Comic editorial names: Arion, Lord of Atlantis Arion the Immortal Epithets: God-King of Atlantis Sorcerer Supreme of Atlantis The Dead King Other aliases: Aristotle Ronalds Vicomte Jean-Simon Giscard D'Arion
Abilities
Nearly limitless magical power & mastery in Atlantean-based magic
Genius-level intellect; gifted scientist, explorerer, and engineer.
Ahri'ahn (more commonly referred to as Arion) is a fictional sword and sorcery superhero published by American company DC Comics. He debuted in Warlord (vol. 1) #55 (March 1982), and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Jan Duursema.[1] A powerful, immortal wizard from ancient Atlantis centuries before it sunk, the character originally starred in his own series taking place outside the main continuity of DC Comics. After appearing in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character's history was adopted into the Aquaman version of Atlantis, revised to be a demigod serving as a member of the fictional group of cosmic entities known as the Lords of Order. The character's magical and scientific exploits and heroism in the fictional mythology of Atlantis makes him both a reverred figure and the cultural progenitor of the Homo magi race and their descendants, the Atlanteans. Depending on continuities, he also serves as an ancestor to various characters in the DC Universe, including Zatanna, Aquaman, and Ocean Master.
In 1978, while working for Charlton Comics, Paul Kupperberg created a proposal for an ongoing series entitled Atlantis, the series was based on Plato's metaphorical concept of Atlantis, Kupperberg stated "I really tried to make my version of Atlantis as close to his idea as I could, although I changed plenty" when developing the plot of the series Kupperberg drew inspiration from Larry Niven's The Magic Goes Away stating "When I steal I steal from the best". the proposal laid dormant until editor Laurie Sutton was looking for a new backup feature for Warlord. when artist Jan Duursema got involved she suggested changing the hero's name of Tynan to Arion, Kupperburg commented on the name change "Tynan sucked ! it was always intended to be a placeholder name"[2]
Publication history
Arion began as a back-up feature in the DC Comics book Warlord with issue #55,[3] in which ran until issue #62 when Arion gained his own series, Arion Lord of Atlantis, beginning with #1 (November 1982). The series lasted for 35 issues plus a special which wrapped up the original storyline, running from November 1982 to September 1985 with the special shipping in November 1985. Concurrently between April 1985 - March 1986, Arion was one of the many characters involved in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover title, with his history of Atlantis inserted into the main DC continuity. Arion also appeared in DC Comics Presents in a crossover with Superman.[4][5]
Years later in 1991, Kupperburg sent in a proposal for what would eventually be Arion the IMMORTAL, a sequel to his original series. Originally titled Arion: Darkworld and Arion, Lord of Order, due to elements similar to characters presented in Doctor Fate and Sandman titles, the draft was reworked as to make the characters involved in the book independent of the same Lords of Chaos and Order concept of magic different from the framework established in two DC Comic titles as to not interfere with their direction and depiction.[6] In 1992, Arion starred in a miniseries that established him in the modern era. He would also make appearances in several Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League crossovers.
Modern stories
During the early 2000s, despite the efforts to ensure the characters and concepts in the series were dissimilar to both titles, many references books and encyclopedias later connected Arion's character, supporting cast, and villains to the same Lords of Chaos and Order characters referenced in other titles.[7][8] Arion's character would play a role in the JSA title, where the character is involved in a conflict connected to the other characters involved in Lords of Order and Chaos and is killed off in the fiftieth issue of the series. Despite the character's death, a past version of the character hailing from the 1600s would appear in 2006 in the "Camelot Falls" storyline in the Superman title and is depicted as an antagonist to the story. Concurrently, a new incarnation of Arion appeared whose real name was William Knightly.
