Aqualad

Aqualad is the name of two fictional comic book superheroes appearing in books published by DC Comics. The first Aqualad, Garth, debuted in Adventure Comics #269 (February 1960), and was created by writer Robert Bernstein and artist Ramona Fradon. The second Aqualad, Jackson Hyde, was based on the version originally created for the Young Justice animated TV series by Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti and Phil Bourassa. Several months prior to the launch of the cartoon, an altered version of the character was brought into the comic books by writer Geoff Johns and artist Ivan Reis.

Fictional character biography

Garth

Approximately four decades ago, King Thar and his wife Queen Berra became the reigning monarchs of Shayeris, the capital of a group of Idyllist colonies in the Hidden Valley. Radical Idyllists deposed and murdered King Thar and banished his pregnant wife Queen Berra to Poseidonis, the capital city of Atlantis; there she gave birth to Garth, a child with purple eyes. Superstitious Atlanteans claimed that Garth had been born genetically inferior due to his purple eyes and banished him to a barren seabed leagues away from Atlantis. He survived and later befriended Aquaman, the sometimes outcast King of Atlantis.

Aqualad (Kaldur'ahm)

Kaldur'ahm is one of two fictional superheroes codenamed Aqualad in stories published by DC Comics. The character was created by Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti and Phil Bourassa for the television series Young Justice, and voiced by Khary Payton. His name is a reference to the character Calvin "Cal" Durham, formerly a henchman of the super-villain Black Manta who was sent to infiltrate Atlantis, but defected to the Atlanteans and subsequently settle down with Aqualad's mother, Sha'lain'a of Shayeris.

Kaldur'ahm was subsequently adapted for the DC mainstream continuity by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, debuting under the name Jackson Hyde in Brightest Day #4 (August 2010).

Appearances in Young Justice

In the Young Justice animated series, Aqualad was first seen as the protege of Aquaman. He was later unanimously elected by the team to be their leader after their first mission together, as he was perceived as having good leadership skills. In the second season of the series he uncovered he was in fact the son of Black Manta. Because the character was originally created for the animated series before being brought into Brightest Day, he has a different origin from his comic book counterpart, including being a citizen of Atlantis developed his powers in a year studying Atlantean sorcery. Though he still maintains the birth name of Kaldur’ahm, he does not use the Jackson Hyde alias created for the comics. He is portrayed as the most mature member of the group. The episode "Downtime" reveals that he and his friend Garth had saved Aquaman's life during a battle with Ocean Master. Aquaman offered to take on both teens as his proteges, but Garth chose to remain in Atlantis to continue his studies in sorcery, while Kaldur chose to travel with Aquaman and become Aqualad. He also had an interest in a girl named Tula, who became involved with Garth after Kaldur left Atlantis.