Warning: The next incorporates SPOILERS for the primary three episodes of Young Justice season 4, half 2.
The primary three episodes of the second half of Young Justice season 4 launched a variety of characters linked to Aquaman and DC Comics’ model of Atlantis into the truth of Earth-16. A few of these characters are making their first animated look, although they did have cameos within the comedian books based mostly upon the Young Justice sequence. A few of these characters are additionally obscure, as is commonly the case with minor character cameos in Young Justice.
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The fourth main story arc of Young Justice season 4 facilities round Kaldur’ahm, who began the sequence as Aqualad, however grew into the position of Aquaman, changing his mentor on the Justice League. The occasions of the primary three episodes overlap with the earlier arc targeted upon Zatanna, as we see the results of the Chaos Lord Kid’s assaults on Earth from one other perspective. This culminates in an epic motion sequence during which the heroes of Atlantis should shield their residence from a flesh-consuming wave of purple water.
Regardless of this intense motion, the episodes are largely set in opposition to the backdrop of a peace convention between the varied Atlantean kingdoms and the main target is on the political issues of Atlantis. This results in the introduction of many characters taken from the world of DC Comics. Whereas most of them have a connection to Aquaman, there are others who had been solely tied into the identical undersea world as Orin and Mera later.
Arion
A lot of the plot of the Young Justice season 4 half 2’s premiere facilities round an Atlantean prophecy, much like the legend of King Arthur, concerning the rise of a real king of Atlantis and a mystic hero who will save Atlantis in its darkest hour. The hero modestly refuses to disclose his identification at first, however lastly claims to be Arion, the primary king of Atlantis. Arion was talked about in passing earlier in Young Justice season 4, however these episodes mark his first look outdoors of flashbacks detailing the historical past of Vandal Savage and the sinking of Atlantis, which Arion did not cease, a lot to his everlasting disgrace.
The background of Arion in Young Justice is pretty near the historical past of the character at DC Comics, the place he was referred to as Arion the Immortal. Within the present continuity, Arion was the primary king of Atlantis, the founding father of the royal bloodline that features Aquaman and Ocean Grasp, in addition to being a scientist and sorcerer of supreme energy. Young Justice goes a step additional, nonetheless, by additionally making Arion the progenitor of Homo Magi, the race of magic-wielding people that features Zatanna Zatara and her father, DC Comics’ first magic-using superhero, Giovanni Zatara.
Danuuth
A former member of the royal guard of Atlantis, Dannuth betrayed his publish to hitch in certainly one of Ocean Grasp’s many makes an attempt to overthrow King Orin and Queen Mera. Whereas this marks Dannuth’s first look within the Young Justice animated sequence, he beforehand appeared within the Young Justice tie-in comedian. In response to showrunner Greg Weisman, Danuuth is predicated on Garn Daanuth, who was the arch-enemy and twin brother of Arion within the comics. Dannuth can be reportedly a direct-line descendant of Garn Daanuth.
Ondine
King Orin introduces Ondine as a Commander within the Atlantean military and his Minister of Safety. Within the comics, Odine stuffed a vastly completely different however no much less heroic position when she first appeared in Aquaman Vol. 8 #27. In that story, she was a spy within the make use of of the Widowhood group, who backed Mera’s efforts to turn into Queen of Atlantis.
Lori Lemaris
An Atlantean girl possessing the decrease physique of a classical mermaid, Lori Lemaris is launched on the peace convention as a Normal of Neptunos, which is the Atlantean city-state governing the Indian Ocean. Within the Superman comics, Lori Lemaris was Clark Kent’s first girlfriend at Metropolis College, the place she hid her standing as a mermaid utilizing a wheelchair and a blanket. Sadly, their romance ended after they agreed there was no method to make their relationship work when Lori might solely spend a lot trip of the ocean.
Ronal
Ronal is launched on the peace convention because the delegate from Crastinus, an Atlantean city-state based mostly within the Arctic Ocean. Ronal’s cameo in Young Justice season 4, episode 14, “Nautical Twilight” marks his first animated look, however he beforehand appeared within the Young Justice comedian as certainly one of a number of younger Atlanteans recruited right into a racist group secretly organized by the treacherous Prince Orm. Ronal noticed the error of his methods and joined within the battle in opposition to Ocean Grasp, incomes a pardon for his previous crimes. Within the comics, Ronal was a merman who ultimately married the mermaid Lori Lemaris.
Topo
A shy and soft-spoken determine, Topo is launched because the Prime Minister of Lemuria, an Atlantean city-state positioned within the North Pacific Ocean. Within the traditional Aquaman comics, Topo was the identify of Aquaman’s octopus companion. Newer comics (together with the Young Justice tie-in e book) have introduced Topo as an anthropomorphic squid-man who strongly resembles most creative interpretations of the octopus-headed elder god Cthulhu.