New 52 & Rebirth-onward
Eventually, a new version of the character was introduced in the Secret Six 2014 run by Gail Simone; while making a silhouetted appearance, the character's children, Uvian and his unnamed sons, formed a cult known as the Children of Arion and appeared in one of the main antagonists in the Gauntlet storyline in the series.[9] The character would eventually make a full appearance in the Blue Beetle series, acting as the main antagonist. The book connects Blue Beetle's mythos with other magical characters and concepts such as Arion and implies his scarab Khaji Da to be magical in nature.[10]
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis
Origin
In Arion's original origin told to him by Calculha, Arion was a cosmic being born from energies coalesced into form. Because of his standing as a cosmic being, he is capable of affecting the balance between both order and chaos and because of that, is chosen as an unwitting agent. He is found by his aged mentor, Calculha, who is considered the most powerful sorcerer of his time and is tutored in the art of magic and spell-casting. Through their training, they form a familial bond.[11]
In his revised origin story, much of the elements of his original backstory changed: Arion (referred to then as "Ahri'ahn") is one of the two biological sons of Calculha (who was formerly featured simply as his father-figure and mentor in the earlier issues of Warlord) and Dark Majistra (a sorceress with an appearance implying her to be an ancestor of those who would eventually become the Egyptians), as well as the younger[12]fraternal twin of Garn Daanuth. Ahri'ahn was prophesied to be a savior of Atlantis. Shortly after their birth, Calculha and Majistra separated, leaving the two unaware of their true relation to one another for thousands of years. As they grew up, their parents became political rivals as they were representatives of a cabal of sorcerers from various mythological locations. While Ahri'ahn was taught white magic by their father, Garn was taught black magic by their mother. The two brothers eventually meet for the first time and bore witness to their parent's differing vision for Atlantis through the use of powerful mystical artifacts known as the Zodiac Crystals, crystals shaped like the Zodiac signs that controlled the magical flow of Earth. While Calculha called upon the cabal to keep them separate and senses the impending interference, Majistra sought to combine all crystals in an attempt to create a new era of mystical enlightenment despite the risks. Despite being outvoted, Majistra would instead use the crystals to further her power, proving to be the very interference Calculha sensed. Ahri'ahn sacrificed his life to prevent his mother from attaining power but at a cost: both his father and mother would become trapped in an extradimensional realm known as "Darkworld", Garn's skin was drained of color and gave him the appearance of an albino, Arion's body was converted into energy and sent into a star while his soul was sent into Darkworld as well, and the family feud caused Earth's first Ice Age. Eventually, Calculha used his newfound might he gained in over the course of 100,000 years in his imprisonment and resurrected his son with the aid of Wyynde into his second incarnation, which was christened "Arion" by Wyynde, a corruption of his actual name. He is taken to Atlantis and is made Lord High Mage for the King of Atlantis, D'Tilluh. Eventually, he is re-taught magic he had forgotten by Calculha and becomes one of Atlantis's foremost protectors, aided by his companions Wyynde, Atlantean lieutenant guardsman, and Lady Chian, Captain of D'Tilluh's royal guard and lover.[13]
Later additions to his origin expand on the time in which his soul existed in a state of intangibility in Darkworld as he was raised by sorceress Jheryl and befriended the Imp, Ghy. Also teaching him magic, she created the very red gemstone he bore with him after his resurrection as Arion and served as his motherly figure in place of Majistra. When called back to the land of the living by his father, the sudden departure from one realm to another blocked his memory of his time in the Darkworld. Owing to its unique regard to time, only twenty years passed in the realm while 100,000 years passed on Earth.[14]
Arion, Lord of Atlantis (1982-1985)
Throughout his life as Lord High Mage, Arion would have many adventures; he would encounter and be pitted against various gods of the Atlantean pantheon, ended the Ice Age at the cost of his own magical power, and sought ways to reclaim his former might. He would also encounter Garn and learn of their true connections as well as gain a new ally: Mara. Eventually, Arion defeated Garn once and for all by sealing him away in Darkworld. Arion would also reclaim his magical power when he was lured into Darkworld by his mother in a plot to gain more power through a connection to Darkworld like its respective denizens. With his soul re-worked by the deity known only as the Weaver, Arion gains his former might but is unable to stop the destruction of Atlantis when Chaon, one of the Atlantean dark gods, led an alien race (later revealed to be descendants of Atlanteans that ventured into space) against Atlantis and sunk it himself. With the empire fractured, the remaining Atlanteans venture to other corners of the globe to rebuild.[15]
Arion would appear in the Crisis on Infinite Earth crossover as being among the heroes taken in by Harbinger and aids the heroes.
Post-Crisis
Owing to the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Arion's universe now exists in the same DC Multiverse with a few changes; Arion's version of Atlantis took place in the distant past, roughly around 500,000 years before the main DCU timeline and is explained that despite Arion's belief, Atlantis as a whole wasn't destroyed.[16] He was also made part of Power Girl's backstory, being his great-granddaughter jettisoned into the future, her powers said to originate from Arion's experimentation in genetic manipulation[17] and an ancestor of Zatanna Zatara through her mother's side.[18] Eventually, Arion and characters from within his series would be connected to DC's homo magi and the Lords of Chaos and Order, the aforementioned sorcerer being among the Lords of Order. Affiliated characters, like his father and mother, would also be retconned into being deities themselves, making him an actual being of divine origin.[1]
Later, an aged Arion is revealed to be immortal and to have lost his magic and is living in Greenwich Village along with several former Atlantean gods and goddesses, including Chaon, Deedra, Gemimn, and the Weaver. His companion, Mara, was trapped in canine form when the magic was lost.[19] Arion renews his old rivalry with his brother, Garn Daanuth, and works to stop the return of Atlantean magic by preventing Darkworld, revealed to be a sentient being, from slumbering.[20]
In the Time Masters mini-series, Rip Hunter and his allies travel back in time to Atlantis where Arion assists them while trying to convince Hunter to not use violence.
After Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, Arion aided the Justice League of America against Scarabus.[21] He eventually turned up in the present day where his body was taken over by Mordru and his spirit imprisoned in Gemworld. His spirit was finally released and allowed to go to the afterlife by Power Girl and Hawkgirl (along with a recently awakened Dove) to weaken Mordru. Before his soul departed, Arion revealed to Power Girl that she was not his granddaughter and thus not an Atlantean.
Arion seemingly reappeared in Infinite Crisis as one of the mystics gathered in Atlantis to keep the Spectre at bay, and later in the Day of Vengeance tie-in special as one of several magical beings summoned to help rebuild the shattered Rock of Eternity. No explanation was given for Arion's involvement at the time. It was later revealed that this Arion was, in fact, a pretender, a native of Akron named Bill Knightley who had decided to trade on Arion's name and reputation to build himself up in the mystical community.[22]
Camelot Falls
A past version of Arion later appears. In the year 1659, Arion is awakened from a night of debauchery by visions of a cataclysmic future centered around the presence of Superman. Cut off from his natural magics, Arion employed certain artifacts to propel himself forward to Superman's present. Arriving in Metropolis, Arion subjected Superman and his friends at the Daily Planet to a vision of a possible future where Superman and other alien heroes' involvement in humanity caused people to become dependent on them, ultimately producing an apocalypse as their alien intervention held back the 'natural cycle' of civilizations falling upon reaching their peak, culminating in a mass apocalypse as the darkness they had held back for so long came at them with full force. Arion hoped to force Superman to retire and prevent the predictions from coming true.
Superman was given two weeks in which to decide how he would deal with Arion's request, during which Arion illustrated his point by magically steering a "field trip" of adolescent New Gods, chaperoned by Lightray and Fastbak, to come crashing into Metropolis and go wild with their divine powers, causing untold havoc and general interference with the populace. Superman defused the situation with Lightray's help and deduced Arion's involvement. At roughly the same time, Arion kidnapped Bill Knightley from outside the Oblivion Bar, interrogated him, and nearly killed him. The only thing that saved Knightley was his knowledge of the recently begun "Tenth Age of Magic", a tumultuous change in the world's mystical equilibrium. Knightley claimed to be studying the shift and Arion decided he might have some value alive.[23]
At the end of the two weeks, Arion and Superman met again; Superman chose to remain active as part of Earth's defense and deeply involved with humanity, refusing to give up hope that he could make a difference. Arion's vicious response was to cast a powerful mind manipulation spell, with the intent of using Superman as a weapon to remove the threat of other alien heroes. Superman was able to resist thanks to training from the Martian Manhunter after his period under the control of Maxwell Lord.[1] During a meeting with the Phantom Stranger, the Stranger gave Superman a mystic shield to protect him from direct assault by Arion's magics. The Stranger also advised Superman that, while Arion's prediction could come to pass, the loss of life and experience that would result if Superman simply allowed civilization to fall meant that mankind had to try to find another way. With this aid, Superman was able to defeat Arion and disarm him of the rings, amulets, and charms from which he derived his magic. Arion was returned to 1659 where he plans his next move on Superman in the future.
The New 52
Secret Six Vol. 2: The Gauntlet (2014-2016)
Although he did not make a full appearance, Arion would make a brief cameo and was mentioned in the 2014 Secret Six relaunch; it is revealed that millions of years ago, he was the wizard responsible for sealing away elder gods known as the "Dark Giants", who appear to be both based on and a reference to Cthulhu Mythos deities and are the central antagonists that threaten the world in the modern-day from being released due to Black Alice's condition of siphoning magic around the world, undoing the very seals that kept them in place. His children are also the antagonist as they work to help undo the seal, having formed a cult named the "Children of Arion". The four members remain nameless save seemingly the leader, Uvian.[9]
DC Rebirth
Following the company-wide rebranding in DC Rebirth, Arion made his new debut in the 2016 Blue Beetle series. In this continuity, he shares similarities to his previous version such as being a former king of Atlantis and is stated to be a Lord of Order manifested in the physical form of an Atlantean demigod. He is also indirectly mentioned alongside his brother by the newer version of Calculha and Dark Majistra, this revised history making him an ancestor of Aquaman, Ocean Master, Dead King Atlan, and Atlanna.
Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Hard Choices (2016)
Thousands of years ago, Arion was believed to have been turned into an insane villain from exposure to the Blue Beetle scarab and gains a more demonic appearance from the usage of more malevolent magic. After being sealed away by Doctor Fate long ago, he uses his apprentice Mordecai Cull to lure Doctor Fate. Jaime Reyes, and the Blue Beetle scarab into undoing his sealing, stealing the scarab for himself to use its power to destroy the world. With the help of Doctor Fate and his allies, Jaime Reyes manages to defeat the sorcerer and his Atlantean demons created by his magic. Arion is then sealed in a crystal of absolution by Doctor Fate for 10,000 years.[10]
DC Universe (2017 - )
Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth
In the Drowned Earth Justice League and Aquaman crossover, Arion appears in a series of flashbacks, where it is revealed that both Atlantis and Themyscira were once close allies during his rulership and is responsible for the prosperous and peaceful expansion of the Atlantean Empire. Much of his expolits in his lifetime included building an ancient spaceship for space exploration and attempting to use his technology and magic to make contact with alien lifeforms. He is also revealed to have been Poseidon's protege who revealed a secret of why Earth was different from other planets of life: through the Life Force, a cosmic force that allows life to flourish. Upon learning this secret, Arion took a portion of the Life Force and imbued it into one of his artifacts, dubbing it the "Clarion" and wanted to share a portion of its power. Upon using it, he made contact with divine contemporaries of Poseidon in alien worlds, including the Triumvirate of Sea Gods, who sought out cosmic force to help their struggling worlds. Combined with Poseidon's jealousy of his student's genius intelligence and selfishly wanting to possess the Life Force for himself, he lies to Arion and claims the trio of sea gods intend to invade Earth. Broken over his supposed naievte, Arion uses his magical powers and technology to create an inversion of the Life Force, instead creating the "Tear of Extinction", liquid in which carries the "Death Force", capable of killing divine entities and sending them to an afterlife known as the Graveyeard of the Gods. Creating the Tear of Extinction caused Arion to subcumb to its negative influence. He used to kill the Triumvirate of Sea Gods but lost his sanity in the process and is said to have perished, his remains buried in his tomb. His death and experience with extaterresial life was told in a legend as a precautionary tale against exploration beyond Atlantis, fueling Atlantean isolationsist policies despite Arion's lifetime fighting against it.[24]
In the aftermath of the events, the Triumvirate of Sea Gods would suffer in the Graveyard of the Gods afterlife, bearing a grudge against Arion and Poseidon and would attempt to extract their revenge thousands of years later. Poseidon would feel guilty for being the prime reason he fueled Atlantis's isolationist policies and his betrayal of his apprentice. Eventually, Arion's ancestor, Arion, would reveal the truth to the trio of sea gods and offer them the same power. Queen Mera, the ruling monarch of Atlantis, would also fulfill Arion's intents by using the Clarion to broadcast her intentions of connecting her kingdom with interested, oceanic alien worlds.[24]
Unlike the Hard Choices storyline in Blue Beetle, the Drowned Earth crossover suggested Arion was insane through the Tear of Extinction[24] instead of Khaji-Da.[10] The 2021 edition of the DC Comics Encyclopedia addresses the discrepancy, stating that he was indeed driven insane although instead of dying as the story suggested, he disappeared for a millennia and his fall from grace due to the Tear of Extinction was covered up by Atlantean authorities by claiming he perished. The entry also expresses the chronological events that happened afterward, including the flashback and present accounts of the character in the Hard Choices storyline as well as suggesting the Camelot Falls storyline also took place.[25]
Justice League (2018) backup: Justice League Dark
In the 2018 Justice League backup issues of Justice League Dark, the famous sorcerer of Arthurian legends, Merlin, plots to conquer all of the magic under his control. His quest pits him against Justice League Dark, Aquaman, and Atlantis's Silent School. Wanting to control the extra-dimensional wellspring of Atlantean magic known as Darkworld without doing so personally, he uses his magical knowledge to resurrect Arion, who has a natural connection to Darkworld and puts him under mind control as one of his Sapphire Knights.[26]
Characterization
Historical and mythological figure
Ahri'ahn (simplied to Arion in the fictional Atlantean language) was originally depicted as the "Lord High Mage" during the times of ancient Atlantis, a senior government post held by sorcerers that makes him a designated expert in the mystic matters, a protector, and a leader in the Atlantean government that was only surpassed by the monarch and their aide.[27][15] Although the continuities and histories of the character changes various details regarding his background, he is also commonly portrayed as a revered, influential figure and eventual monarch of Atlantis.[15][24] More recent stories casts the character as a mythological figure in Atlantean history, in which Mera compares to the King Arthur legends on the "surface".[24]
Heritage and lineage
Both the Arion, Lord of Atlantis backup issues in Warlord early issue of the ongoing series of the same name first state the character to being a cosmic being created from magic energies with the power to influence chaos and order.[11] A later issue retroactively changes Arion's background, instead casting him as a demigod and the biracial son of gods Calcula and Majistra as well as the twin brother of Garn Daanuth.[15] Prior to the New 52, the character was confirmed to be a distant ancestor of Zatanna from Sindella's line.[28] In the current continuity, the character is the ancestor of the Atlantean royal family,[24] making him related to characters such as Aquaman, Ocean Master, Atlanna, and Andrina Curry.
