Arion (character)

Arion
Arion, Lord of Atlantis, art by Jan Duursema.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Warlord vol. 1 #55 (March 1982)
Created by	Paul Kupperberg (writer) Jan Duursema (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Ahri'ahn
Species	Demigod
Place of origin	Atlantis
Team affiliations	Lords of Order Justice League
Partnerships	Wyynde Lady Chian Mara
Supporting character of	Aquaman Powergirl
Notable aliases	Arion, Lord of Atlantis Arion the Immortal The Dead King Aristotle Ronalds Vicomte Jean-Simon Giscard D'Arion
Abilities	Mastery in magic Genius-level intellect Expert hand-to-hand combatant & skilled swordsman Gifted scientist & engineer
Arion, Lord of Atlantis (1982-1985)
Series publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	, fantasy, superhero Magic
Publication date	1982
Creative team
Writer(s)	Paul Kuppenburg
Artist(s)	Jan Duursema
Colorist(s)	Bob Lerose, Carl Gafford

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] While a legendary, heroic figure in DC Comics' fictional mythology of Atlantis, Arion also serves as a member of a fictional group of cosmic entities known as the Lords of Order, dedicated to fighting both the forces of evil and Lords of Chaos, many whose members are also tied to Atlantis's pantheons of gods much like himself. Even after the fall of the mythological continent, the character continued to act as a hero in the modern age, frequently depicted as a ally of Aquaman, Power Girl, and the Justice League of America. After the reality-altering events of Flashpoint, changes were made to the character, furthering him as a historical figure and making him the ancestor to Atlantis's royal monarchs characters such as Aquaman and Ocean Master. His background also includes him being a genius scientist responsible for both advancement in Atlantis's magic and technology.

Publication history[]

Prior to the creation of the Arion character and his debut in his backup series, Kupperburg began coming up with new ideas that lead to his backup series when his then-editor, Laurie Sutton, mentioned that Dragonsword (the current backup of Warlord then) was eventually going to end. Sutton also mentioned the only requirement of the series was it to be set in the sword-and-sorcery genre. Kupperburg suggested a story of a young mage while Sutton requested it to take place in the fabled location, Atlantis. During the creation of the series, the name of the main character was noted to be a difficult process but eventually, "Arion" was settled with the names "Tynan", "Atlan", and "Orin" as contender.^[2] Although the names weren't used for the main character, the names appeared in both Arion, Lord of Atlantis and later Aquaman titles.

Arion began as a back-up feature in the DC Comics book Warlord with issue #55,^[3] in which ran until issue #62 before 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 the 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] Despite the efforts to ensure the characters and concepts in the series were dissimilar to both titles, many references books and encyclopedia later connected Arion's character, supporting cast, and villains to the same Lords of Chaos and Order characters in both titles.^[7][8] In 1992, Arion would star in his miniseries which ended after the sixth issue, establishing him in the modern era.

Although in the modern era, Arion appeared in several crossovers with Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League crossovers in the mid 90s and later in the early 2000s, played a role in the JSA title, where the character himself was also connected to the other characters involved in Lords of Order and Chaos but was killed off in the 50th issue.

Fictional character biography[]

Pre-Crisis[]

Origin[]

In Arion's original origin told to him by Calculha, Arion was a cosmic 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 a 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 bond similar to that of father and son.^[9]

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 fraternal twin of Garn Daanuth. Ahri'ahn was prophesized 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 a attempt to create a new era of mystical enlightenment despite the risks. Despite being outvoted, Majistra would instead use the crystals to further her own 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 a 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 a 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.^[10]

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 Darkworld. Owing to its unique regard to time, only twenty years passed in the realm while 100,000 years passed on Earth.^[11]

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 powerful 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 a 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 in the globe to rebuild.^[12]

Crisis on Infinite Earths[]

Arion would appear in the Crisis on Infinite Earth crossover as being among the heroes taken in by Habringer 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.^[13] He was also made part of Powergirl's backstory, being his great-granddaughter jettisoned into the future, her powers said to originate from Arion's experimentation in genetic manipulation^[14] and an ancestor of Zatanna Zatara through her mother's side.^[15] Eventually, Arion and characters 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 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

In the Time Masters mini-series Rip Hunter and allies travel back in time to Atlantis where Arion assists them while trying to convince Hunter to not use violence.