King Nanaue Sha’ark
There have been almost as many variations of King Shark within the comics and comedian diversifications as there have completely different variations of Superboy. First showing in 1994, the DC villain King Shark was first pitted in opposition to the Conner Kent Superboy. Completely different tales advised that King Shark was the son of a shark god, the results of a science experiment gone mistaken, or a hyper-evolved shark. Finally, it was determined that he actually was the son of a shark god, however he nonetheless alternates between being introduced as dumb muscle (as in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad) or, as in the latest Aquaman comics, a crafty crime boss.
The Earth-16 model of King Shark is the ruler of the Atlantean city-state of Nanauve and the southern seas round Antarctica. Formally referred to as King Nanaue Sha’ark, he’s a fierce defender of the various Atlanteans who’ve taken on the traits of animals and expertise discrimination from “purist” Atlanteans. Regardless of his inherent the Aristocracy, he’s nonetheless hot-headed and fast to anger.
Minkis
Minkis is a waitress on the algae bar Kaldur, Wyynde, and Delphis go to after the primary day of the peace convention in Young Justice season 4, episode 14, “Nautical Twilight.” Her pleasant response to Wyynde means that he is a daily buyer and possibly a beneficiant tipper. Minkis shares a reputation with an Atlantean woman who was certainly one of a number of youngsters Aquaman saved in Aquaman Vol. 4 #3.
Rodunn
A soldier within the Atlantean royal guard, Rodunn can be a part of a polygamous marriage with La’gaan and Emissary Coral of Neptunos. Within the 1994 Aquaman comedian e book sequence, Rodunn was the Captain of the Atlantean royal guard charged with overseeing the execution of Arthur Curry’s Aquaman after he was discovered responsible of treason in opposition to Atlantis and dethroned. Rodunn made it his private mission to seek out the previous king after he escaped, however as soon as once more grew to become his loyal follower after Aquaman saved his life.
Blubber
Blubber is a great however slow-moving whale-man whom King Orin saves in Young Justice season 4, episode 15, “Ebb Tide.” This marks Blubber’s first look within the animated sequence, although he beforehand appeared in points #14 and #15 of the Young Justice tie-in comedian. He’s based mostly on a personality from the 1994 Aquaman sequence who, together with Lagoon Boy and the mermaid Sheeva, had been collectively referred to as the Landlubbers, attributable to their love of floor world tradition.
M’chiste
M’chiste is one other follower of Aquaman villain Prince Orm, who changed his severed hand with a mace. Young Justice season 4, episode 16, “Emergency Dive,” marks his first animated look, however he beforehand appeared in difficulty #14 of the Young Justice tie-in comedian. Surprisingly sufficient, he seems to be modeled on the heroic character Machiste from the fantasy sequence Warlord, which has no connection to the mythology of Atlantis or Aquaman past Arion making his first look because the star of a backup function revealed in Warlord, beginning with Warlord #55.
King Ryus Nereus of Xebel
King Ryus Nereus is probably the most effective identified of the brand new Young Justice characters amongst common audiences, having appeared within the DCEU Aquaman film the place he was performed by Dolph Lundgren, who will return within the position in Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom. Within the present DC comics continuity, King Ryus despatched Mera to assassinate the King of Atlantis, whose ancestors had imprisoned them and different dissidents within the jail dimension Xebel. Sadly for him and his grand plans, the newly topped King Orin was removed from the merciless despot he had educated his daughter to anticipate and she or he fell in love with the younger king as a substitute of killing him. It’s unclear if one thing comparable occurred within the actuality of Earth-16, however King Ryus stays the harshest critic of the previous Aquaman’s reign and has reportedly achieved all the things attainable to undermine his authority wanting open warfare.
Chian
As Arion friends within the royal palace in Young Justice season 4, episode 16, “Emergency Dive,” he’s attended by a lady named Chian, who listens to his considerations that his presence is just exacerbating the battle between King Orin and King Ryus Nereus. Later, Chian helps Arion to sneak out of the palace, in order that he can do one thing to cease the rioters who’re attacking Atlantis in his identify. Chian beforehand appeared in difficulty #14 of the Young Justice tie-in comedian, the place she was one of many college students recruited into Ocean Grasp’s hate group. She is predicated on the character of Woman Chian, who first appeared within the Arion, Lord of Atlantis sequence, the place she was an adventuring companion of Arion and, in time, his spouse.
New episodes of Young Justice launch Thursdays on HBO Max.