| Arion | |
|---|---|
 Arion, Lord of Atlantis. Art byScott Kolins. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Warlord #55 (March1982) |
| Created by | Paul Kupperberg Jan Duursema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Ahri'ahn |
| Species | Deity(demigod,cosmic being,demon) |
| Place of origin | Ancient Atlantis |
| Team affiliations | Lords of Order Justice League Atlantean Pantheon |
| Partnerships | Wyynde Lady Chian Aquaman |
| Supporting character of | Aquaman Power Girl |
| Notable aliases | Comic editorial names: Arion, Lord of Atlantis Arion the Immortal Epithets: God-King of Atlantis Sorcerer Supreme of Atlantis The Dead King Other aliases: Aristotle Ronalds Vicomte Jean-Simon Giscard D'Arion |
| Abilities |
|
| Altered in-story information for adaptations to other media | |
| Alter ego | Orm Marius |
Arion, also referred to asArion, Lord of Atlantis,Arion the Immortal, is a fictionalsword and sorcerysuperhero, andantihero appearing in American comic books published byDC Comics. He debuted inWarlord #55 (March1982), created byPaul Kupperberg andJan Duursema.[1] The character is commonly associated withinAquaman andPower Girl, his stories and history havingretroactively been connected to theformer's version of Atlantis.
An immortal wizard anddemigod from ancient Atlantis,Ahri'ahn served as its ancient protector, the era's Sorcerer Supreme, and a ranked member among theLords of Order.[2] Unlike conventional DC Lords, Arion is one of the few (alongsideAmethyst) to possess a natural human form.[3] The character's magical exploits, scientific discoveries and heroism in the fictional mythology of Atlantis makes him a revered figure and the cultural progenitor of theHomo magi race and their descendants. Surviving into the modern day, he is the ancestor of several notable heroes and villains such asZatanna,Aquaman, andOcean Master. The character was also once retroactively a relative toPower Girl, until this change was later also reversed, and has acted as both a hero and villain.[4][3]
Arion appears inYoung Justice, voiced byDavid Kaye.
In 1978, while working for Charlton Comics, Paul Kupperberg created a proposal for an ongoing series entitled Atlantis, based onPlato's metaphorical concept ofAtlantis. Kupperberg stated, "I really tried to make my version of Atlantis as close to his idea as I could, although I changed plenty." When developing the plot of the series Kupperberg drew inspiration from Larry Niven'sThe Magic Goes Away, stating "When I steal I steal from the best." This proposal laid dormant until editorLaurie Sutton was looking for a new backup feature for Warlord. Once artistJan Duursema got involved she suggested changing the hero's name of Tynan to Arion, with Kupperburg commenting that "Tynan sucked! it was always intended to be a placeholder name"[5]
Arion began as a back-up feature in the DC Comics bookWarlord with issue #55,[6] in which ran until issue #62 when Arion gained his own series,Arion Lord of Atlantis, beginning with #1 (November1982). The series lasted for 35 issues plus a special which wrapped up the original storyline, running from November 1982 to September1985 with the special shipping in November 1985. Concurrently between April 1985 - March 1986, Arion was one of the many characters involved in theCrisis on Infinite Earths crossover title, with his history of Atlantis inserted into the main DC continuity. Arion also appeared inDC Comics Presents in a crossover withSuperman.[7][8]
Years later in 1991, Kupperburg sent in a proposal for what would eventually beArion the IMMORTAL, a sequel to his original series. Originally titledArion: Darkworld andArion, Lord of Order, due to elements similar to characters presented inDoctor Fate andSandman titles, the draft was reworked as to make the characters involved in the book independent of theLords of Chaos and Order and the concept of Arion's magic different from the framework established in these other two DC Comic titles, as to not interfere with their direction and depiction.[9] In 1992, Arion starred in a miniseries that established him in the modern era and he would also make appearances in severalAquaman,Wonder Woman andJustice League crossovers.