Identities
Due to the character's immortal lifetime, at times, he has adopted various identities and fabricated various backgrounds to hide his true nature as a Lord of Order and immortal sorcerer:
In the 1600s, Arion was known as Vicomte Jean-Simon Giscard D'Arion, claiming to be son of a deceased noble and was known for his aristocratic tendencies, charisma, and distinctive accent which was considered foreign to residents of Paris. During that time period, Arion was depicted as being arrogant and pessimistic.[29]
In the modern age, Arion is known as Aristotle Ronalds, a elderly American resident in Greenwich Village. Unlike his past identity as Vicomte, Arion's mystic abilities waned further enough to no longer maintain a youthful appearance until he regained his magical powers and resorted to scams to earn money. He also has a pet dog name Mara, who is in reality a Homo Magi immortal shapeshifter and friend from his era who shifted into a dog at some point just as magic completely ceased in Atlantis, causing her to forget her life as a human and trapping her as a dog for centuries.[19][20]
Reputation
The character is recognized as a Lord of Order and is remarked to be considered one of the most powerful sorcerers in the DC Universe due to his immortal lifetime and studies.[1] He is also among the few characters outside Doctor Fate and Zatanna whom has been referred as Sorcerer Supreme.[30]
A lieutenant of the Atlantean Royal Guard and a reluctant prince of the people of Khe-Wannantu (who resembled depictions of Native Americans) and one of Arion's closest confidantes, subordinates, and friends. After being cured of his blindness upon acting on Calculha's behalf to resurrect Arion into his second life, Wyynde was fiercely loyal and helped Arion in many adventures while the latter helped him in return. Wyynde's people were eventually eradicated, save his wife, Fawndancer, and his brother, Nightfire, at the hands of Garn Daanuth. After Atlantis's destruction, Wyynde would lose contact with his friends while surveying new lands to rebuild Atlantis. It is implied he eventually landed in North America.
Chian
Warlord #56 (April 1982)
Chian is a former mercenary-turned Captain of the Atlantan Royal Guard and Arion's chief love interest prior to the destruction of Atlantis. A native from the Atlantean city-state of Hoshun (whose people resemble depictions of Asians). Loyal to D'Tilluh and Arion, she would serve as another of Arion's closest confidantes, friends, and eventually served as his wife and queen. An expert in sword fighting and weaponry, she along with Wyynde, was considered ancient Atlantis's greatest mortal warrior and trained her eventual husband into a formidable swordsman.
Mara
Arion Lord of Atlantis #2 (December 1982)
A young adventurer from the Thamuz, one of the major city-states conquered by Garn Daanuth during his campaign against Atlantis's rulers in a bid for total rulership, she became intertwined with Arion and his friends when she possessed one of the Zodiac Crystals, an heirloom in her family sought after by Garn. She was later revealed to have shape-shifting powers, only able to use them in dire situations. During her adventures with Arion and friends, she was depicted as having fallen in love with Wyynde despite his constant rejection of her advances on account of her being slightly below marrying age. Her relationship with Arion is strained for a time when Garn's mind-control plot and trauma from the destruction of Khe-Wannantu takes a mental toll on Wyynde to the point of unresponsiveness, blaming Arion's relationship with Garn as being the cause of this.
After the destruction of Atlantis, Mara was originally depicted as having eventually succeeded Arion as queen of the remnant of Atlantis and acting as a close family friend as she helped him look after his grandchildren, Khater and Kara (Powergirl). However, this story was eventually retconned the Arion the Immortal miniseries reveals that her power to shape-shift was connected to the same font of power that Arion draws his magic from (Darkworld), making her an immortal. It was also revealed that when the Darkworld dimension's connection to Earth ceased, she was in the form of a dog and became trapped in it. Over the centuries, her canine form had forgotten her human life and Arion was unable to magically transform her back. He would keep her canine form as a pet.
