Since his debut appearance in 1941, Aquaman has remained an enduring staple of the DC Universe. But in the late 1950s, during the superhero revival period known as the Silver Age, comic readers learned that the aquatic baddie got it all from his mama. Just how much do you know about the Queen Mother herself?
Atlanna, created by Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon, was introduced in Adventure Comics #260 (May 1959). After leaving Atlantis to travel abroad, this version of the character was narrowly killed by a raging hurricane. Fortunately, a lonely lighthouse keeper named Tom Curry stumbled upon Atlanna and nursed her back to health. The pair eventually fell in love and had a son, who they named Arthur Curry. Atlanna choose to keep her origins a secret from Arthur, but after getting ill she confessed the truth about her life on her deathbed.
Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Atlanna’s history was altered significantly. In this iteration, she was married to King Trevis, who was sterile and thus unable to father a child for her. During a dream, Atlanna was seduced by the powerful Atlantean sorcerer Atlan who impregnated her. She gave birth to a son named Orin, but with his blond hair the child was considered a bad omen by the Atlanteans. As a result, Atlanna was exiled and lost contact wit her son. She later attempted to return to Atlantis but was quickly captured and imprisoned. When an adult Orin was later imprisoned he finally had the chance to see his mother. Sadly, she died soon after following an illness.
In the crossover event Flashpoint, Atlanna’s origin was altered once again. This version combined elements from both the Silver and Modern Age origins. Rather than being Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna was introduced as a princess who ran away from home. On the run, she meets and falls in love with lighthouse keeper Tom Curry and soon becomes pregnant. Her father later sends Atlantean soldiers to find Atlanna and force her to return home, narrowly killing Tom in the process. Atlanna dies while giving birth to her son and soldiers abandon the unwanted child on Mercy Reef. Knowing the child is destined to rule the seas, dolphins bring him back to his father to be raised on the surface.
