Jackson Hyde / Kaldur'ahm: Son of Manta, Aqualad, Aquaman Appreciation 2021

[Frontier]

silly answer: boooots!?!? c'mon now, the League has never really been a place of modesty, they all wear skin tight bright leotards; ya boi is a nudist

serious answer: the relationship between Cyborg and clothes (whether or not Vic need clothes, his ability to be seen as "naked", etc) is a whole thing best saved for his thread.

True .

On Jackson though, I did like getting to see him taking a crack at the PAD/Momoa style Aquaman in Future State. that was such a badass look for him!

He pulls it off better than current comic Arthur does in my opinion.

[J. D. Guy]

silly answer: boooots!?!? c'mon now, the League has never really been a place of modesty, they all wear skin tight bright leotards; ya boi is a nudist

serious answer: the relationship between Cyborg and clothes (whether or not Vic need clothes, his ability to be seen as "naked", etc) is a whole thing best saved for his thread.



no I agree with you, the League has all types of heroes in all shapes and sizes. no to mention the aliens and the occasional animal or interdimensional being, practically speaking, some bare beachy feet would be the least of their cleaning worries. I personally don't mind the no shirt no shirts "beach bum" look because it's just a toned down less agro version of the PAD Aquaman, which is the look I was used to from JL/JLU. but that too would be a discussion of another thread.

on Jackson though, I did like getting to see him taking a crack at the PAD/Momoa style Aquaman in Future State. that was such a badass look for him!

Yep! This is another good example how it can work and why it does work.

[Frontier]

Yep! This is another good example how it can work and why it does work.

I think it works better as an occasional look or a one-off rather than an ongoing look, but that's just my perspective.

I wouldn't want Jackson to ditch his shirt as a Superhero even if he does look amazing without it .

[HandofPrometheus]

[Lucas 35]

Jackson Hyde Comes of Age in Aquaman: The Becoming

It should be a good time to be Jackson Hyde. After existing under the radar for much of his life, the young hero has found acceptance and honesty in his relationship with his mother, made peace with the truth about his father and been embraced by Aquaman, Mera and the people of Amnesty Bay. Now, with Aquaman focused on raising his daughter, Andy, Jackson is ready to step up to become the hero the people of Atlantis and the world will need.

And then it all comes crashing down on him.

Written by Brandon Thomas and drawn by Diego Olortegui, Aquaman: The Becoming is a six-issue miniseries that will shine the spotlight on the DC Universe’s newest Aqualad for the very first time. However, as Jackson’s quickly growing fanbase can tell you, this character symbolizes far more than just the continuation of Aquaman’s legacy. As a Black, gay hero who’s destined—at least according to DC Future State—to mentor and fight alongside the also LGBTQ+ Andy Curry when she eventually becomes Aquawoman, Jackson is primed to lead one of the more fascinatingly diverse corners of the DC Universe. The future of the DCU’s Atlantean superheroes is decidedly queer, and it starts this September with the release of Aquaman: The Becoming #1.



“Aquaman: The Becoming is a coming-of-age story for Jackson Hyde, marking his final transformation from Aqualad to Aquaman,” Thomas shares when asked to describe the recently announced miniseries. “When the series begins, Jackson has everything he’s ever wanted—acceptance, respect and a strong web of found family and friends around him. He and his mother are finally on the same page and his training with Arthur Curry (with an assist from Batman) is going extremely well. The shadow of his father Black Manta still looms, but he’s refusing to let that completely define him and his life. Everything is perfect.

“So naturally, we spend the entire story challenging and damaging everything he’s created, forcing him to fight for it and prove himself worthy of even having it. Jackson’s spent so much time trying to distance himself from his infamous father, but if he’s going to endure what’s ahead, he’ll need some of that darkness, that commitment to survive against all odds.”



What lies ahead for Jackson is the complete destruction of all he’s earned through his heroism and hard work these past several years. But it’s not at the hands of who you might expect—it’s not Black Manta this time around, but someone entirely new.

“A new villain called Deluge has been waiting and watching, enraged at what Jackson has built for himself, believing that he never deserved it,” reveals Thomas. “The truth puts everything at risk, because it turns out his perfect life was anything but, and this series is all about Jackson learning that the hard way and gaining a powerful new adversary that will threaten to define him just as strongly as his father has. And there’s no famous mentor (Arthur), or surrogate mother (Mera), or supportive friends in sight.”