Calculha
Warlord #55 (March 1982)
Arion's and Garn's father, Majistra's wife, and mentor to Arion in magic. Calculha served as an agent of the Lords of Order, Sorcerer Supreme of his time, and was considered the most powerful Master God of the ancient Atlantean pantheon. Depicted as a force of good devoted to protecting Atlantis and the universe, he struggles with accepting Arion's fate as an agent (and later Lord) for the Lords of Order, as its foretellings of his supposed future good deeds places him in mortal danger or require a sacrifice. He is killed by Garn and reveals Arion and Garn's true connection moments before passing away. As a spirit, he assisted Arion through magical crystals finite in number. Eventually, Calculha passes into the afterlife upon the last crystal being spent.
Calcula in recent continuities shares a similar history of being a previous king of Atlantis. He is also said to have been a rival god to Majistra and Poseidon, the former whom he would marry.
Chaon
Warlord #57 (May 1982)
An embodiment of evil serving in a position held coincidentally by Darkseid in the future, Chaon served as both a Lord of Chaos and the Atlantean Pantheon's god of evil, madness, and chaos. A native of Darkworld like Calculha, he is also the sibling of his cosmic opposite, Gemimn, and their balancer, Tynan. Constantly held in check by Tynan and Calculha, Chaon attempted to destroy the universe but was foiled repeatedly by Arion and his friends. Eventually, when Calculha dies and rivals Garn Daanuth and Dark Majistra are no longer able to act, he seizes an opportunity to cause suffering by ensnaring his siblings, pits Atlantis against ancestors who disappeared while exploring space, and founded a new technologically based colony, and caused the first destruction of Atlantis
In Arion the Immortal, it is revealed that he along with his siblings and other gods of the Atlantean Pantheon are depowered following Darkworld's connection to Earth ceasing, trapping them in human forms to save their immortality. Retiring from their cosmic duties, Chaon opens up a seedy Deli shop in New York in the modern day. When magic from Darkworld returns to Earth, he instead uses it to further his business and enjoy his retirement. He is characterized as no longer caring for his former cosmic duties, believing human nature makes his actions to cause chaos redundant. Furthermore, while he often clashes with Arion, he also has slowly come to care for him and is a reluctant confidante when Arion reluctantly accepts the mantle of hero from the resurgence of ancient Atlantean magic.
Garn Daanuth is a fictional supervillain introduced in Warlord #62 (July 1982). His character is the major antagonist in both Arion, Lord of Atlantis and Arion the Immortal titles, serving as Arion's arch-enemy. He is affiliated with the Lords of Chaos, originally stated to be one of their agents. Later and modern revisions of the character instead mention him as a genuine Lord of Chaos. In the DC Universe, he serves as a prominent evil figure in ancient Atlantis's history and the former ruler of Mu, whose people culturally resemble ancient Egyptians. He is also alleged to be an ancestor of the Titans hero, Tempest (formerly Aqualad)[31] and a distant relative to significant DC characters such as Aquaman, Ocean Master, and Zatanna through his brother's bloodline.
The mother of both Arion and Garn Daanuth as well as Calculha's wife. The Atlantean Goddess of Strife and Darkness, she is the only Atlantean ancient goddess with no connection with Darkworld, having been stated to be born on Earth. Her connections as ruler of the people of Mu (who resemble ancient Egyptians), her appearance, and her children's abilities to natively invoke powers in connection to Egyptian figures (i.e. Ra) suggested some connection to ancient Egyptian deities. In the past, she was said to have genuinely loved Calculha and was once his Queen. Both of them would create the Zodiac Crystals. Having a falling out and separating from her husband, she would choose to raise Garn in accordance with a prophecy as an agent of the Lords of Chaos while also favoring him for having inherited more of her likeness. Becoming a political rivals of Calculha, both argued for the status quo of magic on Earth, Majistra in favor of ushering in a new age of dark magic using the Zodiac Crystals. Denied her vision, she would confer to use its power for herself instead but is displaced by her son, Arion. Majistra would plot her return to Earth by using Darkworld's power for her own means but is killed by Arion. In her last death act, she releases her essence onto Earth, strengthening all black magic practitioners. In more recent continuities, Majistra is similarly depicted as a Queen of Atlantis in the past and husband to Calculha. She is also said to have been a rival to both her husband and Poseidon.
