Atlantis, sometimes also called the Kingdom of Atlantis or the Atlantean Empire, is a fictional civilization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, and based upon Plato's references to the island of Atlantis in Timaeus and Critias. First appearing in More Fun Comics #87 (January 1943), the setting is often associated with the hero Aquaman.Within the DC Universe, Atlantis houses various aquatic-based human lifeforms whose biological adaptations often originate from both environmental changes – after Atlantis sunk in a cataclysmic event – and influence from its magical origins.[1] Considered a superpower, Atlantis is often stated to be among the oldest and most sophisticated civilizations in the fictional universe, and to possess significant technological and magical capabilities.[2] Historically a hereditary monarchy, many stories involving Atlantis as a setting focuses on conflicts regarding its succession of leaders, diplomatic relations with the global world, and its fictional cultural heritage.[3]
Atlantis made its cinematic debut in the 2017 film Justice League, set in the DC Extended Universe, and was later more prominently featured in the 2018 film Aquaman and the 2023 film Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Publication history
While a Golden Age of Comics version of Atlantis exists, the version in the Aquaman tales first appeared in Adventure Comics #260, in a story by writer Robert Bernstein and artist Ramona Fradon.[5][6] The history of Atlantis was detailed in The Atlantis Chronicles, a 7-issue miniseries published by DC Comics from March to September 1990.It was written by Peter David and illustrated by Esteban Maroto. The series focused on a series of Atlantean historical manuscripts, also called The Atlantis Chronicles, and chronicled the rise and fall of Atlantis. Each issue dealt with a separate era or event in Atlantis' past, beginning with its sinking, as told through the royal historian's point of view.
Fictional history
Original background
Atlantis's origins is traced to from a cosmic being that created deities from the magical dimension of Darkworld. These deities became the earliest known Lords of Chaos and Order. Among the deities includes siblings Gemini, Chaon, and Tynan, who represent order, chaos, and the balancing between them respectively. Chief among them is Calculha, a deity affiliated with light and goodness.[4]
The benevolent Calculha and his queen, Earthborn goddess Dark Majistra, eventually ruled over a prosperous Atlantis after ending its early warring state; it came to be populated by the Homo Magi. The couple's union proved incompatible over the ages. Their children, Arion and Garn Daanuth, were separated at birth and trained in sorcery, with Calculha aligning Arion with the Lords of Order, and Majistra training Daanuth as a Lord of Chaos.This family conflict erupted when Majistra's attempt to use the Zodiac Crystals to empower herself to create a golden age using dark magic led to Majistra's displacement, Daanuth's mystical scarring, Calculha's entrapment, Arion's forced displacement of body and soul, and the tilting of Earth's axis, causing an Ice Age and a reliance on technology for Atlantis over the millennia.[7][2] Arion was reborn a millennium later during the waning days of Atlantis.Teaming up with Chian and Wyynde, Arion becomes a mystical warrior of legend as he works to end the Ice Age and protect Atlantis from threats as magic continues to wane.[2] Daanuth, over the millennia, becomes a powerful sorcerer and Lord of Chaos; his black magic allows him remain potent and inherit his mother's position as ruler of Mu. The brothers cross paths in conflict, learning of their brotherhood during their father's final moments. Daanuth is eventually sealed away. However, Atlantis eventually sinks during a decisive battle between Arion and Chaon, which disperses the survivors throughout the world.[7]
An alternate account of Atlantis' early history also details an extraterrestrial race known as the "Hunter/Gatherers" or "Gatherers", who colonized early prehistoric Earth but were later opposed by the Annunake, a dragon-like marine species who formed a resistance formidable enough to drive the Gatherers away. Although conflicting historical information from both Atlanteans and the Hunter/Gatherers arises as the specific result of the conflict--with one account stating they were driven away, and another claiming the opposition ended mutually--the Gatherers and Annunuke were both ancestors of the modern Atlanteans, and Gatherers at least influenced Atlantean society, helping it to flourish over time alongside Homo erectus, the precursors of modern humans.[8]
After the reign of Arion, King Orin eventually constructed a defensive dome, but a meteor destroyed much of the surface world, sinking the city in a second similar cataclysm. Orin's brother, Shalako, led a group through tunnels to reclaim the sunken city of Tritonis, whose inhabitants had not survived. Atlantean scientists later developed a serum that allowed them to breathe underwater, and the usage of magic in Tritonis further mutated the Tritonians to have fish-tails. Some descendants of Shalako's son Dardanus inherited his telepathic abilities, marked by rare blonde hair. Dardanus's son Kordax could command sea creatures, and after leading a Tritonian revolution, was exiled, with children born with the "mark of Kordax" generally abandoned.