Thomas may be a relatively new voice to DC, but he’s certainly not new to Jackson Hyde. He wrote the well-regarded Future State: Aquaman miniseries last winter that introduced Jackson’s eventual relationship with Andy Curry and revealed that Jackson does eventually inherit Arthur’s Aquaman mantle. (If you missed it, you can read it in the just-released Future State: Justice League collected edition.)

“Writing Future State: Aquaman, featuring Jackson and Andy Curry, changed my own life and the larger perception of my work at DC,” shares Thomas. “So there’s a real debt there and I will always be ready and willing to write as many stories featuring them as people are willing to read. Jackson Hyde is a great character and a worthy heir to the title of Aquaman, and this is only the beginning of big things for him in the DCU.”

Jackson is an important, significant character within queer comic book circles and Aquaman: The Becoming brings a new Amnesty Bay love interest into Aqualad’s life. However, the character represents far more than just his sexuality and Thomas believes that his journey, both up to this point and over the course of the miniseries, is one that’s relatable to many, whether they happen to be queer or not.

“I love the character and what he represents,” he says. “Here is a young man who spent a long time ostracized and estranged from his birth family, who was forced to go out and create his own surrogate one to survive and thrive, which unfortunately, is something I think a lot of people can relate to. There is also a darkness in him, that both tells him he doesn’t deserve all the great things finally happening for him and is a constant reminder that his father will always be a part of him, whether he likes it or not. Coming to grips with that is the final step in freeing himself and becoming the hero and man he wants to be.”

What will it take for Jackson to get there? How much will he have to lose in the process? Will he prove himself worthy of the Aquaman title? We’ll find out along with Jackson this fall when Aquaman: The Becoming hits comic stands.

https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/0...n-the-becoming

[Psycwave]

A new personal rogue! Ugh, I am so absolutely excited for this and everything that Brandon is saying.

[sifighter]

Hold up, are you telling me Atlantis has basically holodeck level technology where they can train people to fight Parademons? I’m actually impressed by that a little

[HandofPrometheus]

https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/0...n-the-becoming

Wow, thank you for this! Okay, this was an interesting and GOOD article!

“So naturally, we spend the entire story challenging and damaging everything he’s created, forcing him to fight for it and prove himself worthy of even having it. Jackson’s spent so much time trying to distance himself from his infamous father, but if he’s going to endure what’s ahead, he’ll need some of that darkness, that commitment to survive against all odds.”

I love this right away. From FS we saw how Jackson was very considerate but also very stern especially when training Andy and breaking out. I love how we're gonna see this take unfold!

What lies ahead for Jackson is the complete destruction of all he’s earned through his heroism and hard work these past several years. But it’s not at the hands of who you might expect—it’s not Black Manta this time around, but someone entirely new.

“A new villain called Deluge has been waiting and watching, enraged at what Jackson has built for himself, believing that he never deserved it,” reveals Thomas. “The truth puts everything at risk, because it turns out his perfect life was anything but, and this series is all about Jackson learning that the hard way and gaining a powerful new adversary that will threaten to define him just as strongly as his father has. And there’s no famous mentor (Arthur), or surrogate mother (Mera), or supportive friends in sight.”

Yes, no more Manta. I love their relationship and their trope but Aqualad needs some development outside Manta. I do not want him becoming like Raven and Cass where they're only defined by one thing and one thing only which is their parents. And I love how we're getting an established solo big bad right away.

Interesting take on Mera. Don't know if I would go in that direction but interesting.

"Jackson is an important, significant character within queer comic book circles and Aquaman: The Becoming brings a new Amnesty Bay love interest into Aqualad’s life. However, the character represents far more than just his sexuality and Thomas believes that his journey, both up to this point and over the course of the miniseries, is one that’s relatable to many, whether they happen to be queer or not.

“I love the character and what he represents,” he says. “Here is a young man who spent a long time ostracized and estranged from his birth family, who was forced to go out and create his own surrogate one to survive and thrive, which unfortunately, is something I think a lot of people can relate to. There is also a darkness in him, that both tells him he doesn’t deserve all the great things finally happening for him and is a constant reminder that his father will always be a part of him, whether he likes it or not. Coming to grips with that is the final step in freeing himself and becoming the hero and man he wants to be.”

I wonder who the new love life is. Is it that boy from KSD run he met?

This is probably my favorite part of the article. I'm glad Brandon isn't going to trap Aqualad in a box but instead make him versatile in story and character. I would hate for his sexuality to be a gimmick for DC to use whenever they want points. Making him more widespread and appeal to a huge wide audience is what will make him bigger.

This push came late, VERY LATE, but I'm glad DC is doing it now!

[Frontier]

Interesting take on Mera. Don't know if I would go in that direction but interesting.