In the comics, Vandal Savage (real name Vandal Adg of the Blood Tribe) is an immortal caveman who gained his immortal and regeneration abilities after an encounter with a strange meteorite. Although the character himself never appears in the Arion Lord of Atlantis series, a younger Vandal Savage is mentioned in the Time Master series as having been one of Garn's allies as the two were in the Brotherhood of the Light, the prelude group to the modern-day Illuminati, and a known criminal responsible for the attempted de-stabilization of the ancient Atlantean government while Arion acted a Lord High Mage. Despite his crimes, Arion's chose to not pursue Vandal Savage in his later years as he adopted a pacifistic mindset. When time traveler Rip Hunter and the Tim Masters seek to stop Vandal Savage, they learn that Arion's choice to not stop Vandal Savage enabled him to act for centuries despite Arion possessing the power to have stopped him. In the Young Justice animated series, Vandal Savage is instead cast as Arion's grandfather (whereas Arion's comic incarnation is far older than Vandal) who sired him in a plot to create a race of human beings able to inhabit the ocean, giving him control over a significant part of Earth. He would inherit Vandal's metahuman DNA and immortal powers but lacked his regeneration abilities. In Arion's lifetime, he would become an agent for the Lords of Order, ruler of Atlantis, and the ancestral progenitor for the Homo magi and Homo mermanus race (modern Atlantean). He would be killed while defending Atlantis from Klarion the Witchboy, who sunk his fabled city.
In the comics, Arion and Nabu are contemporaries due to being affiliated with the same group, the Lords of Order. Despite that, Arion would come into conflict with both Nabu and bearers of the Doctor Fate mantle, Kent Nelson and Khalid Nassour. During the times of ancient Egypt, Nabu would happen upon an insane Arion (having been turned due to using the Tear of Extinction) during his battle with Khaji Da, the Blue Beetle Scarab, as he sought it to advert a coming cataclysm. Falsely concluding that the scarab drove him to insanity, he would seal him in a dimension under modern-day El Paso. Arion and his underlying, Mordecai Cull, would battle Doctor Fate (Nabu and Kent Nelson), Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, and OMAC as he sought to eradicate all of reality. He would later be completely revived under the influence of Merlin and is one of the foretold magical users that will cause the fall of the Tower of Fate, putting the mind-controlled Arion at odds with Khalid Nassour.
While various characters associated with Doctor Fate and Arion appeared in the Young Justice animated series, they would not physically meet. Nabu and Arion are cast as relatives, the former as Vandal Savage's son, making Arion his nephew. Khalid Nassour and his mother, Jane Nassour (an adaptation of comic Elizabeth Nassour), are also stated to be homo magi, making them direct descendants of Arion.
While typically depicted as a hero, Arion is considered an enemy of hero Jaime Reyes, also known as Blue Bettle, in his insane state. Having been sealed in a dimension under El Paso by Nabu, Arion's powerful magical aura causes a resurgence of young teeangers awakening their metahuman powers in his hometown and targets Jaime Reyes and his family through the usage of his minion, Mordei Cull, to obtain Khaji Da. Teaming up with Ted Kord, Doctor Fate, OMAC, and Teri Magus (time-displaced Flash of the 31st Century), they thwart Arion's ultimate plan of destroying all of reality through his magic and Khaji Da's cosmic energies.
While typically depicted as a hero, Arion is also considered a reluctant enemy of Superman. Earlier stories included a crossover between the two as Arion is displaced through time by Chaon and arrives in a modern-day setting. Superman would assist the sorcerer in stopping Chaon and returning Arion to the past while withholding the ultimate fate of Atlantis and its people due to the common plight of having their entire way of life and culture destroyed by a cataclysmic event. When time is set correctly, both characters forget about their adventure with one another. In the Camelot Falls storyline, Superman and a mostly depowered Arion from the 1600s come into conflict when the past Arion claims that Superman's heroics and alien heritage interfere with the natural course of human history resulting in civilizations falling, causing dark forces to push back by cause events that result in far more devastating events that will eventually destroy all of humanity itself and urge him to retire. When Superman refuses, Arion uses his magical powers to battle Superman, cause natural disasters from the dark forces already occupying Earth, and attempt to tarnish Superman's reputation by casting Superman in a bad light. Eventually, with Phantom Stranger's help, he manages to beat while reminding Arion that he once served humanity. Arion secretly escapes to his current time, frustrated with the circumstances and reluctantly agreeing with Superman's stance on humanity.
