Atlan (DC)

Latest revision as of 07:04, 16 March 2025

The Dead King in Aquaman v7 #19.

Atlan is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.

Biography

Origin

Young Atlan in Atlantis Chronicles v1 #6.

Atlan was a male Atlantean born in undersea Atlantis as the son of King Honsu and his queen Lorelei where he was one of three sons with his brothers being Haumond and Kraken. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5)

He appeared before Haumond who had since stopped taking the potions Atlan had given him. As such, his brother had become a much older man nearing the end of his life despite surviving the centuries. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #7)

In the years that followed, the underwater kingdom of Atlantis had expanded far. By this point, an Atlantean royal named Atlanna had been born where she had been named after the old King Atlan. She had been the wife of the reigning King Trevis who was impotent and lacked an heir in a time when the future of Atlantis was uncertain. Atlan would appear to the queens dreams and urged her to meet him where the spirit came to mate with her and gave her a son prophecised to become the new king of the underwater kingdom. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #7)

He was responsible for kidnapping Aqualad, taking him to his home dimension to teach him the secrets of his mystical heritage. There, three or four years pass though far less time passes in Aqualad's home dimension. He returns, much more powerful, and takes on the name of Tempest.

For the boys training to be complete, Atlan urged that they travel to Garth's home in the Hidden Valley. He did not elaborate to the young Aqualad that there was an incredibly powerful source of mystic energy that resided there that was the legacy of his ancestors and that Garth's potential meant that it had been passed to him. His birth right was a ritual spell that would unlock the seal over his abilities and thus give him access to his full power. (Tempest v1 #1)

Atlan assists in the defeat of Rhombus, a villain who desires to harm Deep Blue. Later, after asserting her genetic heritage, Atlan seemingly takes Deep Blue to another dimension.

Atlan is present, along with many other Atlantean defenders, when the Spectre destroys Atlantis during an attack by the Secret Society of Supervillains.

Post-Flashpoint

Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Atlan

For sometime, the nation of Atlantis was known to had been at war with the people of the desert. (Aquaman v7 #24)

Atlan was an ancient ruler of Atlantis when it existed on the surface of the world where he was said to be its architect and builder with him being the king of that nation. He came to be married to Sala and had two young children where he ruled in times of war where he managed to bring peace with the deserters who agreed to share their knowledge of the sands. During his reign, he invited outsiders to join the kingdom as Atlantis was poised to unite the kingdoms of the old lands and the world. During this time, his brother Orin and his wife led a sect that operated in secret in the city though Atlan believed that they could earn their trust. However, Orin opposed the fusing of the races and led a bloody coup against his brother where he along with seven warriors attacked Atlan. Sala and the children managed to flee in the fight with Atlan who was wounded but manage to survive and escape. He attempted to rendezvoused with his family only to find out that they were found and murdered with Atlan and his loyalists going on the run. He utilised the arcane knowledge of the deserters and their sands to forge the Artifacts of Atlantis with it taking years for him to create the six talismans. He returned to Atlantis where he killed his brother and his wife causing Atlantis to descend into civil war. Atlan then proceeded to call his power to sink the city underneath the ocean that shattered the nation killing 90% of the population with the survivors split into seven different kingdoms that each evolved along different paths. Atlan in the meantime became encased in ice where he became an undead being that was known as the Dead King who remained trapped though alive with him seeking to continue his revenge. (Aquaman v7 #24)

It was the announcement of Aquaman's return to the creatures of the ocean that was said to had awakened the Dead King from his slumber. (Aquaman v7 #22)

Emerging into the oceans, he looked to rule the seven seas once again. (Aquaman v7 #17) Travelling to Amnesty Bay, the snow storm he evoked allowed him to ambush the Xebellian princess Mera where he rendered her unconscious with the cold. He intended to use her as a means of gaining access to the kingdom of Xebel. (Aquaman v7 #18) He dragged her south to the Florida Keyes where he killed the crew of a passing ship in order to use it as a transportation to enter through the barrier around the Bermuda Triangle. The doorway to Xebel was opened but Mera managed to escape the Dead King as she fled to warn her people. (Aquaman v7 #19) Arriving at Xebel itself, he came to freeze all the opposition before him including Mera and King Nereus. It was then that he was confronted by Aquaman where the Dead King revealed his identity as the First King of Atlantis. (Aquaman v7 #19)

