The best Atlantean and aquatic characters in comics are, at the top, Aquaman , Namor , Mera and Black Manta. This tier list ranks the heroes and villains of the deep according to their importance and their stories. Facts (publisher, creation) verified, no invented ratings; each character refers to its file when it exists.
The underwater kingdoms offer comics a separate universe: Atlantis, Sub-Diego, the ocean wars. This tier list classifies aquatic characters according to their narrative importance and richness. Criterion: the weight of the character in his universe.
Editorial Ranks, Facts verified. Each character refers to its file when it exists.
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Start my trial →Tier S: the kings of the seas
Aquaman, king of Atlantis, is DC's benchmark aquatic hero. Namor, prince of the seas, is one of the very first Marvel superheroes (1939) and one of the most arrogant. Mera, queen of Atlantis, is a power in her own right, and Black Manta remains Aquaman's absolute nemesis.
Tier A: the courtyard of the oceans
Ocean Master (Aquaman's half-brother), Tempest (former Aqualad Garth), Abe Sapien (the fishman from the Hellboy universe) and Attuma (the barbarian conqueror) enrich the underwater world.
Tier B: the aquatic next generation
Aqualad (Jackson Hyde), Tula (Aquagirl), Lagoon Boy and Dolphin embody the new generation of heroes of the deep.
Tier C: the figures of the abyss
King Shark , Vulko (Aquaman's advisor), Topo (the octopus) and the Sea Devils complete the aquatic selection.
Tier D: the curiosities
The Fisherman , Piranha-Man and Aquababy close this tier list: more obscure but very real aquatic characters.
To remember
- Aquaman and Namor are the two kings of the seas, at DC and Marvel.
- The run of Aquaman by Geoff Johns (New 52) rehabilitated the character.
- Aquaman #1 (1962) is a searched key number.
- Each character refers to its file when it exists.
Chronological Landmarks: Who Appears When
This tier list mixes characters from DC, Marvel and Dark Horse, and their year of creation says a lot about how the underwater world was built. Here is the timeline, from 1939 to 2010.
The first two kings of the seas
Namor, at Marvel, appears in 1939 and precedes Aquaman, created at DC in 1941, by two years. They were therefore born almost together, each in a universe that will never cross, which explains their eternal rivalry in fan discussions about rank.
The 1960s, golden age of DC's underwater world
A large part of Aquaman's court is born within a few years. Topo dates from 1956, then come Tempest (Garth) and the Sea Devils in 1960, Mera in 1963, Ocean Master in 1966, Black Manta, Tula and Vulko in 1967 and Dolphin in 1968. The Fisherman and Aquababy date from 1965. This profusion explains why the Aquaman series is almost self-sufficient: the king, his queen, his half-brother, his nemesis and his adviser all live side by side in it.
Outside DC
At Marvel, Attuma (1964) is the barbarian conqueror of the seas and Piranha-Man dates from 1980. At Dark Horse, Abe Sapien (1994) comes from the Hellboy universe, which makes him an aquatic character with no connection to the classic underwater kingdoms.
The modern generation
King Shark (1994) and Lagoon Boy (1998) belong to the 1990s generation, while Aqualad (Jackson Hyde, 2010) takes the name that Garth bore before becoming Tempest. This succession of names is useful to know: do not confuse the old and the new Aqualad when searching for an issue.
What this changes for a collection
- Tier S characters have sought-after key issues, such as Aquaman #1 (1962).
- To follow the court of Atlantis, read the Aquaman series rather than isolated titles: Mera, Ocean Master, Black Manta and Vulko are gathered there.
- Tier D entries, such as The Fisherman, Piranha-Man or Aquababy, are real historical curiosities to hunt for the love of rarity, not as safe bets.
Frequently asked questions
Aquaman (DC) and Namor (Marvel) are competing for first place. Aquaman is most famous since his film; Namor is the oldest and most complex.
Both are of comparable strength underwater. Namor is often presented as slightly more physically powerful, while Aquaman has control of sea life and the throne of Atlantis.
By the run of Geoff Johns (New 52), which restored all its credibility to the character, or by “Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis”. Both exist in collections.
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