| Aquaman | |
|---|---|
 The Kaldur'ahm (right) and Jackson Hyde (left) characters as they appear in respective media as Aquaman. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Young Justice "Independence Day (November 26, 2010)" |
| First comic appearance | Brightest Day #4 (August 2010) |
| Created by | Brandon Vietti Greg Weisman Phil Bourassa |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jackson Hyde |
| Species | Atlantean/human hybrid(animation) Xebellian/human hybrid(comics) |
| Place of origin | Atlantis(animated) New Mexico(comics) |
| Team affiliations | Young Justice Teen Titans Justice League Justice League Queer |
| Partnerships | Ha'Wea Aquagirl (Lorena Marquez) |
| Supporting character of | Aquaman |
| Notable aliases | Aqualad Aquaman |
| Abilities |
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| Altered in-story information for adaptations to other media | |
| Alter ego | Kaldur'ahm |
| Team affiliations | The Team Justice League The Light |
| Partnerships | Wyynde Aquagirl (Tula) |
| Notable aliases | Aqualad Aquaman |
| Abilities |
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Kaldur'ahm (Kaldur for short), also known asJackson Hyde, is a superhero appearing in both media published byDC Entertainment andAmerican comic books published byDC Comics. While the character was created byBrandon Vietti,Greg Weisman and Phil Bourassa for the television seriesYoung Justice, and voiced byKhary Payton, the comic book version debuted earlier inBrightest Day #1 (August, 2010). While intended to be incarnations of the same character and possess various similarities, such as sharing theAqualad andAquaman codename and are the biological son ofBlack Manta, their histories and background differs.[1][2][3]
The animated version's name is based uponCal Durham, a henchmen and right-hand assistant of Black Manta in comics. Within the television series, Kaldur'ahm is the son of villain Black Manta and Atlantean Sha’lain’a, raised by the latter alongside his adoptive father (and creative namesake), Cal Durham, who settled into Atlantis sometime after abandoning a infiltration mission and genetically altering himself with Atlantean attributes. Known for his often mature and responsible personality growing up, he eventually became Aquaman's protege after defeating Ocean Master with the help ofGarth with their skills in sorcery.[4] Overtime, as a member of the Team, he rises as a skilled and measured team leader before eventually adopting the Aquaman codename and is designated as chairman of theJustice League.
While originally developed for television, DC quickly adapted the character to its mainstream comic books, withGeoff Johns andIvan Reis re-interpreting the character.[5] Due to the animated version's direction for the character establishing him as a familiar partner whereas the comic book version featured his introduction to Aquaman and readers the same time, aspects of the character were changed; born Jackson Hyde, the comic book version is the son of Black Manta and Lucia, the latter having ties toXebel. Lucia raised Jackson inNew Mexico, with her efforts to hide his heritage and limit his social life having a negative impact on him. Upon discovering his hydrokinetic powers and desiring a independent life, he joined theTeen Titans and adopts the Aqualad moniker from Garth's blessing and suggestion. When he eventually eventually learns of his true origins, he makes amends with his mother.[6] Later, he officially partners with Aquaman, whom mentors him with Lucia's support, eventually adopting the Aquaman monikers as he and Arthur work concurrently.
Aqualad is the protégé ofAquaman and a founding member of the Team. In between the first and second seasons, he learns that he is the son of Black Manta.[2][7] The episode "Downtime" reveals that Aquaman recruited Kaldur'ahm after he andGarth rescued him during a battle withOcean Master. Garth was also offered to become Aquaman's sidekick, but remained in Atlantis to continue his studies in sorcery.
In the second season,Invasion, Kaldur works undercover within theLight to uncover who the Light's partner is. During a summit between the Light and theReach, Kaldur is exposed as a double agent, but manages to reveal the Light's betrayal of the Reach.
In thethird season, titledYoung Justice: Outsiders, Kaldur becomes Aquaman after Orin retires. As the new Aquaman, Kaldur'ahm becomes the leader of theJustice League. Kaldur is also revealed to be in a relationship with an Atlantean man namedWyynde.[8][9]
A different version of the character debuted inBrightest Day #4 (August 2010),[5] shortly before the premiere ofYoung Justice.[10][11] Although similar to his animated counterpart, the comic book incarnation of the character features key differences from the animated version, originating from the kingdom of Xebel rather than Atlantis and lacking magical abilities.
