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). One of Aquaman's most recognized adversaries who is characterized to often plot to usurp his position as the ruling monarch of Atlantis, the character has been subjected to revisions over the years. Originally, the character was Orm Curry Marius, Aquaman's wayward, human half-brother envious of his sibling's superhuman powers and status as a hero. Becoming an international marine criminal, he takes the name "Orm Marius" and "Ocean Master". Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character is retroactively depicted half homo magi ,of Inuit origin, and his brotherhood with Aquaman connected through Atlan, giving him a sorcerous and royal background who instead plots to usurp the throne of Atantis. Following his revision in the New 52, he is definitively established as Orm Marius, a full-blooded Atlantean royal whose parents includes Queen Atlanna (also Aquaman's mother), King Orvax Marius (making him half-brother of Tula), and is a desendant of Atlan and Arion. This version holds xenophobic views towards humans and a desire to punish them for their role in marine pollution. Although he similar conspires to with the throne of Atlantis from Arthur, Orm is cast as a more benevolent but traditionalist ruler who is exiled by Aquaman, believing him a tyrant follow Orm's attack on the United States. While embittered by the ordeal and acting as an antagonist, he is also a reluctant ally and anti-hero. 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.
Publication history Ocean Master first appeared in Aquaman #29 (September 1966), created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy during the Silver Age of Comics Books. A seemingly one-off story, the issue establishes the brotherly relationship between the characters. Originally in the story, the character was first established as a human pirate similar to Black Manta whose relation to Aquaman was shared. The character would later make a major reappearance in the second Aquaman series, written by Neil Ponzer in 1987, following the reboot of the DC Universe through Crisis on Infinite Earths. The new story changes the nature of the character's powers and ties them to a new history and world established by the previous Arion, Lord of Atlantis title. The limited series also established his original origin in line with the Silver Age's version as being the wayward and ignored son of Tom Curry and Mary O'Sullivan. Later in 1996, the character's background and origins were altered in Peter David's Aquaman: Time and Tide. This version depicts him as an indigenous Iñupiat man from Alaska who is Aquaman's half-brother through their shared father, Atlan. In 2011, DC Comics would relaunch all of its monthly titles and reboot the DC Universe continuity. Among the changes included Orm's new origin, cast as a full-blooded Atlantean, whose shared parentage with Aquaman is through Atlanna, and having similar physical powers to Aquaman and abilities derived from artifacts. The character's first major appearance after the reboot is in the Throne of Atlantis storyline, which depicted the beginning of the antagonistic relationship between Ocean Master and Aquaman. Later stories would define Ocean Master and Aquaman's heritage further: the 2013 Death of a King storyline indirectly establishes Atlan (previously the father of Ocean Master) as their ancestral relative, and the 2019 Drowned Earth storyline establishing Arion as their ancient ancestor.
Fictional character biography
Pre-Crisis Orm Curry was Aquaman's full-human half-brother, the son of Thomas Curry (Aquaman's father) and a woman named Mary O'Sullivan. He grew up under the shadow of his heroic half-brother and resented the fact that he had none of Aquaman's powers. He was already a petty criminal when he was stricken with amnesia, forgot his former life, and disappearing. Several years later, the self-named Orm Marius reappeared as the Ocean Master, a high-tech pirate who initially attacked ships but quickly moved on to causing natural disasters to hold the world at ransom. Aquaman and Aqualad were captured by Ocean Master but managed to escape. Aquaman, having seen behind Ocean Master's mask and realizing that he was his half-brother Orm, was then unable to fight Ocean Master, although he did stop his plan.
Post-Crisis on Infinite Earths After the events of the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, significant changes were introduced to the Ocean Master character. In this revised version, Ocean Master is portrayed as a hybrid of half homo magi (ancient Atlantean) and human descent with Inuit heritage. This unique ancestry bestows upon him inherent mystical potential, expanding upon previous portrayals of the character that showcased his magical abilities. Furthermore, this revised backstory establishes a biological connection between Ocean Master and Aquaman, as they are revealed to be half-brothers through their shared parent, Atlan.
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