During the early 2000s, despite the efforts to ensure the characters and concepts in the series were dissimilar to both titles, many references books and encyclopedias later connected Arion's character, supporting cast, and villains to the same Lords of Chaos and Order characters referenced in other titles.[10][11] Arion's character would play a role in theJSA title, where the character is involved in a conflict connected to the other characters involved in Lords of Order and Chaos and is killed off in the fiftieth issue of the series. Despite the character's death, a past version of the character hailing from the 1600s would appear in 2006 in the "Camelot Falls" storyline in theSuperman title and is depicted as an antagonist to the story. Concurrently, a new incarnation of Arion appeared whose real name was William Knightly.
Eventually, a new version of the character was introduced in theSecret Six 2014 run by Gail Simone; while making a silhouetted appearance, the character's children, Uvian and his unnamed sons, formed a cult known as the Children of Arion and appeared in one of the main antagonists in the Gauntlet storyline in the series.[12] The character would eventually make a full appearance in theBlue Beetle series, acting as the main antagonist. The book connects Blue Beetle'smythos with other magical characters and concepts such as Arion and implies his scarab Khaji Da to be magical in nature.[13]
In Arion's original origin told to him by Calculha, Arion was a cosmic being born from energies coalesced into form. Because of his standing as a cosmic being, he is capable of affecting the balance between both order and chaos and because of that, is chosen as an unwitting agent. He is found by his aged mentor and Sorcerer Supreme, Calculha, and is tutored in the art of magic and spell-casting. Through their training, they form a familial bond.[2]
In his revised origin, elements from the former remain with some changes; Arion (referred to then as "Ahri'ahn") is the son of deities Calculha and Majistra, the former Sorcerer Supreme and the latter his equal with a connection toEgyptians as well as the younger twin brother ofGarn Daanuth.[14] Due to the couple's differences in alignment from embodying light and darkness respectively, the pair separate and the two brothers are unaware of their connection until later in life. A prophesized hero, Calculha trained Ahri'ahn inwhite magic in preparation for his destiny. When near of age, he meets Majistra and Garn during a conclave with other wizards and the family later battles for supremacy when Majistra plots to empower herself with the Zodiac Crystals, artifacts of great magical power, to usher in an age of dark magic. While she manages to gain the upper hand with Calculha, Arion's intervention and sacrifice of usurping control of the crystals displaced her, mystically seared Garn's skin, granting him analbino-esque appearance, and also displaces Calculha when he tries to save his son from magically disintegrating. He sets his converted body into a star and his soul to the Darkworld dimension to be recalled at a later time although the family feud tiled the Earth's axis slightly, inadvertently causing anIce Age.[15] Ahri'ahn's soul is later recalled thanks to blinded warriorWyynde's 10,000 years later after guided by Calculha's spirit, christened "Arion", a corruption of his name. He is taken to Atlantis and is made Lord High Mage for the King of Atlantis, D'Tilluh. Eventually, he is re-taught magic he had forgotten by Calculha and becomes one of Atlantis's foremost protectors, aided by Wyynde, Atlantean lieutenant guardsman, and Lady Chian, Captain of D'Tilluh's royal guard and lover.[15]
Later additions to his origin expand on the time in which his soul existed in a state of intangibility in Darkworld as he was raised by sorceress Jheryl and befriended theImp, Ghy. Also teaching him magic, she created the red gemstone he uses and serves as his motherly figure in place of Majistra. When called back to the land of the living by his father, the sudden departure from one realm to another blocked his memory of his time in the Darkworld. Owing to its unique regard to time, only twenty years passed in the realm while 100,000 years passed on Earth.[16]
Throughout his life as Lord High Mage, Arion would have many adventures; he would encounter and be pitted against various gods of the Atlantean pantheon, ended the Ice Age at the cost of his own magical power, and sought ways to reclaim his former might. He would also encounter Garn and learn of their true connections as well as gain a new ally: Mara. Eventually, Arion defeated Garn by sealing him away in Darkworld. Arion would also reclaim his magical power when he was lured into Darkworld by his mother in a plot to gain more power through a connection to Darkworld like its respective denizens. With his soul re-worked by the deity known only as the Weaver, Arion gains his former might but is unable to stop the destruction of Atlantis when Chaon, one of the Atlantean dark gods, led an alien race (later revealed to be descendants of Atlanteans that ventured into space) against Atlantis and sunk it himself. With the empire fractured, the remaining Atlanteans venture to other corners of the globe to rebuild.[17]
Arion would appear in theCrisis on Infinite Earth crossover as being among the heroes taken in byHarbinger and aids the heroes.