Revised background
After the New 52 reboot, Atlantis's history changed over time, incorporating much of the history from Arion, Lord of Atlantis comic book title and nearly complete revised the backstory originally detailed in Aquaman and The Atlantis Chronicles.Within the new continuity, Atlantis's origin is once more connected to Darkworld but is revealed to be a piece of the Great Darkness and possess a variant of magical power considered uncontrollable and volatile to all but those who originate from the realm.[1][9] The homo magi would come to inhabit Atlantis, with some originating from early pilgrimages from the Rock of Eternity.[10]
Similar to earlier histories, Calculha and Majistra reigned, but also had a rivalry with the Greek god Poseidon.[11] Their union produced twins Arion ("Ahri'ahn") and Garn Daanuth, both of whom were Lords of Chaos and Order born with human bodies.
Notable locations
College of the Silent School
The College of the Silent School is a notable Atlantean guild that acts as a school, teaching magic to Atlantean magicians. Considered the most prestigious Atlantean school of magic, it is led by a headmaster that acts as a government official (Elder) over magical activities in Atlantis and protects the kingdom from magical-related threats. The school is also considered one of the most secure places on Earth. The hero known as Tempest was once a student of the Silent School.[17][18]
Ninth Tride of Atlantis
The Ninth Tride of Atlantis is a district in Atlantis consisting of outcasts, dissidents, gangs, and mutants. The Ninth Tride is considered the poorest district and one of the few areas of Atlantis not inherently loyal to the monarch ruler and their cabinet.[18]
Poseidonis
Poseidonis is the capital of Atlantis named after the Greek deity Poseidon. It serves as Aquaman's main base of operations and is the administrative center of Atlantis.
City of the Golden Gate
The City of the Golden Gate is the former capital of ancient Atlantis long before it sunk. Like its successor Poseidonis, the city once served as the administrative center of ancient Atlantis and is named after the city's golden-like appearance as well as having a gate notable for fending off invaders. The Golden Gate City would serve as the main base of operations and setting in several story arcs of the Arion, Lord of Atlantis series.
