What Are Aquaman’s Powers and Abilities in DC Comics?

Within all of the planet’s oceans, there are unforeseen and insurmountable depths still to be discovered. That same thing can be said for DC’s oceanic super hero Aquaman. He’s one of the founding members of the Justice League. His scaled orange and green suit is iconic. And that hair? Man knows how to make waves, if you catch my drift.

However, Aquaman’s powers are a bit mysterious, much like the vast waters he controls. Often his importance to the Justice League is perhaps overlooked. But anyone who thinks of Aquaman as nothing more than the guy who talks to fishes would be sorely mistaken. Get ready to soak in all of Aquaman’s legendary abilities and powers.

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Aquaman Has Enhanced Atlantean Physiology

While Arthur Curry, AKA Aquaman, is usually depicted as the King of Atlantis, he’s actually only half-Atlantean. As the son of human Tom Curry, a lighthouse keeper, and the exiled Atlantean Queen Atlanna, Arthur’s hybrid physiology grants him even more power than a regular Atlantean — which is already quite the battlefield advantage.

Of course, Aquaman can swim faster than anything on the planet and, as an Atlantean, he can breathe underwater. Plus, being Atlantean grants him extreme resistance to heat and energy, including subterranean lava and icy magic. As with many of his JL colleagues, Aquaman also has impressive durability, stamina, and reflexes. Being an Atlantean extends that durability to surviving the furthest depths and pressures of the oceans. Not to mention he can leap so far that many have mistaken this for flying — which he can also do! But super strength is maybe the most surprising aspect of his metahuman physiology. Aquaman has matched Wonder Woman and Superman in hand-to-hand combat and once he even moved a tectonic plate.

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Can Aquaman Really Talk to Fish?

Put simply, yes. And don’t laugh! It’s more than just conversation. Over the years, Aquaman’s ability to communicate with marine life has evolved into an extraordinary asset. In some versions of his origin, Arthur was even raised by a pod of dolphins!

Depending on the writer and the decade, Aquaman’s telepathic connection to marine life has varied. At first, he literally spoke to aquatic animals. Then this power shifted into a telepathic link. In reality, this empathic connection gives Aquaman control over all sea life, including sea monsters and anything that has evolved from the sea. As a result he has even exhibited limited influence over humans and White Martians. It’s important to note that Aquaman makes a deliberate choice to not control his aquatic brethren. Instead he merely suggests — creating a powerful tide of allies in all waters of the world.

Aquaman Taps into The Clear

This empathic connection to marine life is not a common Atlantean trait, by any means. Actually, when Aquaman uses this power, it was once explained as tapping into The Clear. Governed by the Parliament of Waves, this power source is a primordial, elemental conduit. Sometimes called The Blue, it functions much like Swamp Thing’s The Green or Solomon Grundy’s The Grey. The Clear connects to the very Life Force that flows through all living things in the DC universe. On occasion, Aquaman has used The Clear to resurrect allies, including divine beings.

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How Did Aquaman Lose His Hand?

In keeping with the aquatic themes of his life, Aquaman has faced a husband-wife team of villains: Charybdis and Scylla. When Scylla was killed during a plot to kill Aquaman, the power-stealing Charybdis swore revenge. So he took Aquaman’s ability to communicate with marine life and forced piranhas to eat Arthur’s left hand.

During that same attack, Charybdis’ scheme backfired and he was consumed by the vicious fishes as well. Eventually he reappeared as Piranha Man. But losing his hand would prove to be a pivotal and character-defining moment for Aquaman. He questioned his place in the world, forever caught between land and sea. That’s why he decided to use a harpoon as a hand replacement, a symbol to connect his dual heritage. Later, when Arthur was temporarily exiled, the mythical Lady of the Lake granted him a hand made of water. With this water hand, he could not only control all forms of water but heal injuries as well.

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Does Aquaman Have Hydrokinesis?

Thanks to his water hand, Aquaman had hydrokinesis, or the ability to control water. But at other points throughout his history, Aquaman has been able to control water in other ways. His wife Mera has hydrokinesis due to her Xebelian ancestry, and for a time Aquaman gained this ability by taking it from her. However, as King of Atlantis, Aquaman has other means to control water.

With his Trident of Poseidon in hand, Aquaman can call upon the sea god’s immense powers. That means hydrokinesis as well as electrokinesis (thunder & lightning), weather manipulation, and teleportation through any body of water. Plus, you know that thing is sharper than any old Atlantean fork. In addition to this divine weapon, Aquaman also displays an affinity for wielding magic. Unlike his other talents, the use of arcanum remains a virtually untapped pool for the Atlantean king.

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Which of Aquaman’s powers is your favorite?

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