After Zero Hour, Arion aided The Justice League America against Scarabus.^[18] 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), in order 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.^[19]

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 civilisations 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.^[20]

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] Given a mystic shield by the Phantom Stranger to protect him from direct assault by Arion's magics (during which the Stranger revealed that, while Arion's prediction could come to pass, the loss of life and experience that would result if Superman simply allowed civilisation to fall meant that mankind had to try to find another way), Superman was able to defeat Arion and disarm him of his 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 million of years ago, he was the wizard responsible for sealing away elder gods known as the "Dark Giants", whom 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 also as 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.^[21]

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 a 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 (2016-2018)[]

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 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.^[22]

DC Universe (2017 - )[]

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 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, whom has a natural connection to Darkworld, and puts him under mind control as one of his Sapphire Knights.^[23]

Powers and abilities[]

Both an immortal sorcerer and among the Lords of Order, Arion's magical heritage and centuries of studies makes him one of the most powerful sorcerers in the history of the DC Universe; at the height of his power, Arion wielded magical energy considered nearly limitless and had various powers such as being able to increase his size, cast illusions and create natural disasters. After sacrificing much of his magical power, he confers to utilizing a source of power for his magics and eventually gains a connection to the extradimensional Darkworld, restoring much of his former might; his connection to Darkworld grants him variant of magic unique to other magic users known as "Atlantean magic".^{[24][25] [26]} Arion also has a heighted "sixth sense" and the gift of prophecy, allowing himself to sense disturbances in the present and in the future. He is also an accomplished hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman despite preferring magical solutions and is a skilled three-card monte dealer.^[25][26][24]

His depiction in Rebirth-onward has changed some elements of his powers; Arion wields vast natural magical powers naturally of a demonic and evil nature, possessing malevolent magical energies and energy siphoning abilities powerful enough to sap energies from potent sources like Doctor Fate's Helm of Nabu and the Blue Beetle Scarab.^[22] While a master sorcerer, Arion is also a renown, ancient scientific genius responsible for the advanced level of technology Atlantis and possess a connection to the "Death Force" through his creation, the Tear of Extinction and the Clarion, able to kill and send gods to the afterlife though it seemingly costed his sanity and corrupted him, being responsible for his dark turn in the present day.^[27]

In other media[]

• Arion makes his first animated appearance in season four of Young Justice, voiced by David Kaye. This version of Arion differs from his comic book incarnation; he is a grandson of Vandal Savage, making him a relative to Nabu and Cassandra Savage, and is an agent of order responsible for the advance technology of Atlantis. Unlike his comic book counterpart, his magical abilities are also centered around his crown. During his lifetime, the Lords of Order sensed chaos brewing on Earth & imbued him with magical powers through a crown, making him an agent. He became responsible for Atlantis's advancement and his bloodline created the Homo Magi race due to his metahuman gene through his grandfather & his body having been imbued with the magics from his crown. When he learned his grandfather set out to sink Atlantis to further the Homo Magi & Atlantean, he opposed his grandfather and is killed while attempting to protect it as Klarion the Witch Boy sinks the city. Survivors of his bloodline adapted to the pressures and environment of the ocean, making him the common ancestor not only of DC's magicians, but also of modern Atlanteans, the Homo Mermanus. This version is the ancestor to a plethora of characters including Aquaman and Khalid Nassour.

References[]

External links[]

• DCDatabase: Arion
• Cosmic Teams: History of Atlantis
• Arion, Lord of Atlantis at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012.
• Arion at DC Universe wiki