City-States
There are different Atlantean city-states:
The Seven Kingdoms
Xebel: An extradimensional penal colony for an ancient group of separatist Atlanteans, locked behind a sealed portal in the Bermuda Triangle.[19] In modern continuities, Xebel is typically under the leadership of Nereus.[20][21] It is the birthplace of Mera, who is the daughter of the former King. Considered a formidable kingdom, Xebel has fewer resources than Atlantis due to being sealed behind a portal, forcing the population to gather materials through shipwrecks in the Bermuda Triangle.[22]
Kingdom of the Trench
The Seven Kingdoms
Xebel: An extradimensional penal colony for an ancient group of separatist Atlanteans, locked behind a sealed portal in the Bermuda Triangle.[19] In modern continuities, Xebel is typically under the leadership of Nereus.[20][21] It is the birthplace of Mera, who is the daughter of the former King. Considered a formidable kingdom, Xebel has fewer resources than Atlantis due to being sealed behind a portal, forcing the population to gather materials through shipwrecks in the Bermuda Triangle.[22]
Kingdom of the Trench: Located in a trench near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the kingdom is home to a race of the Trench, a vicious cannibalistic, ocean-dwelling creatures with a piscine humanoid appearance. Initially, the Trench were characterized as being hostile to all other ocean-dwelling races, including Atlanteans.[23]
Others
Dagon: A kingdom founded by Ocean Master primarily composed of dissidents and refugees from the Ninth Tride dissastified with Aquaman and Mera's rule. Eventually, Ocean Master's manipulative agenda and nearly causing civil war to expand his influence causes him to lose power once more and the city-state is accepted into Atlantis.[24]
Lemuria: Lemuria is an underwater city based upon the hypothetical continent of the same name.[26] The city is inhabited by a scientifically advanced race of blue-skinned humanoids covered in part with large green scales.[26][27]
Mu: In DC Comics, Mu is one of Atlantis's former city-states and a major location in the Arion, Lord of Atlantis series. The city was once ruled by the titular character's estranged family members, Garn Daanuth and Dark Majistra, the former using force in order to suppress and supersede the rulership of his successors after a political movement caused Atlantis to use science instead of magic and replaced its sorcerous rulers. The inhabitant's culture, appearance, and architecture would resemble ancient Egyptians. The city would eventually fall into decay during Garn's rulership as he sought to invade the City of the Golden Gate and rule the entire kingdom of Atlantis and fell into antiquity.
Outposts
Venturia: An outpost and subsea realm situated somewhere beneath the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Aurania: A sister city of Ventura and outpost.
List of tribes and groups
Races and tribes
Homo magi: Also referred to as "Atlanteans", the Homo magi are a race of humans who evolved in a parallel but separate line and were acclimated to possessing and controlling magical energies innately.[28] They are the ancestors of the modern day Atlanteans and various other tribes which appeared after the historical sinking of Atlantis, biologically adapting to survive living in the deep ocean.[4]
Atlantean: Descendants of the Homo magi who evolved after the cataclysmic event known as the Deluge, which sunk the continent and its survivors adapted. Like their ancestors, they share a natural inclination of magic and often combine it with technology.[4]
Xebellian: A subsect of Atlanteans whose ancestors were exiled to a penal colony. Primarily in Xebel, they are known to be more culturally martial, patriarchal, and for some of their members retaining an innate telepathic control over water. While typically a feature of royalty, other outside members also exhibit the ability.[29]
Idyllist: A subsect of Atlanteans who possess purple eyes, denoting an ability to having an innate encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Atlantis. Mistaken for having dark magic potential, they were subjected to racism within Atlantis until Atlanna secretly moved them to Pacifica, abdicating her claim throne in the process.[30]
Military groups
The Drift: A specialized black-ops group which performs more clandestine espionage missions. It is composed elite fighters within Atlantis.[3] They also acted as a secret police force under direct command of the monarch.[31]
The Kingsguard: Also known as the Atlantean Royal Guard, they act as bodyguards for the current reining monarch and important figures in Atlantis.
Men-Of-War: The frontline army of the Atlantean military.[13]
Other groups
The Widowhood: A religious order that manages the spiritual affairs of Atlantis with support of its monarch, officiates wedding, and advises the monarch in interpersonal family matters. It is considered among most sacred organizations,[32] able to select successors in dire times and employs fixers with lethal capabilities. The organization is composed primarily of women.[31]
In other media
Television
Atlantis appears in the TV shows that are part of the DCAU:
In Superman: The Animated Series, Atlantis was hidden for centuries until Aquaman came up to confront Lex Luthor about his underseas construction project.
It is also featured in Justice League, where the League helped Aquaman deal with an attempted coup by Orm.
In the Powerless episode "Sinking Day", Van Wayne and Emily Locke managed to close a deal with the Lost City of Atlantis to supply them with security solutions after Wayne Security loses their contract with Ace Chemicals.