Powers and abilities
Being among the Lords of Order whom possess a human form, his demigod heritage and studies over the centuries makes him a powerful sorcerer.[32] He is classified as an archmage, a designation that suggests he himself is enchanted being and/or exists as a higher being on the plane of existence.[33] Arion utilizes a distinctive form of magic known as "Atlantean magic", originating from a connection to the extradimensional realm known as Darkworld and differs from other magical practices in the DC Universe such as those practiced by Doctor Fate.[6] At the height of his power, Arion's abilities were considered nearly limitless and possesses a wide array of powers, including the capacity to alter his size, cast illusions, and even unleash devastating natural disasters.[27]
Alongside his extraordinary magical abilities, Arion possesses heightened senses, psychic abilities, and the gift of prophecy, enabling him to perceive disturbances in both the present and the future. Though he favors magical solutions, Arion is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman. His versatility extends beyond magic, as he is even adept in the art of three-card monte.[27][32][34] After the New 52 reboot, the character was also retroactively established as a technological and scientific genius responsible for the advanced technology that Atlantis possess.[24]
Artifacts, technology, and resources
Arion is also classified as a sorcerer, a class of magic users who uses enchanted objects to enhance their abilities and safeguard themselves from the inherent costs and perils of magic.[33] This classification is especially relevant to instances the character is depowered and/or has relinquished a significant portion of his mystical might.[33] Among his arsenal of mystic artifacts includes the Mantle of the Savior, the robes he often wears weaved by his father with mystical threads. Most notably, the Mystic Gem of Ahri'ahn is the magic crystal often on his chest, powering his magic by converting solar energy into magical energy and can also draw power from Darkworld.[15] Arion also uses Calculha's magic crystals, shattered pieces of a magical crystal ball containing a portion of his divine father's power. These crystals serve as a finite source of magic due to a limited supply, requiring him to use them only in emergencies when he was depowered after sacrificing his magic to end an Ice Age.[15] At some point, Arion also used the Staff of Arion, a conduit of Atlantean magic[35] he can summon at will.[36] The staff is also owned by Traci 13.[35]
Arion also possess a vast amount of resources; Arion's base of operations is the Citadel of Sorcery, an inheritance from his father. This large structure, decorated with Atlantean and Egyptian-like designs, acts as a sanctum and possesses a large collection of knowledge and artifacts, some which predate Arion, and is a source of magical power which can awaken other's abilities.[15] Among Arion's most renown technological creation is the Tear of Extinction, a fusion of magic and techology that takes the form of a liquid substance infused with the "Death Force" a cosmic force capable of killing even the divine and sends them to a form of the afterlife known as the Graveyard of the Gods but usage of it can drive the user insane.[37]
Other versions
William Knightley
First appearance
Day of Vengeance #1 (June 2005)
Created by
Bill Willingham & Justiniano
Abilities
Skilled in magic
Aliases
Arion Bill Knightley of Akron
William "Bill" Knightley is a sorcerous hero from Ohio whom took the name and inspiration from Ahri'ahn himself, hoping to use his name ("Arion") to help jumpstart his superhero career and had an opportunity in the form of the Day of Vengeance event, being one of the many heroes to help fight off an insane Spectre. Finding it difficult, he would meet his predecessor's past self, who views him as an imitator and fraud trading in on his name, and would punish him for it despite Bill's stating he was considered dead in the present time and plea to be his advisor. Ahri'ahn would later use Bill as a stand-in for him to be arrested by Superman in his place due to having coming into conflict with the hero and world governments, using a long lasting disguise spell and his actual sorcerous abilities to have him masquerade as himself. Despite Ahri'ahn and his insistence on Bill being an imitator, the magical community is unaware and believes William to be Arion himself. Furthermore, the character's ability to replicate his specific brand of magic and mystical spells cast by Zatanna believing him to be Arion suggests a true connection between Bill and Arion.[29]
In other media
Arion appears in Young Justice, voiced by David Kaye.[38] This version was the grandson of Vandal Savage, the first king of Atlantis, an agent of the Lords of Order, and ancestor of the Atlanteans and Homo Magi whose magic was derived from his crown. After learning Vandal's intention to sink Atlantis and further the Atlantean and Homo Magi, Arion died opposing him while Klarion the Witch Boy fulfilled Vandal's plot. In the present, Vandal attempts to obtain Arion's crown by creating a clone of him inhabited by Ocean Master's mind, who is eventually killed by the Lords of Order.[39][40]
^Eury, Michael (March 2008). "Back Issue!". Two Morrows (27): 38–39.
^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. 18. ISBN978-1-4654-5357-0.
^"Arion Voice - Young Justice (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 22, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
