30 Sec Answer
Aquaman is the alter ego of Arthur Curry, a DC Comics superhero who is estimated to be in his mid-thirties.
Introduction
Aquaman is one of the most beloved superheroes in comic books and has been featured in many films and television shows over the years. He has been around since 1941 when he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73, and fans have been wondering just how old Aquaman really is ever since then. In this article, we’ll explore the answer to this question and learn more about Aquaman’s backstory.
Who is Aquaman?
Aquaman is the alter ego of Arthur Curry, a half-human, half-Atlantean superhero who is the King of Atlantis and protector of the Seven Seas. He was born with superhuman abilities that allow him to communicate with sea creatures, swim at incredible speeds, survive underwater for long periods of time, and manipulate water itself.
How Old Is Aquaman?
The official age of Aquaman has never been officially revealed by DC Comics but it’s generally believed that he’s somewhere in his mid-30s. This estimation takes into account both his physical appearance as well as references made throughout various stories about his age.
Origins
Aquaman was created by writer Mort Weisinger and artist Paul Norris in 1941 as a back-up feature for More Fun Comics #73. Since then, he’s become an integral part of DC Comics’ roster of characters and has appeared in countless stories over the years.
Golden Age Origin Story (1941-1959)
In the original origin story from 1941, Aquaman was an adult human who had been marooned on an island near Hawaii after being shipwrecked during World War II. There, he encountered Atlanteans who taught him their ways before bestowing upon him various powers such as communication with sea life, enhanced strength and speed, durability against cold temperatures, ability to breathe underwater, and control over water itself. After returning to civilization, Aquaman became a hero known as "the defender of the deep".
Silver Age Origin Story (1959-1985)
The 1959 reboot of Aquaman saw him being retconned into having a secret origin as the son of two Atlanteans named Tom Curry and Queen Atlanna. This version depicted him as a baby who was found by Tom Curry and raised by him until adulthood whereupon he inherited all of his superhuman abilities from his parents. During this period, he also gained a powerful trident which allowed him even greater control over water than before.
Bronze Age Origin Story (1985-2004)
The 1985 retelling took things a step further by introducing a new villainous character named Black Manta who kidnapped Aquaman’s infant son and held him hostage while threatening to kill him unless Aquaman gave up his kingdom to Black Manta. This prompted Aquaman to go on a quest to reclaim his son while discovering his true identity along the way –– revealing himself to be not only a half-human/half-Atlantean hybrid but also heir apparent to the throne of Atlantis itself!
Modern Age Origin Story (2004 – Present)
The modern era introduced yet another variation on Arthur Curry’s origin story: As it turns out, he was actually conceived through artificial means thanks to Atlan –– an ancient wizard from Atlantis whose goal was to create an ideal leader for his people! This twist allowed for an interesting exploration into what it means to be “of royal blood” while also giving readers a more complex look at Arthur’s backstory than ever before.
Animated Adaptations
Aquaman has also been featured in several animated adaptations including Super Friends (1973), The Superman/Aquaman Hour Of Adventure (1967), Justice League Unlimited (2001), Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008), Young Justice (2010), LEGO DC Super Hero Girls (2015), and Teen Titans Go! To The Movies (2018). Each adaptation gives viewers its own unique take on Arthur Curry’s backstory and adventures but they all agree that he is indeed in his mid-30s chronologically speaking.
Movie Adaptations
On top of these animated adaptions, there have also been several live action film versions featuring Jason Momoa in the title role: Justice League (2017), Aquaman (2018), Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2021). While each movie offers up its own unique take on Arthur Curry’s backstory, they all still adhere to the same core premise: That Arthur Curry is approximately thirty-five years old at the start of each respective film.
Conclusion
At this point it seems clear that no matter what incarnation or adaptation you encounter –– comics book pages or otherwise –– Aquaman will always remain approximately thirty-five years old at any given time! So there you have it; that should provide some clarity regarding how old our favorite sea dwelling hero truly is!