Overview

Personality and attributes

It was said that when he was a youngster that his hair suddenly changed to blonde in colour. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5) In his life, he was known as the First King of Atlantis. (Aquaman v7 #21) After his reign, Atlantean tomes came to erase his name and referred to him as the Dead King. (Aquaman v7 #22)

Legends spoke of him as the first and greatest king of Atlantis. (Aquaman v7 #22)

As the Dead King, he longed to rule the seven seas once again. (Aquaman v7 #18) He demanded modern day Atlanteans to bow before him as he was their king. (Aquaman v7 #19) He was dismayed to find that modern day Atlanteans had forgotten him which he found to be a worse fate than being sealed in his tomb for the centuries. (Aquaman v7 #21) It was shown that he regarded the modern rulers of Atlantis to be false kings. (Aquaman v7 #22)

He was the son of Atlantean King Honsu and his wife the Queen Lorelei. Publicly, very little was known about his mother though she was noted for having been a devious figure who had a willingness to do anything to get her away. She was noted for her seductive nature where she had an apparent effect on men. References indicated that she was descended from the houses of Shalako and Orin making her marriage to her husband to be semi-incestuous as they were distant cousins. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5)

He had an older brother named Haumond and a younger brother named Kraken. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5) Another account said that he had another brother with blonde hair named Orin who was married with him and his wife being part of a suspicious cult. (Aquaman v7 #24)

As King, he was said to had married the auburn haired Sala who became his wife. She was shown to had born Atlan two sons that were to be heirs to the throne of Atlantis. His wife and their children were later killed in the coup instigated by Atlan's brother. (Aquaman v7 #24)

Powers and abilities

Atlan was born a member of the race of humans known as the Atlanteans. (Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5)

Atlan was considered a powerful wizard, historically considered to be nearly on par with legendary Atlantean sorcerer, Arion. (Aquaman v5 #14) Atlan uses magic to substain himself, rendering himself forever young. (Aquaman v5 #59) Atlan stated himself to be over 40,000 years old. (Aquaman v5 #14)

Such was his skills as a warrior that he was able to fend up seven highly skilled Atlantean warriors. (Aquaman v7 #24)

As the Dead King, Atlan had become an undead being with the power to control ice. (Aquaman v7 #22) Atlan has the ability to control snow and ice at will, his control over the power so acute he can negate Mera's aquakinesis powers to control it. (Aquaman v7 #18)

With his magical powers, Atlan was capable of surviving deep in the sea similar to the like of modern Atlanteans with him able to breathe water as naturally. He was shown to be capable of sensing the effects of aquatic telepathy around him. (Aquaman v7 #22)

He had been responsible for forging the Artifacts of Atlantis. (Aquaman v7 #24)

Among these artifacts included:

• Dead King's Sceptre : the Sceptre granted its possessor the ability to generate earthquakes strong enough to sink islands and continents, such as it did with Atlantis long ago. (Aquaman v7 #11) It also allowed its possessor to control the Trench through primal authority recognition. (Aquaman v7 #17)
• Atlantean Helmet : this golden masked helmet granted its possessor the ability to live without food, oxygen, or water. (Aquaman v7 #9)
• Atlantean Key : a golden key that granted its possessor the ability to open doors normally locked.
• Globe of Transportation : a small amulet-like globe that granted its possessor the ability to transport anywhere.
• Manacles of Force : when clashed together, grant their possessor the ability to create a force field around his or herself which can be extended in size to protect others in the circular radius within reach. They can also emit potent shock waves blasting away whatever they are directed at with potent concussive effect. (Aquaman v7 #8)
• Power Glove :
• Seal of Clarity : it was capable of translating any language into one the user can decipher, and unlike the other artifacts, was a tool, not a weapon. (Aquaman v7 #8)

