Ocean Master

Ocean Master
Textless cover of Aquaman #14 (January 2013).
Art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAquaman #29 (September 1966)
Created byBob Haney
Nick Cardy
In-story information
Alter egoOrm Marius (current)
Orm Curry Marius (Pre-Crisis)
Species
Place of originAtlantis (current)
Alaska (Post-Crisis)
Team affiliationsAnti-Justice League
Injustice Gang
Legion of Doom
PartnershipsBlack Manta
Lernaea
Scavenger
Notable aliasesOrm the First
Prince Orm
King Orm
King of the Seven Seas
King of Dagon
AbilitiesCurrent continuity:
  • Atlantean physiology grants: able to breath underwater, superhuman strength and durability, withstand the extreme pressures of the ocean, swim at enhanced speeds. Base abilities surpasses ordinary Atlanteans due to royal heritage.
  • Genius level intellect; proficiency in engineering, military operation, politics, sciences, oceanology, possess exceptional knowledge of the history of the fictional realm of Atlantis.
  • Skilled martial artist and mastery of trident-related combat. Various magical artifacts grants him hydrokinesis (crown) and powers of weather manipulation (trident).

Original continuity

  • Nautical genius and tactician with access to advanced technologies and magical artifacts for a variety of uses.
    • Various magical artifacts and technologies, such as his magical trident, armor, and helmet, bolsters his magical abilities, enables him to breathe underwater and survive the depths of the oceans for long periods of time.
  • Skilled hand-to-hand combatant, proficient in magic, and knowledgeable in Atlantean arcane lore.

Ocean Master is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy and debuted in Aquaman #29 (September 1966).[1] The character is frequently depicted as the half-brother of Aquaman, frequently plotting to usurp the throne of the fictional kingdom of Atlantis, serving as one of the heroes' most enduring and recognizable adversaries.[2] The character has had numerous origin stories throughout his comic book history.

The original version of Ocean Master is depicted as Orm Curry, Aquaman's half-brother who is fully human. Orm harbors feelings of jealousy towards his superhero half-brother and resents the attention Aquaman receives. As a result, he turns to petty crime and eventually becomes an international marine criminal operating under the aliases "Orm Marius" and "Ocean Master".[3] Following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character undergoes a change. Orm Marius is portrayed as a super-villain of Inuit origin with Atlantean heritage, which includes a connection to the ancestral homo magi through Atlan rather than the modern sea-faring Atlanteans. This heritage grants him magical potential and a deeper ancestral tie to Atlantis.[4] Throughout these various depictions, Orm is consistently portrayed as a jealous and vindictive individual who plots to overthrow his half-brother and seize the throne of Atlantis.

In the New 52 version, Orm is portrayed as a full-blooded modern Atlantean of royal lineage. He exhibits xenophobic tendencies and holds a desire to punish humanity for their role in marine pollution. Unlike previous iterations, the character is less malicious[5] and depiction of the brotherhood theme between Orm and Aquaman is more intricate. Orm experiences internal conflicts regarding his views on the surface world, his relationship with Aquaman, and his prioritization of Atlantis over his familial ties. While commonly serving as a supervillain nevertheless, the character was once reformed for a time.[6]

Ocean Master has been adapted from the comics into various forms of media. The character appeared in the DC Extended Universe films Aquaman (2018) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), portrayed by Patrick Wilson. Richard Green, Wallace Langham, Dana Snyder and Sam Witwer have provided the character's voice in animation.

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  2. ^ "Ocean Master". DC. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ David, Peter (1996). Aquaman: time and tide. New York, NY: DC Comics. ISBN 1-56389-259-6. OCLC 31958925.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Scott, Melanie (2019). DC ultimate character guide (New ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-4654-7975-4. OCLC 1089398386.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)