| “ | Let it all... DIE! | „ |
| ~ Atlan sinking Atlantis. |
| “ | My family. I'm finally going to see my family again. | „ |
| ~ The Dead King's final words. |
Atlan, remembered as the Dead King, is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe and the overarching antagonist of the Aquaman franchise. He was the first and greatest King of Atlantis who sunk the nation into the ocean in his grief and rage after his younger brother Orin murdered his family and usurped his throne. For eons afterwards, Atlan slumbered as the Kingdoms of Atlantis progressed as an underwater nation. The ugly truth of his life was obscured from history, and overtime even his name was forgotten.
Atlan was portrayed by Julian Lewis Jones in the 2017 film Justice League and its 2021 director's cut Zack Snyder's Justice League, and by Graham McTavish in the 2018 film Aquaman. McTavish has also played Dracula in Netflix's Castlevania, Zoran Lazarević in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Joseph Bertrand III in inFAMOUS 2, Dromos and Father Kinley in Lucifer, and the Saint of Killers in Preacher.
Equipment[]
- Artifacts of Atlantis: Following his exile from the Kingdom of Atlantis, Atlan used ancient knowledge learned from the Kingdom of the Deserters to construct a set of powerful arcane artifacts. The entire set took years to complete, and each were considered potent talismans in their own right. However, Atlan himself was only ever depicted wielding the Scepter.
- Atlan's Scepter
- Atlantean Helmet: The Atlantean Helmet was a mask with the visage of an Atlantean warrior that covered its wearer's entire head. When worn, it allowed its user to survive without food, water, or oxygen, essentially meaning its bearer could survive even in the vacuum of space indefinitely. After being discovered by the Others, the Helmet was worn by Vostok-X and later his clone, both of which were Russian cosmonauts.
- Atlantean Key: The Atlantean Key took the form of a small stream-lined fin-like object that could fit into its wielder's hand comfortably. It had the ability to instantly unlock any locks, including digital ones. After being discovered by the Others, the Key was possessed by the Operative, a government agent in service to the United States despite his old age.
- Globe of Transportation: The Globe of Transportation took the form of a small sphere, similar to a pearl but roughly twice as large. It allowed the user to instantly teleport to any location they pictured, and could also be used to teleport others to their location. After being discovered by the Others, the Globe was wielded by Ya'Wara, a savage warrior from the Amazon Rainforest.
- Manacles of Force: The Manacles of Force were a pair of gauntlets connected by a chain which, when clashed together by its wielder, produced a powerful force field of golden energy. The size of the force fields could be adjusted, and the clanging together of the Manacles could also create powerful shockwaves. After being discovered by the Others, the Manacles were wielded by Prisoner-of-War, an American ex-soldier.
- Power Glove
- Seal of Clarity: The Seal of Clarity was a small tube-like object that, unlike the other artifacts, was described as a tool rather than a weapon. The talisman allowed its wielder to translate any language into one they could better comprehend. After being discovered by the Others, the Seal was safe-guarded by the Iranian seer Kahina. However, after Kahina was killed by the Black Manta, the shaman Sky Alchesay was later given charge of the artifact.
Other Media[]
DC Extended Universe[]
King Atlan appears in the DC Extended Universe, albeit not his villainous iteration. Unlike the mainline version his fall from grace is not depicted, as he is instead portrayed as the legendary and benevolent first King of Atlantis. In the 2017 film Justice League, Atlan and his Atlantean forces participated in the defense of Earth approximately five thousand years ago. Alongside Humans, Amazons, the Old Gods, and a Green Lantern, the Atlanteans was able to halt the alien New God Steppenwolf's invasion and force him off of Earth.
In the 2021 director's cut of Justice League named Zack Snyder's Justice League, an alternate version of events was presented. Instead of Steppenwolf leading the invasion of Earth, the New God's master Darkseid did. Atlan himself, along with the Old Gods Ares, Artemis, and Zeus, were able to battle and wound the young Darkseid, forcing him and his armies into a retreat.
Atlan also appears as the overarching protagonist of the 2018 film Aquaman, wherein his deeds during life were expanded upon. Atlan had an enchanted trident forged out of Poseidon Steel that gave whomever wielded it control over the oceans. The owner of the trident would be recognized as the rightful King of Atlantis, and could even control the feral Trench. As Atlantis grew in power, so did its ambition. Eventually, Atlan's magical experimentation led to the kingdom's descent into the ocean. In the modern day, Aquaman discovered the Trident of Atlan and used it to claim his rightful place as king.
Trivia[]
- Conflicting sources suggest that a sorcerer named Arion was the first King of Atlantis, not Atlan.
- Prior to the 2011 reboot of the DC Comics narrative, Atlan was a long-living Atlantean prince and sorcerer who was the father of Aquaman and Ocean Master, having illegitimately sired the children with Queen Atlanna.
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 Villains
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