by Grace Sly

Quick. Name the top three superheros that pop into your head. Were they Superman, Batman, and Spiderman? Maybe an Avenger? But how about one of the most underrated superhero of all time: Aquaman!

Aquaman, also known as Arthur Curry, was born to an undersea explorer who took him to the lost city of Atlantis where he learned to swim at shockingly fast speeds and breath indefinitely underwater. This brave lad discovered how to telecommunicate with sea creatures, eventually mastering telepathic conversation with any species derived from oceanic animals, including humans. The power evolved until he was able to control the actions of all marine life.

His powers, unlike Batman or Ironman, come naturally. Many of them have been learned from adapting underwater, including the ability to survive immense pressure, cold temperature, and being impervious to machine gun fire. According to his comics, he has superhuman strength, can swim around 10,000 feet per second, including up waterfalls, and can see perfectly at night.

When Aquaman loses his left hand, he is given a hand blessed by mystical water from the Lady of the Lake. It is revealed in Vol. 6, Issue 1 that the hand allows him to dehydrate anyone he touches (killing them), shoot jets of scalding water, gives him healing abilities, and lets him create portals into mystic dimensions. That’s right Dr. Who fans. Portals.

While many people see Aquaman as worthless since his powers require him to have access to water, his Aquasuit provides the sustenance he needs to fight on land. He carries loads of responsibility as one of the founding members of Justice League of America and the king of his own world, Atlantis. Aquaman’s battles are personal, many with his enemy and half-brother Ocean Master. Perhaps the most jarring event in his life was the murder of his infant son by his archenemy Black Manta in Adventure Comic #452. When Aquaman hunts down the killer, he spares Black Manta’s life, proving himself different than the ruthless murderer. Aquaman’s strength, both physically and morally, highlights the importance of hero to be powerful in body and ethics.

So why hasn’t there been an Aquaman movie? Would the plot not be interesting? The plentitude of villains pining for this hero’s head would keep a storyline going. Are his powers not cool enough? He is undefeatable wherever there is water and, thanks to his hand, can now kill a man with just a touch! Would the costume be a problem? Superman is literally a man in blue tights and red underwear, same with Batman only gray and black. Both of their signature looks include capes, which we all know from Edna Mode of The Incredibles is a hazard. Aquaman carries a trident, which in itself is awesome. The special effects would be amazing, lots of oceanic shots of rising waves and apocalyptic destruction of the world as we know it(or just New York, like most movies).

According to Image Game Network (IGN), Aquaman is the butt of jokes but “thanks to his fishy powers, comic readers have come to love Aquaman as a noble figure who is forever torn between the worlds of land and sea.”

Honestly, aren’t we all?