Atlantis is featured in The Flash. On Earth-1, it is a lost city. On Earth-2, it is above the water and is a play that nobody wants to leave. In the episode "The Darkness and the Light", Hunter Zolomon loves Atlantis and makes a reference to an unnamed friend of his that lives there. In "Welcome to Earth-2", the Barry Allen of Earth-2 was able to arrange for his parents to go to Atlantis on their anniversary. In "Escape from Earth-2", the Barry Allen of Earth-2 and his Iris West relocated to Atlantis after Flash freed Barry Allen of Earth-2 and Jesse Quick from Zoom. In "Death of the Speed Force" taking place sometime after "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and the formation of Earth-Prime, Atlantis is on Earth-Prime as Cisco Ramon mentions that he visited it. In "Pay the Piper", Cisco mentions that he noticed a component on Atlantis that might help to form a perpetual motion machine.
Atlantis is featured throughout the series Young Justice with a history specific to the series. Atlantis began as a tribe once led by Vandal Savage where he and his metahuman offspring lived in harmony. Following an assault by a lord of chaos, the tribe and its inhabitants, save for Savage, were destroyed. Years later, Atlantis rose again, ruled by Vandal's grandson, Arion. Arion was later bequeathed a crown from the lords of order and with it birthed the ancestors of the world's Homo magi. Atlantis became an advanced metropolis bustling with both Homo magi and metahumans. Upon returning to Atlantis, Savage suggested that his grandson sink the city to further Atlantean evolution. Realizing the potential casualties, Arion objected to the idea. Savage, however, remembered that he had a thousand-year contract with Klarion the Witch Boy, the lord of chaos who had previously decimated Atlantis, that was due to be fulfilled soon. Vandal used his agreement with Klarion to sink the continent of Atlantis, allowing Klarion to ring chaos upon the earth. The sinking killed thousands but unlocked the metagenes of the Homo magi of Atlantis, allowing the Atlanteans to begin an orderly rule over the depths of the sea. In the present day, it is revealed that Arion survived his apparent death when Atlantis fell. He returned to the Atlantic capital of Poseidonis to thwart Ocean Master and purge the magic poisoning the sea. In doing so, Arion unknowingly fulfilled a prophecy between he, Ocean Master, and Mera, that of which would determine the true king of Atlantis. Arion arose as the victor in the eyes of the Atlanteans much to his dismay as Arion believed himself to be a failure because of Atlantis' sinking.
Film
Atlantis appears in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.
Atlantis is featured in Justice League and its director's cut. The Atlanteans assisted the tribes of men, the Amazons, the Olympian Gods, and the Green Lantern Corps in fighting Steppenwolf's army. After the battle, Zeus entrusted one of the Mother Boxes to the Atlanteans for safekeeping.
Atlantis was featured heavily in Aquaman where there are seven kingdoms that formed after the original Atlantis sank into the ocean: Atlantis, Xebel, the Kingdom of the Trench, the Kingdom of the Brine, the Kingdom of the Fishermen, the Kingdom of the Deserters, and a missing one. Xebel is a military power that rivals Atlantis. The Trench reside in the deepest part of the ocean. The Kingdom of the Brine consists of crustacean-like humanoids. The Kingdom of the Fishermen is inhabited by fish-like merfolk. The Kingdom of the Deserters died out when the Sahara Desert first became a desert when it was formerly an inland sea. The missing kingdom is an unknown one and it is said to have collapsed along with the Deserter Kingdom. Ocean Master planned to unite the different kingdoms in his war against the surface world. After winning the favor of Mera's father
Coming to appreciate Atlantis, he eventually became a mentor to Arion.
During Arion's reign as king, his progressive agenda led to a golden age of both magical and mystical advancement and held a benevolent alliance with the Amazons of Themyscira.
This eventually fell apart when Arion sought to expand his nation influence into space and offer sea gods from other planets a cosmic energy known as the Life Force, originating from Poseidon's trident.
Poseidon's envious nature, however, made him deceive Arion into thinking the alien ocean gods he invited were conquerors.