It's weird because his mom is still alive and they've mended their relationship. Like, Mera would probably just be another mentor helping him learn his powers.

[HandofPrometheus]

Aqualad sighting from The Other History of the DC Universe #5

[HandofPrometheus]

Good article on the creative process and origins of both Jackson and Kaldur https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/0...-and-kaldurahm

We’re deep in the heart of Pride Month, an occasion to celebrate diverse sexualities and sexual identities. And for all of us here at DC, there’s plenty to be proud of. But of all the rising stars who proudly represent a broader range of queer identity, few shine brighter than Jackson Hyde—DC’s very own Aqualad, soon to be an Aquaman.

Or…is he already?

Some say that Aqualad was created for the Young Justice TV series in 2010. And yet, his first appearance came months before that, in Brightest Day #4. On the show, this 21st Century Aqualad is called Kaldur’ahm. In the comics, he’s Jackson. Both are the son of Black Manta. Both are the heir apparent to the mantle of Aquaman. But are they the same character, or are they different people altogether? With Jackson’s own limited series just announced, Aquaman: The Becoming, now is the perfect time to set the record straight. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of the Aqualad, Jackson Hyde.

Cal Durham


In creating the Young Justice television series, showrunners Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti were meticulous in their reexamination of the source material, resurfacing often long-buried comic book stories for inspiration and reinterpreting them in surprising new ways. To create a leader for their own version of the Young Justice team, Weisman and Vietti looked to reimagine a forgotten member of Aquaman’s supporting cast: Calvin Durham.

First appearing in 1977’s Adventure Comics #452, Cal Durham was the right-hand man of Aquaman’s greatest nemesis, Black Manta. Durham, who had been surgically implanted with gills in order to battle the denizens of Atlantis on their own terms, defected from Black Manta’s team in Aquaman #57 when the mad diver’s quest for vengeance went too far. After his defection, Cal continued to live among the Atlanteans and eventually even rose to political office. Inspired by this Human/Atlantean hybrid, the Young Justice team created “Kaldur’ahm,” Aquaman’s own young ward, who would eventually discover that his human father was none other than Black Manta himself.

Jackson Hyde


The same year that Young Justice was getting ready for production, writer Geoff Johns was getting ready to reinvent the Aquaman universe in Brightest Day—a universe-wide examination of the fallout from his prior Blackest Night event, and one which would, in its way, lay the foundation for Johns’ extensive work on Aquaman the following year. Inspired by the work in progress on this new Aqualad, Johns included him in Aquaman’s story for the Brightest Day series. But Weisman and Vietti were creating a new version of the DC Universe from scratch for Young Justice, where it was simple to fit a new character into Aquaman’s long history. Here in Brightest Day, a story which continued from decades of Aquaman history, it wasn’t so simple.

Johns took Young Justice’s core concept, an Aqualad who is the son of Black Manta, and gave him an entirely different history. Rather than growing up in Atlantis, this version of Aqualad was raised on the surface. And because the run-up time to producing a comic is significantly shorter than what it takes to produce an animated series, the world met Jackson Hyde months before Kaldur’ahm, the Aqualad which inspired him.

(This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Batgirl, for instance, was a character created for Season 3 of the Adam West Batman TV series, but managed a comic debut months before her first on-screen appearance.)



Within months of each other, Jackson Hyde had debuted alongside Kaldur’ahm. Apart from their very different upbringings and resulting personalities, there was one more major distinction. While Season 1 of Young Justice had barely begun, comic book readers had already learned the secret of this Aqualad’s parentage, a fact which wouldn’t be confirmed in the show until its second season and explored further in the tie-in video game Young Justice: Legacy.

There was also a surprising similarity: both Jackson Hyde and Kaldur’ahm, in these early years, had a female love interest. Jackson’s girlfriend was a young human woman named Maria, who stood by him through the harrowing events of Brightest Day. Kaldur, on the other hand, longed for Tula, who in the comics had been the original Aquagirl and girlfriend of the original Aqualad, Garth. In the first season of Young Justice, Kaldur’s love for Tula went unrequited, as their mutual friend Garth maintained her affection even in this freshwater animated world.

Rebirth


Just as 2010 had been a launching pad for both versions of Aqualad, the following years saw them both vanish entirely. The line-wide New 52 initiative in 2011 called for a restructuring of the Aquaman mythology from scratch, placing focus on the man himself to the exclusion of supporting characters like Jackson. Tula was killed off-screen between Seasons 1 and 2 of Young Justice, and the show was canceled by Cartoon Network after its second season, bringing Kaldur’s story to an untimely end.