Owing to the events ofCrisis on Infinite Earths, Arion's universe now exists in the same DC Multiverse with a few changes; Arion's version of Atlantis took place in the distant past, roughly around 500,000 years before the main DCU timeline and is explained that despite Arion's belief, Atlantis as a whole was not destroyed.[18] He was also made part ofPower Girl's backstory, being his great-granddaughter jettisoned into the future, her powers said to originate from Arion's experimentation in genetic manipulation[4] and an ancestor ofZatanna Zatara through her mother's side.[19] Eventually, Arion and characters from within his series would be connected to DC'shomo magi and theLords of Chaos and Order, the aforementioned sorcerer being among the Lords of Order. Affiliated characters, like his father and mother, would also be retconned into being deities themselves, making him an actual being of divine origin.[1] Later, an aged Arion is revealed to be immortal and to have lost his magic and is living inGreenwich Village along with several former Atlantean gods and goddesses, includingChaon,Deedra,Gemimn, and theWeaver. His companion, Mara, was trapped in canine form when the magic was lost.[20] Arion renews his old rivalry with his brother, Garn Daanuth, and works to stop the return of Atlantean magic by preventing Darkworld, revealed to be a sentient being, from slumbering.[21]
In theTime Masters mini-series,Rip Hunter and his allies travel back in time to Atlantis where Arion assists them while trying to convince Hunter to not use violence.
AfterZero Hour: Crisis in Time!, Arion aided theJustice League of America against Scarabus.[22] He eventually turned up in the present day, where his body was taken over byMordru and his spirit imprisoned inGemworld. His spirit was finally released and allowed to go to the afterlife by Power Girl and Hawkgirl (along with a recently awakenedDove) to weaken Mordru. Before his soul departed, Arion revealed to Power Girl that she was not his granddaughter and thus not an Atlantean.
Arion seemingly reappeared inInfinite Crisis as one of the mystics gathered in Atlantis to keep theSpectre at bay, and later in theDay of Vengeance tie-in special as one of several magical beings summoned to rebuild theRock of Eternity. It was later revealed that this Arion was an imposter named Bill Knightley who used Arion's reputation to bolster his own.[23]
In the "Camelot Falls"Superman storyline, a past and depowered version of Arion appears from 1659 after learning of a cataclysmic future centered around the presence of Superman. Using vestiges of magical power from artifacts collected over the millennia, he time travels to the modern era and reveals to Superman and his friends his vision, believing that alien interference has a hand in creating apocalyptic situations for humanity in the long-term, and tells him to quit. When he refuses despite escalating present situations supporting his point, he actively opposes Superman and nearly discredits him. He also kidnaps a "pretender" to his name, William Knightley, to understand his fate in the modern era. He battles Superman once more, who eventually prevails due to Phantom Stranger's protections but manages to slip back to his proper time by using Knightley as a decoy due to long-lasting disguise spells and Knightley possessing mystical powers.[1][24]
Although he did not make a full appearance, Arion would make a brief cameo and was mentioned in the 2014Secret Six relaunch; it is revealed that millions of years ago, he was the wizard responsible for sealing away elder gods known as the "Dark Giants", who appear to be both based on and a reference toCthulhu Mythos deities and are the central antagonists that threaten the world in the modern-day from being released due toBlack Alice's condition of siphoning magic around the world, undoing the very seals that kept them in place. His children are also the antagonist as they work to help undo the seal, having formed a cult named the "Children of Arion". The four members remain nameless save seemingly the leader, Uvian.[12]