Feeling responsible for putting Earth in danger, he used his magic and technology to invert the Life Force into the Death Force, enabling him to kill the ocean gods but at the cost of his sanity.[12] Arion was believed killed,[12] although the royal family of that time concealed events as he disappeared for a millennium.[11] A legend was concocted around his death as a cautionary tale against exploration, ironically fueling isolationist tendencies he fought against in his lifetime and dissolved the alliance with the Amazons.[12]
In another notable reign thousands of years later, Atlan's time saw another prosperous time during the wanning days leading to Atlantis sinking.A unifier,[13] Atlan fought magical threats to his kingdom[14] but became more brutal after his rule was usurped by his brother, Orin, who disapproved of him accepting outside kingdoms into Atlantis, killed his family, and in a failed assassination attempted, oust him from rule.[13] Using the knowledge he amassed from the last tribe to accepted into the kingdom, the Deserters, he forged the Trident of Neptune out of Nth Metal but at the expense of betraying them, with two factions within the Deserters returning to their homes traced back to both modern day Russia and Africa.[15][16] In his grief, he sinks Atlantis but fails to kill the rest of Orin's family, who alongside other Atlanteans adapted for life underwater.Orin's family becomes the leading royal family members but over time, many believe themselves to be descendants of Atlan.[13]
: Located in a trench near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the kingdom is home to a race of the Trench, a vicious cannibalistic, ocean-dwelling creatures with a
piscine humanoid appearance
. Initially, the Trench were characterized as being hostile to all other ocean-dwelling races, including Atlanteans.
Later, it was revealed that the Trench was once a kingdom, a fact previously unknown. Over time, the Trench is later seen to be in more neutral terms with the other kingdoms. The Trench Kingdom is ruled by the Trench Queen.
Kingdom of the Deserters: Historically the last kingdom accepted prior to Atlantis being sunk, it is known for its metallurgy and rare metals which include Nth Metal and orichalcum. It is the only kingdom that remained unchanged, having retreated from Atlantis when Atlan planned to sink the empire.[25]
Kingdom of the Brine: A kingdom composed of bulky, anthropomorphic crustaceans. Unlike other kingdoms, this was originally introduced in the DC Extended Universe prior to being moved into comics.
Kingdom of the Wrights: A kingdom consisting of humanoid sea otters with the ability to breathe underwater.[24]
Kingdom of the Sea Lights: A kingdom consisting of green-haired, bioluminescent humanoids with the ability to breathe underwater.[24]
Others
Dagon: A kingdom founded by Ocean Master primarily composed of dissidents and refugees from the Ninth Tride dissastified with Aquaman and Mera's rule. Eventually, Ocean Master's manipulative agenda and nearly causing civil war to expand his influence causes him to lose power once more and the city-state is accepted into Atlantis.[24]
Lemuria: Lemuria is an underwater city based upon the hypothetical continent of the same name.[26] The city is inhabited by a scientifically advanced race of blue-skinned humanoids covered in part with large green scales.[26][27]
Mu: In DC Comics, Mu is one of Atlantis's former city-states and a major location in the Arion, Lord of Atlantis series. The city was once ruled by the titular character's estranged family members, Garn Daanuth and Dark Majistra, the former using force in order to suppress and supersede the rulership of his successors after a political movement caused Atlantis to use science instead of magic and replaced its sorcerous rulers. The inhabitant's culture, appearance, and architecture would resemble ancient Egyptians. The city would eventually fall into decay during Garn's rulership as he sought to invade the City of the Golden Gate and rule the entire kingdom of Atlantis and fell into antiquity.
Sub Diego: Sub Diego is the new name of a portion of the city of San Diego, California which is submerged during an artificially generated earthquake, part of a plan which changes part of the surviving population into sub-aquatic beings. The city has an increase in population due to an influx of refugees from Atlantis after it is destroyed by the Spectre. Roughly 50 weeks after Infinite Crisis, an unknown event causes part of the Sub Diego population to lose their ability to breathe underwater. Aquaman uses magic to return a large part of the city to the surface, joined to the rest of San Diego. It is unknown how much of Sub Diego stayed submerged.
