No matter which origin story you explore,Aquaman’sAtlantis has always been defined by darkness—a civilization nearly wiped out, with the survivors condemned to dwell in the ocean’s abyss. But now, one DC writer has redefined Aquaman’s lore, injecting a chilling new twist into the story of how Atlantis sank, making it the darkest origin yet.
The Absolute Universe would be the perfect setting to introduce Ram V.’s version of Aquaman’s Atlantis' origin to mainstream continuity.
Ram V. and Christian Ward’sAquaman: Andromeda,a Black Label mini-series, presents the darkest and most intriguing version of Arthur Curry to date, transforming the iconic Justice League hero into something more mythic than human.
With this more hardcore interpretation of Aquaman, it’s no surprise that his beloved home of Atlantis has also undergone a chilling reimagining, giving the city a new origin. In a truly nightmarish twist,it is revealed that the Atlanteans themselves sank their city through thought and fear alone—an eerie departure from other continuities.
The Complex Truth Behind Atlantis' Sinking (Hint: It’s Not as Simple as You Think)
Three Different Realities, One Catastrophe: How Atlantis Sank Across Pre-Crisis, Post-Crisis, and Prime Earth
It’s no surprise to any DC fan that, with all the reboots and retcons, Atlantis has multiple origin stories for its sinking. Pre-Crisis, the fall of Atlantis was often attributed to a byproduct of war.Post-Crisis, however, the catastrophe was reimagined as a natural disastercaused by a massive skull-shaped meteor crashing into Earth. The impact unleashed global geological upheaval, shifting tectonic plates and triggering catastrophic flooding that swallowed the entire continent of Atlantis. While the majority of Atlantean culture was lost, the capital city of Poseidonis was protected by a colossal dome that shielded it from the devastation.
The Prime Earth version of Atlantis' sinking is tied to the death of King Arion, which plunged the city into chaos and caused magic to overtake science, awakening the Abyssal Dark. This dark influence deepened societal divisions, splitting Atlantis into seven warring kingdoms. King Atlan emerged as a unifier, seeking to unify their people, but his twin brother, Orin I, and his wife usurped the throne, plunging the city into isolation. Exiled and bent on revenge, Atlan forged the Seven Treasures before returning to exact his vengeance. In a final act of despair, he plunged his relic into the earth, shattering the city and sinking it forever.
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The Atlanteans Are Responsible for Atlantis' Sinking—They Literally Willed It Into Existence
InAquaman: Andromeda, the sinking of Atlantis is intricately tied to the gods and the Darkworld.The Darkworld was a supernatural intelligence to which all the magic of the Atlanteans was connected. Hence, every time an Atlantean used magic to create, they were reaching out to the Darkworld, and the Darkworld was reaching back. This dark intelligence gave the Atlanteans exceptional power, allowing them to build“whole kingdoms”with mere thought. However, the Darkworld began to maliciously creep into the minds of the Atlanteans, causing them to unconsciously manifest their thoughts and fears.
In an ironic twist, the Darkworld, responsible for granting Atlantis its power, also caused its destruction by manifesting this collective obsession. As Atlantis began to sink,the people managed to imprison the Darkworld and cast it into space, but the damage had already been done.Atlantis sank to the ocean floor, where the magi of their people erected protective shields and taught the survivors how to endure the extreme pressures of the deep, until both magic and the Darkworld faded into memory.
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Aquaman: Andromeda’sAtlantis Origin Story Would Be Perfect For the Absolute Universe
Atlantis’ Darkest Origin Story Deserves to be Brought to Mainstream Continuity
While theAquaman: Andromedaorigin story is confined to the Black Label series, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t one day find its place in mainstream continuity. The recentintroduction of the Absolute Universe—a world that exists alongside the DCU in mainstream continuity but was created upon Darkseid’s death and rebirth, saturating the new world in his energy—introduces more hardcore versions of DC’s characters, albeit with darker and grittier origin stories. Hence, the Absolute Universe would be the perfect setting to introduce Ram V.’s version ofAquaman’sAtlantis' origin, as it aligns seamlessly with the darker tone of this new universe.
AQUAMAN: ANDROMEDA #3 (2024)
Aquaman
Aquaman, DC Comics’ King of Atlantis, is Arthur Curry—a half-human, half-Atlantean hero. Wielding a magical trident, he commands the oceans, communicates with sea life, and is an iconic member of the Justice League.
