History Headscratchers / Aquaman

* Was Black Manta suppose to be a sea creature? Was him being a black man a retcon in 1978?

* Was Black Manta supposed to be a sea creature? Was him being a black man a retcon in 1978?

*** A few issues in, Aquaman commands some angler fish to provide light for him and Mera. As they near their destination (the location of incredibly dangerous aquatic humanoids) the fish swim away. When questioned by Mera, Aquaman says that their ''survival instinct was overriding his telepathy''.

*** A few issues in, Aquaman commands some angler fish to provide light for him and Mera. As they near their destination (the location of incredibly dangerous aquatic humanoids) the fish swim away. When questioned by Mera, Aquaman says that their ''survival instinct was overriding his telepathy''.
* Why does DC keep trying to make Aquaman cool by [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands heaping powers on him]] and having him do "badass" things in teamups when the real problem is that AtlantisIsBoring and attempts to make it less boring come off as asinine far more often than not? Really, the best course of action is to put Aquaman, as a concept for a superhero, out of his misery.
** What you said could apply to any other hero who does something "badass.". You're just bashing him to bash him. If the character isn't for you that's fine. But Aquaman has survived over 70 years for a reason.

* Why does DC keep trying to make Aquaman cool by [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands heaping powers on him]] and having him do "badass" things in teamups when the real problem is that AtlantisIsBoring and attempts to make it less boring come off as asinine far more often than not? Really, the best course of action is to put Aquaman, as a concept for a superhero, out of his misery.

*** A few issues in, Aquaman commands some angler fish to provide light for him and Mera. As they near their destination (the location of incredibly dangerous aquatic humanoids) the fish swim away. When questioned by Mera, Aquaman says that their ''survival instinct was overriding his telepathy''.

** The Aquaman 2011 series puts a dampener on Aquaman's telepathy, highlighting how the average marine life has a simpler brain structure[[hottip:*:"Dolphin's are a different story."]], and Aquaman's telepathy, rather than the complex manipulation of the thoughtstream exibited by the Martian Manhunter and Saturn Girl, is more akin to the simple manipulation of low-level functions that's part of Princess Projectra's powers (for example). Thus, while Aquaman can essentially ''give a seizure'' to everyone, find easier controlling simple mindsets by melding urges and compulsions to their brain activity.

***** It doesn't even matter if they're the same species or not, as products of the same chain of evolutionary development there's going to be analogs of brains structures in a whites head that Aquaman has found in John's, especially something so sncient ir evolved be their ancestors emereged from the sea. Also the fact that Aquaman was pretty much outclassed on every level except the telepathic one means it makes perfect sense for him to to use to use the one weapon he had that was at least on par with a Martian's own abilities, whether or not he knew for sure it would work since. When it's a life or death situation you try anything that you think has a chance of sucess.

** With water hand, Aquaman can instantly dehydrate anyone he touches, killing them immediately. Is that not badass enough for you? Or would you like more examples of his awesomeness?

** Because he can already give people seizures by taking to the part of their brain that used to be a fish, and has superstrength and superresiliance; hydrokinesis on that level would make him TOO awesome.

** This is a joke right? My friend, we have THREE pages as to why your question is... needless, to say the least. For your benefit: {{Aquaman}}, HeartIsAnAwesomePower, WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway.

** The Aquaman 2011 series puts a dampener on Aquaman's telepathy, highlighting how the average marine life has a simpler brain structure, and Aquaman's telepathy, rather than the complex manipulation of the thoughtstream exibited by the Martian Manhunter and Saturn Girl, is more akin to the simple manipulation of low-level functions that's part of Princess Projectra's powers (for example). Thus, while Aquaman can essentially ''give a seizure'' to everyone, find easier controlling simple mindsets by melding urges and compulsions to their brain activity.

** False premise. Aquaman's telepathy *doesn't* only work on marine life. He's been using it on all kinds of things since at least the 60s ( humans, Kryptonians, Martians, dragons, weird disembodied computer things, undead, Despero. . . ). Its just more powerful on marine life, presumably for mystical reasons.

**** Little to none. Even those that are aquatic are limited to land-based water bodies, after all. Maybe some small to moderate measure of influence for the more aquatic species and life stages, tiny amount of influence for the truly amphibious, and none at all with toads.

** Mermaid mimicry. Green tail, flesh/orange-ish top.

*** So, out of curiosity, what's his status over amphibians?

** Seing as how Atlanteans are a somewhat magical people, it probably has more to do with magic and spirituality. My guess is that creatures with a stronger spiritual connection to water are easier to command.

** Because he can already give people brain aneurysms by taking to the part of their brain that used to be a fish, and has superstrength and superresiliance; hydrokinesis on that level would make him TOO awesome.

* Why don't they just make him have power over the water in a humans body so he can liquidate people and make him cooler than being a guy who can talk to fish?

* How is it that Aquaman's telepathy only works on marine life? It can't be because of the relative simplicity of their brains--a whale has a far more complex brain than a minnow, but he commands them both with equal ease. Why can he command sea mammals but only stun land mammals? If it were explicitly magical in nature I could accept AWizardDidIt, but like most PsychicPowers in comics, it's played as semi-scientific.

** Mermaid mimicry. Green tail, flesh/orange-ish top.

* Orange shirt, green pants. That is all.