Outposts
Venturia: An outpost and subsea realm situated somewhere beneath the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Aurania: A sister city of Ventura and outpost.
Later, it was revealed that the Trench was once a kingdom, a fact previously unknown. Over time, the Trench is later seen to be in more neutral terms with the other kingdoms. The Trench Kingdom is ruled by the Trench Queen.
Kingdom of the Deserters: Historically the last kingdom accepted prior to Atlantis being sunk, it is known for its metallurgy and rare metals which include Nth Metal and orichalcum. It is the only kingdom that remained unchanged, having retreated from Atlantis when Atlan planned to sink the empire.[25]
Kingdom of the Brine: A kingdom composed of bulky, anthropomorphic crustaceans. Unlike other kingdoms, this was originally introduced in the DC Extended Universe prior to being moved into comics.
Kingdom of the Wrights: A kingdom consisting of humanoid sea otters with the ability to breathe underwater.[24]
Kingdom of the Sea Lights: A kingdom consisting of green-haired, bioluminescent humanoids with the ability to breathe underwater.[24]
Sub Diego: Sub Diego is the new name of a portion of the city of San Diego, California which is submerged during an artificially generated earthquake, part of a plan which changes part of the surviving population into sub-aquatic beings. The city has an increase in population due to an influx of refugees from Atlantis after it is destroyed by the Spectre. Roughly 50 weeks after Infinite Crisis, an unknown event causes part of the Sub Diego population to lose their ability to breathe underwater. Aquaman uses magic to return a large part of the city to the surface, joined to the rest of San Diego. It is unknown how much of Sub Diego stayed submerged.
King Nereus
(portrayed by
Dolph Lundgren
) of Xebel, Ocean Master led him to the Fisherman Kingdom. He killed King Ricou (motion-captured by Andrew Crawford and voiced by
Djimon Hounsou
) of the Fishermen when he declined and Ocean Master persuaded his wife Queen Rina (motion-captured by Natalia Safran) and daughter Princess Scales (motion-captured by Sophie Forrest) to take up his offer. The king of the Brine (motion-captured by Andrew Crawford and voiced by
John Rhys-Davies
) agreed to lend his army with him not swearing his allegiance to Ocean Master. Before Ocean Master can kill the Brine King, Aquaman arrives with an army of sea creatures, the Trench, and the sea monster Karathen as Mera persuades her father to side with Aquaman. When Aquaman defeats Ocean Master, Atlantis, Xebel, the Fishermen, and the Brine swear allegiance to their new king.
Atlantis appears in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Arthur and Mera are now the king and queen of Atlantis, with Arthur in conflict with the Council of Atlantis, who object to his plan to expose Atlantis to the surface due to natural disasters affecting them all. In addition, the remnants of the Deserters are shown to be an unspecified mutated species and have been surviving by substituting the liquid needed for their survival with blood as they guard Ocean Master's cell while working for the Fishermen. Atlantis is attacked by Black Manta, who has the black trident of Atlan's evil brother Kordax and ancient Atlantean technology found by Dr. Stephen Shin. He breaks into Atlantis's orichalcum reserves to fuel Shin's Atlantean machines, which emit large amounts of greenhouse gases, not only raising planetary temperatures and causing extreme weather and ocean acidification, but which had previously almost caused a planetary extinction when used by the ancient Atlantean kingdom called Necrus ruled by Kordax, the brother of King Atlan and creator of the black trident. In the end, after the defeating Kordax and Black Manta and the destroying Necrus, knowing that the unification of the underwater kingdoms and the surface world is necessary, Arthur finally reveals Atlantis' existence through an announcement at the United Nations and declares his intention to make the kingdom a member state.