Atlan possessed a magical bag capable of extending itself and sealing away his enemies. (Aquaman v5 #24)

As King of Atlantis, he was regarded as its architect and builder who turned it into a great nation. (Aquaman v7 #24)

Within his tomb, there were numerous statues depicting the seven kings of fractured Atlantis. It also contained an icy tomb where the Dead King once slumbered with this being made of ice. Those that sat within it were engulfed in the ice and exposed to the memories of the Dead King depicting the true history of Atlantis. (Aquaman v7 #24)

Notes

• Atlan was created Peter David and Esteban Maroto where he made his first appearance in Atlantis Chronicles v1 #5 (July, 1990).
• The character was re-invented as the Dead King in the post-Flashpoint universe by Geoff Johns.

Alternate Versions

• In Aquaman: Futures End v1 #1 (2014), an alternate version of the Dead King appeared in the possible timeline set five years in the future as part of the Future's End reality. It was revealed that the Dead King had forged another relic that was the Shield of Life and so long as it existed then he would be resurrected. Atlan was sought out by the divided Atlanteans in this era that were split between King Arthur and Queen Mera. Sought out by Mera's faction, the Dead King aided them in fighting against the forces of Aquaman.

In other media

Films

• In Aquaman, Atlan appeared in the setting of the 2018 live-action film set in the DC Extended Universe where he was portrayed by actor Graham McTavish. He was shown as being the first King of Atlantis who ruled the nation when it resided on the surface world thousands of yeas ago and forged it into a mighty empire. Through mystical knowledge, he forged the Trident of Atlan that contained the power to control the seas and heralded Atlantis in an age of prosperity as the became a highly advanced society. Among his feats was defeating the mighty beast known as the Karaqan that he chained to the bottom of the sea. When his scientists attempted to harness a new energy source, the power caused a great cataclysm that sunk the city and transformed the Atlanteans into a water breathing people. Atlan left in exile for what he perceived as his failure and went into the Hidden Sea by the Earth's core where prophecy spoke that a new king would arise in the future to unite the seven kingdoms of Atlantis. The tomb of Atlan was guarded by the Karaqan who killed many that attempted to claim the Trident. By the modern age, he was regarded as a myth though archaeologists working for Vulko discovered that the legend was real and sought out the trident for Arthur Curry to unite the kingdoms before his half-brother Orm did so by force which he intended to wage war against the surface world.
• In Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Atlan appeared in brief cameo flashbacks in the setting of the live-action film sequel set in the DC Extended Universe where he was portrayed by actor Graham McTavish. When Kordax began to overexploit Orichalcum in order to turn the Kingdom of Necrus into a superpower, resulting in the land and the seas being poisoned, Atlan confronted his brother and attempted to reason with him, pleading that all he ever wanted was for peace between their nations. However, Kordax's mind had been too poisoned by Orichalcum and he harshly rejected Atlan's pleas for peace, even going as far as to create the Black Trident and turn Necrus's inhabitants into fearsome monsters along with himself. Attacked by Necrus and left with no other choice, Atlan lead Atlantis into war with Necrus, and he engaged Kordax personally in single-combat, where he decisively defeated his brother in battle. With his brother having grown too dangerous, Atlan was forced to seal him and Necrus away: While his soldiers chained Kordax to his throne, Atlan proceeded to cast a containment spell fueled by his own blood, freezing Kordax and all of Necrus into Antarctica. In order to ensure that no one would ever find Kordax's evil power, Atlan ordered the history of Necrus to be expunged from the chronicles, leaving Necrus to be known as the 'Lost Kingdom'.

Video games

• In DC Legends, Atlan was referenced in the setting of the mobile video game. In Tempest's background page, it was said that after Garth was exiled from Shayeris that King Atlan gave him his favor after seeing his proficiency in magic and let him into Atlantis.

Appearances

• Atlantis Chronicles v1: (1990)
• Aquaman:
• Tempest v1:
• Aquaman v7:

External Links

• DC Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry

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