A teenager fromSilver City, New Mexico, Jackson Hyde was taught by his parents to fear water since he was young; they do not want him near it because his true parents would be able to locate him and his Atlantean abilities would awaken. Jackson has kept this secret hidden for years, lying to his girlfriend about being afraid of drowning, being unable to swim and being in the dark about the mysterious tattoos he has had since birth.Aquaman is later contacted by theLife Entity, which tells him to locate Jackson before a second unidentified group, which is speculated to beSiren and her Death Squad.[12][13]
DuringBrightest Day, Jackson's Xebellian abilities activate and he learns thatBlack Manta is his biological father.[14] After witnessing Jackson in the rain, his adoptive father takes him to a cottage by the sea. He tells him that Mera had given Jackson to him, asking that he keep him away from his parents, and he was given an Atlantean chest to be opened when the truth is discovered. Before the chest can be opened, Black Manta, along with Siren and her Death Squad, attacks. Jackson defends his adoptive father, but cannot stop Black Manta from shooting a trident-shaped dart at him. Jackson's adoptive father would have died if not for Aquaman's intervention, who blocks and crushes the dart.[15]
Aquaman gets Jackson and his foster father to safety, where everything is explained to them. The chest is opened, which activates a map.[16] Using the map, the two discover a sealed chest that only Jackson can open. Once the chest is opened, Jackson is shown a recording from Mera, who explains that his father and mother had been kidnapped and tortured by the people of Xebel while exploring theBermuda Triangle, where the gateway to the colony is located. Xebel's king had ordered that the child, the first "outsider" born there in centuries, be experimented on to serve as a key that would finally free them from their exile. Fearing for the child's safety, Mera had stolen the infant and brought him to the surface world, where she subsequently gave him to the foster family that ended up raising him. She also reveals his true name; Kaldur'ahm. Once the recording is over, Jackson discovers several items which Mera had left for him, notably a soldier's uniform from Xebel and a pair of "Water Bearers", metallic constructs that help him control his water-manipulation abilities.[17]
Aquaman and Jackson end up inMiami, Florida, which Black Manta and are invading. Jackson successfully uses his waterbearers to create blades, which he uses to fight off the attacking troops, and even briefly holds his own in a duel with Siren.[18] After Black Manta severs Aquaman's right hand, Jackson attacks his father and berates him for siding with the people who killed his own wife, only for Black Manta to throw Jackson to the ground and coldly states that both he and his mother mean nothing to him. As Black Manta is about to impale his son with one of his blades, Mera arrives withAquagirl, who saves Jackson by kicking his father in the face. After using his bio-electrical abilities tocauterize Aquaman's wound, Jackson and Mera seal Black Manta, Siren, and the rest of the invaders in the Bermuda Triangle. As the heroes celebrate, Jackson is shown to have a crush on Aquagirl.[19] Afterwards, Mera tells Aquaman that Jackson wants to continue his training. Aquaman informs her that he has already contacted the Titans.[20]
AfterDamian Wayne joins theTeen Titans, a vision of Jackson arriving atTitans Tower and confrontingSuperboy,Wonder Girl,Beast Boy, andKid Flash is shown as part of a collage of future events that will affect the team.[21][22]
It is mentioned that he displays a near-superhuman talent for swimming.[23] Aqualad joined theTeen Titans after the team encountered him while exploring theSan Francisco Bay for a mission.
Kaldur'ahm is granted various powers through his Atlantean-based hybrid physiology, possessing superhuman strength, durability, enhanced senses, capability to breathe underwater and swim at fast speeds, and one mentioned to have resistance towards poisons. In addition to his natural abilities, he trained in the mystic arts in the Conservatory of Sorcery, gaining eel-shaped tattoos. With his magical abilities, he can generate electricity, bend and shape water at will, create hard-water constructs, and utilize spell-casting.
In addition to his powers, Kaldur is an expert combatant and is considered a capable tactician and leader, having led both the Team and later became the chairman of the Justice League. He is alsoduplicitious, having managed to position himself within the clandestine organization, the Light, as adouble agent and was able to create and perform complex manipulations and plans to maintain his position.
Having a hybridized Xebellian physiology, Jackson possess traits similar to other Xebellians (and, in turn, Atlanteans) such as superhuman strength, durability, underwater adaptation, and enhanced senses (allowing him to see in the dark within the dark depths of the ocean).[24] Unlike typically Atlanteans and Xebellians, the character also possess hydrokensis (telekinetic in nature), allowing him to control water and blood, and the power to generate electricity.[25] These abilities often manifest from his tattoos (which he was born with), glowing eyes, and has webbed hands.[24][26] In addition to his powers, the character is also a skilled combatant, having received training fromDamian Wayne andAquaman.[27][26]
An alternate universe version of Kaldur'ahm makes a cameo appearance inJustice League: The Flashpoint Paradox as a member of Aquaman's army before being killed in battle with theAmazons.[3]
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