Following the company-wide rebranding inDC Rebirth, Arion is reintroduced inBlue Beetle. In this continuity, he shares similarities to his previous version such as being a former king of Atlantis and is stated to be a Lord of Order manifested in the physical form of an Atlantean demigod. He is also indirectly mentioned alongside his brother by the newer version of Calculha and Dark Majistra, this revised history making him an ancestor ofAquaman,Ocean Master,Atlan, andAtlanna. In theBlue Beetle "Hard Choices" storyline, a villainous version of Arion appears. Thousands of years ago, Arion was believed to have been turned into an insane villain from exposure to the Blue Beetle scarab and gains a more demonic appearance from the usage of more malevolent magic. After being sealed away byDoctor Fate long ago, he uses his apprentice Mordecai Cull to lure Doctor Fate. Jaime Reyes, and the Blue Beetle scarab into undoing his sealing, stealing the scarab for himself to use its power to destroy the world. With the help of Doctor Fate and his allies, Jaime Reyes manages to defeat the sorcerer and his Atlantean demons created by his magic. Arion is then sealed in a crystal of absolution by Doctor Fate for 10,000 years.[13]
In the "Drowned Earth" crossover storyline, Arion is mentioned in passing and appears in flashbacks, revealing Atlantis and Themyscira once held an alliance as they once sought space exploration, with his close confidante being Asteria, a past Amazon champion, and Arion being one of the few men respected in Amazon history. In his youth, he was also protege to Poseidon and learned the existence of the Life Force through him. Eager to share and unaware of Poseidon's envious and selfish nature, he believes Poseidon's lies when he frames the sea gods who claimed interest in the Life Force as conquerors, a guilt-ridden Arion instead using his magic and technology to invert the Life Force into Death Force, creating the Tear of Extinction and banishing them to the Graveyard of Gods, an afterlife for dead gods, at the cost of his sanity. and seemingly life. This incident, according to a guilt-ridden Poseidon much latter, inspired isolationist foreign policies despite Arion's policies promoting the opposite while making enemies out of the alien gods (known as the Triumvirate of Sea Gods or Ocean Lords), whom were innocent and later attacked Earth thousands of years later while bearing a grudge against Atlantis. However, Queen Mera, the ruling monarch of Atlantis, would fulfill Arion's intents by using the Clarion to broadcast her intentions of connecting her kingdom with interested, oceanic alien worlds.[25]
Both the Hardline Choices and Drown Earth storylines conflicted in some accounts, with the former suggesting he became insane due to Khaji Da while the latter through the use of the Tear of Extinction led to his death, with a skeleton displaced. This discrepancy is addressed in the 2021 edition of theDC Comics Encyclopedia, explaining that he was driven insane due to the Tear of Exitinction but disappeared, with Atlantean authorities obfuscated details of his fall by claiming he perished.[3] The entry still implied the former storyline still took place alongside the previous Camelot Falls.[3]
In the 2018Justice League backup issues ofJustice League Dark, the famous sorcerer of Arthurian legends,Merlin, plots to conquer all of the magic under his control. His quest pits him againstJustice League Dark,Aquaman, andAtlantis's Silent School. Wanting to control the extra-dimensional wellspring of Atlantean magic known as Darkworld without doing so personally, he uses his magical knowledge to resurrect Arion, who has a natural connection to Darkworld and puts him under mind control as one of his Sapphire Knights and is prophesized to destroyDoctor Fate's Tower of Fate.[26]
However, he later makes a major appearance in the 2025Aquaman series, having since found himself in the extradimensional realm of the "Blue", an oceanic counterpart ofSwamp Thing's "Green". Imprisoned by its new malevolent ruler, Dagon, and made to nourish oceanic life through his blood in place of water. Aquaman happens upon him and re-introduces himself, having met him previously during the 80th Anniversary issue. Using his new hydrokinetic powers, Aquaman frees him and Vivienne, confirming a prophecy Arion once foretold of an eventual new Avatar of the Blue. With her assistance, Arion helps forge Aquaman a new weapon and works to unseat Dagon with newfound allies as Aquaman searches for the displaced Atlantis. Eventually, he witnesses Aquaman become the new Avatar and defeat Dagon, feeing the Blue from his malignant influence.[27]
In his original debut, Arion was first defined as a cosmic being.[2] His ongoing series, however, retroactively cast him as abircaialdemigod whose parents are both gods; while his father hails from an extradimensional realm, his mother originates from Earth with undefined connections although her dark-skinned appearance and rulership overMu, featuring architecture based upon depictions of Egypt, hints a pre-history connection toEgyptians.[17] Both aspects were eventually merged, making him a Lord of Order (cosmic being) of divine heritage with a natural human form.[3] He is also a distant ancestor of Zatanna from Sindella's line and ancestor to the royal Atlantean line, includingAquaman,Ocean Master,Atlan,Atlanna, andAndrina Curry.[25][28]
Arion is characterized originally as the "Lord High Mage" during the times of ancient Atlantis, a senior government post held by sorcerers that makes him a designated expert in the mystic matters, protector, and prominent a leader only surpassed by the monarch and their aide.[29][17] Although the continuities and histories of the character changes various details regarding his background, he is also portrayed as a revered, influential figure and monarch of Atlantis,[17][25] his fame similar toKing Arthur to nations above Atlantis.[25] In modern settings, he is a frequent ally to Aquaman in mystical matters.[27][30]
In theArion Lord of Atlantis series, his chief friend and ally isWyynde, a lieutenant royal guard who is a prince of the people Khe-Wannantu (who resembled depictions ofNative Americans). He is also responsible for his resurrection. His love interest,Chian, is a noblewoman-turned-mercenary who serves as captain of the Atlantean royal guard and Wyynde's superior. Alongside Arion, the trio act as Atlantis' best warriors. They're later joined byMara, an adventurer from city-state Thamuz with shapeshifting powers. She held an interest in Wyynde and later served as Queen of Atlantis following its apparent destruction and subsequent attempt to rebuild.[17] In between the years following the destruction of Atlantis and into modern era, Mara is the only surviving member beside Arion although she took shape of a dog when old Atlantean magic was drained, making her stuck in the form and losing memory of her human life.[20][21] Arion is also supported byCalculha, an extradimensional deity whom was the preceding Sorcerer Supreme, the most powerful being from the realm, and one of his son's teachers in the mystic arts. Following his death at Garn's hands, Arion calls upon his spirit with magical crystals and acts as an emergency power source following his depowering period although they're finite in number.[17]
For much of the first series, Arion serves long-livedD'Tilluh, a respected (non-magically powered)homo magi monarch whom he regards as a second father following his resurrection. Following being forcibly mind control by Garn, the experience damaged his psyche and confidence to the point of committing suicide. Arion eventually succeeds him.Wing, advisor to the monarch, also serves as one of Arion's stalwart allies.[17]
Arion's most reoccurring enemy isGarn Daanuth, a rival sorcerer,Lord of Chaos, and master of black magic later revealed to be his twin brother, a fact both were unaware for thousands of years. Repeatedly challenging Arion, he is responsible for the death of their father and instrumental in the D'Tilluh's eventual suicide. While the pair share similar features, Garn is instead depicted as being slightly more tone. While originally having darker skin akin to their mother (with features referencingNubians), he is later mystically scarred by Arion, appearing similarly to those afflicted withalbinism.[17] The pair's existence and constant strife fulfills a prophecy and recurring theme of siblings fighting in Atlantean mythology. Garn is often supported byS'Net, a humanoidjackal mercenary who served as his lieutenant and possess a bionic arm built by Garn's scientific expertise. Unlike Arion's typical opponents, he utilizes no magic but is cunning.[17]
Arion's chief enemy are counted among theLords of Chaos;Dark Majistra, the pair's biological mother, serves as a powerful adversary responsible for training Garn, her favored son, in the dark arts. Holding little regard for Arion or her husband Calculha, her agenda often aligns with mystical dominance of dark magic and vengeance on Arion for his role into her forced exile into Darkworld, unable to return to the normal world.Chaon is the most significant among the Atlantean's sect of Chaos Lords, considered the god of evil, madness, and chaos with origins form Darkworld like Calculha and siblings, Gemimn (Lord of Order and Chaon's cosmic opposite) and Tynan (Balancer). He is originally responsible for the sinking of Atlantis.[17]
In his portrayal as an antagonist,Doctor Fate andBlue Beetle served as a significant enemies; the former's patron and occasional dominant personality,Nabu, is responsible for sealing away an insane Arion and battled both theKent Nelson andKhalid Nassour incarnations,[13] the latter done under the mind control of another.[31] With the latter, he comes into conflict withJaime Reyes andTed Kord for control of Khaji-Da and is allied with adversary Mordecai Cull, his apprentice and underling.[13]
Granted powerful magical abilities due to his heritage and immortality,[32] Arion is considered both an "archmage" and "sorcerer", allowing for abilities originating from enchanted objects that safeguards him against the perils of magic while he himself is simultaneously an enchanted and/or higher-dimensional being himself, allowing for magical powers.[33] Arion chiefly use awhite magic variant of "Atlantean magic" originating from his connection to the extradimensional Darkworld; at his peak, his powers are considered limitless and has a wide array of abilities, including the capacity to alter his size, cast illusions, and unleash natural disasters. When depowered or severely limited due to circumstances, Arion can only utilize magic from tapping into sources of magic from anything, including unconventional ones (ex. fires and earthquakes) and can project illusions from existing water vapor or dust.[29]
Alongside his magical abilities, Arion possesses heightened senses that acts as a danger sense, psychic abilities, and the gift of prophecy, enabling him to perceive disturbances in both the present and the future.[24][1] While favoring magical solutions, Arion is also a skilled skilled hand-to-hand combatant, swordsman and is a scam artist, particularly a dealer of thethree-card monte.[29][32][34] Having a genius-level intellect, he is a technological and scientific expert responsible for the advanced technology Atlantis possess in the modern era.[25]
Like other sorcerers in the DC Universe, Arion has a collection of artifacts and resources:
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Resources | |
| Citadel of Sorcery | An inheritance from his father, this large structure, decorated with Atlantean and Egyptian-esque designs, acting as asanctum and Arion's base of operations, possesses a large collection of knowledge and artifacts and is a source of magical power which can awaken other's abilities.[17] |
| Mystic artifacts | |
| Mantle of the Savior | A magical robes weaved by his father with mystical threads, giving it magical properties.[17] |
| Mystic Gem of Ahri'ahn | A magical gem that compliments the Mantle of the Savior, powering magic by converting solar energies into mystic energy.[17] |
| Calculha's crystal | Crystals from his father's shattered crystal ball, imbued with a portion of his father's divine power and magic. As a limited and finite source of magic, he uses them only in emergencies.[17] |
| Staff of Arion | A conduit of Atlantean magic he can summon at will.[35][36] The staff is also owned byTraci 13.[35] |
| Tear of Extinction | A fusion of magic and technology that takes the form of a liquid substance infused with the "Death Force" a cosmic force capable of killing gods and sends them to the afterlife known as the Graveyard of the Gods but its usage can drive the user insane.[37] |
Much of Arion's magical powers originates from a source, be it the extradimensional Darkworld or arcane objects to act from such as his mystic gem and crystals.[17] When acting with the latter, arcane objects limited the true capacity of his powers.[24] Arion's magical power has also been limited from strain, be it from grand feats of magic or being injured for a prolonged period of time.[17][27]
William "Bill" Knightley is a sorcerous hero from Arkon,Ohio inspired by the heroic Arion, taking his name to help begin his superhero career. He was first present inDay of Vengeance event, being one of the many heroes to help fight off an insane Spectre. Later, he encounters the genuine Arion when he travelled from the 1600s. Unimpressed and considered him a fraudulent imitator, he captures him with intent to punish despite his pleas to advise the older wizard in the new era. After battling Superman in a bid to make him give up his "alien interference" to stave potential, catastrophic dark futures and is defeat, he used Bill in a long-lasting disguise spell to take his place.[24]
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