In 2016, DC Rebirth launched with a promise to reconnect DC’s heroes to the characters who carried their legacies...including a newly rebooted Jackson Hyde, who in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 was depicted for the first time as a closeted, gay young man living under his mother’s roof.

Months later, Jackson became a regular member of the Teen Titans beginning with 2017’s Teen Titans #6—an issue where we meet his first male love interest in the comics, a young man named Kenny. Unable to handle Jackson’s Atlantean roots, it isn’t long before Kenny breaks it off with Jackson, who’s already facing rejection from his own mother, forcing him to find acceptance with his fellow young heroes in the Teen Titans. In an early team-up with Dick Grayson’s Titans, Jackson’s predecessor Garth gives Jackson his blessing to use the name “Aqualad.” And once Jackson had had his fill of Teen Titans leader Damian Wayne (and honestly, who can blame him), Jackson left the team to pursue a mentorship for the first time from Arthur Curry himself in Kelly Sue DeConnick’s run on Aquaman. Still busy determining his sense of purpose, Jackson hasn’t been afforded much time to explore his own romantic life in the past five years—something the young Aqualad reflects upon in 2020’s Aquaman: Deep Dives #4. Nevertheless, his stewardship under Aquaman has made him into one of the DC Universe’s most prominent gay male heroes.

Young Justice Returns


Eventually, thankfully, miraculously, Young Justice was uncanceled. The show made its triumphant return in 2019, with a two-year time skip from the prior season. While Kaldur’s comics counterpart was afforded the luxury of a reboot, his own story was required to press onward. And so, this version of Aqualad was given a new boyfriend, a young Atlantean named Wyynde (after an Arion of Atlantis character just as obscure as Cal Durham, if not more so), now presenting Kaldur as bisexual.

Season 3 brought another major change for Kaldur, as well. No longer Aqualad, the king’s former apprentice was now Aquaman, serving as chairman of the Justice League proper while his predecessor retired from surface affairs to govern Atlantis. This makes Black Manta’s son, whatever name you call him, one of very few DC characters to have a different sexual identity depending on the medium you see him in. But then, with their very different upbringings, one wouldn’t be completely incorrect in considering them two different characters altogether.

Becoming


In 2020, Jackson’s supporting roles in Teen Titans and Aquaman gave way to a starring feature, finally exploring the question of identity in his own story: You Brought Me the Ocean, an original Young Adult graphic novel by Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh. Taking a few liberties with the source material, the “Jake” Hyde seen in this story is best friends with girl-next-door Maria Mendez, an updated version of the Maria who had once been Jackson’s girlfriend in Brightest Day. This version of Maria sees Jake as more than a friend, but Jake himself is too busy reckoning with his feelings for swim team athlete Kenny Liu, the only openly gay student at his high school. This touching, unabashedly queer story about the damage done by the secrets we keep and the courage of self-expression is the most thorough exploration we’ve had of Jackson’s character to date, and one which may inform his growth for years to come.

Meanwhile, in the main continuity, Jackson Hyde’s destiny is at last beginning to converge with Kaldur’ahm’s. In Future State: Aquaman, Kaldur has assumed the role of Aquaman, mentoring Arthur’s daughter Andy just as Arthur had mentored him. Exactly how Jackson made the leap from Lad to Man is a mystery, for now, but one which may be uncovered sooner than we think, as the next chapter of Jackson’s story is told this September in Aquaman: The Becoming.

As for Kaldur, the Young Justice team is currently hard at work on the show’s next season, Young Justice: Phantoms. We’ll let you know when it’s ready, but we can tell you that you’ll find it exclusively on HBO Max. In the meantime, stay whelmed.

[Korath]

Wow, never heard of any of it ! That's really a great read !

[J. D. Guy]

Good article on the creative process and origins of both Jackson and Kaldur https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/0...-and-kaldurahm

Excellent read-up. I appreciated the clarity and sense of thoroughness in how they relayed Jackson's and Kaldur's respective characters and character trajectories.

I will say that Kaldur on the show hasn't gotten the same focus as the likes of Dick, Conner, and Megan have post-Season 1, especially Nightwing. While the contents of Young Justice: Phantoms remains to be seen, I wouldn't be surprised if Aquaman remains on the periphery where he's been relegated to since Season 1 concluded while Dick continues to soak up much of the focus.

That said, it seems the comics' Jackson is where it'll be at for Aquaman content, focus, and exploration.

[HandofPrometheus]

Cover for Aquaman: The Becoming #2.

[HandofPrometheus]

Sneak peek of Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular