch, part of the “One Year Later” storyline, featured a fresh take on Aquaman—a young, genetically engineered Arthur Curry who could breathe underwater and was initially mistaken for the original. This version leaned heavily into Atlantean mythology and magic, creating a swords-and-sorcery feel unlike previous Aquaman stories. Instead of focusing on a single hero, this series presented Aquaman as a mantle or role that could be filled by different people.

7) “American Tidal” / “Sub Diego”

A significant storyline for Aquaman unfolded in issues #15-22 of Volume 6 (2004), written by Will Pfeifer and illustrated by Patrick Gleason. It began with a devastating earthquake that sank half of San Diego, resulting in immense loss of life. Those who survived gained the incredible ability to breathe underwater, thanks to the research of Doctor Anton Geist. Aquaman stepped forward to protect and lead the city, expanding his influence beyond Atlantis. This arc also introduced Lorena Marquez as the new Aquagirl. The story was praised for its compelling approach, placing Aquaman at the heart of a realistic American disaster.

6) “Death of a King”

The “Death of a King” arc, written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Paul Pelletier, continued the story from “Throne of Atlantis” in issues #17-19 and #21-25 of the Aquaman New 52 series. The story begins with the United Nations refusing to acknowledge Atlantis as a nation. Simultaneously, Atlantean weapons begin appearing around the globe, and a new villain called Scavenger emerges, seeking out Atlantean artifacts. Aquaman searches for these lost relics as Atlan, the first king of Atlantis, returns to take back his throne. This storyline revealed a key part of Aquaman’s history: he isn’t descended from Atlantis’s original ruler, but from Atlan’s prejudiced brother, Orin, who was responsible for Atlan’s death.

5) “The Trench”

“The Trench” was the initial story arc for the Aquaman comic series after DC’s New 52 relaunch. Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ivan Reis, it spanned issues #1-6 of Aquaman Vol. 7 (2011-2012). The story begins with Arthur Curry and Mera settling in Amnesty Bay, Maine, before they face off against the Trench—flesh-eating, insect-like creatures from the sea who kidnap humans to feed their queen. It’s revealed that the Trench are actually a lost tribe of Atlanteans who fell into the Mariana Trench when Atlantis was destroyed, and their desperate struggle for survival transformed them into monsters. Johns cleverly plays with Aquaman’s reputation as a hero who simply talks to fish, then subverts expectations by turning the comic into a genuinely frightening horror story, demonstrating the hero’s true importance.

4) Atlantis Chronicles

As a big comic book fan, I recently rediscovered Atlantis Chronicles, a seven-issue series from 1990 by Peter David and Esteban Maroto, and wow, it’s something special. It’s not an Aquaman series in the traditional sense, but a sprawling origin story of Atlantis itself, detailing how it evolved into the kingdom Aquaman eventually inherits. It’s a really ambitious, multi-generational epic, told through the eyes of different historians within the story, spanning centuries. The core of it focuses on the conflict between brothers Orin and Shalako, and the emergence of Kordax – the first Atlantean with power over sea creatures, and the one who started the curse that follows Aquaman’s family. While Peter David’s later Aquaman run is probably what he’s most known for, I honestly think Atlantis Chronicles is his hidden gem – a truly forgotten masterpiece.

3) Aquaman: Time and Tide

Published in 1993, Aquaman: Time and Tide is a four-part comic series by Peter David and Kirk Jarvinen that reimagines Aquaman’s beginnings after the Crisis on Infinite Earths event. It tells the story of Arthur being left as a baby because of his unusual blond hair – a condition known as the Curse of Kordax – and being raised by dolphins before being found and adopted by a lighthouse keeper named Tom Curry. The series also depicts Aquaman’s first encounters with other superheroes, beginning with the Flash (Barry Allen). This miniseries was crucial, as it laid the groundwork for David’s influential 1994 Aquaman series, which significantly redefined the character in DC Comics.

2) Aquaman: Death of a Prince

“Death of a Prince” is a famously shocking story in Aquaman’s history. Originally published in issues of Adventure Comics and Aquaman between 1977 and 1979, it was later compiled into a graphic novel called Aquaman: Death of a Prince. The story centers around Black Manta’s quest for revenge against Aquaman, which tragically leads to the death of Aquaman and Mera’s baby son, Arthur Jr. This event is considered one of the most impactful depictions of a child’s death in comic books, and it ultimately breaks up Aquaman and Mera’s marriage, firmly establishing Black Manta as Aquaman’s greatest enemy.

1) Throne of Atlantis

“Throne of Atlantis” was a big DC Comics story published in 2012-2013 across the Justice League and Aquaman comic books, created by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis, and Paul Pelletier. The story begins when a U.S. Navy training exercise accidentally enters Atlantean territory. Aquaman’s brother, Orm (also known as Ocean Master), uses established Atlantean war rules – rules Arthur himself helped create – to attack cities like Gotham, Metropolis, and Boston. Aquaman finds himself battling both the Justice League and his own brother as he tries to take back his rightful place as king. However, the real mastermind behind the conflict is Vulko, Aquaman’s advisor, who deliberately set everything in motion to put Arthur on the throne. This storyline was later adapted into an animated film and served as a major inspiration for the 2018 Aquaman movie.

2026-05-31 03:14