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Arion (character)
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] A powerful, immortal wizard from ancient Atlantis centuries before it sunk, the character originally starred in his own series taking place outside the main continuity of DC Comics. After appearing in Crisis on Infinite Earths, the character's history was adopted into the Aquaman version of Atlantis, revised to be a demigod serving as a member of the fictional group of cosmic entities known as the Lords of Order. The character's magical and scientific exploits and heroism in the fictional mythology of Atlantis makes him both a reverred figure and the cultural progenitor of the Homo magi race and their descendants, the Atlanteans. Depending on continuities, he also serves as an ancestor to various characters in the DC Universe, including Zatanna, Aquaman, and Ocean Master. Arion appears in Young Justice, voiced by David Kaye. CreationIn 1978, while working for Charlton Comics, Paul Kupperberg created a proposal for an ongoing series entitled Atlantis, the series was based on Plato's metaphorical concept of Atlantis, Kupperberg stated "I really tried to make my version of Atlantis as close to his idea as I could, although I changed plenty" when developing the plot of the series Kupperberg drew inspiration from Larry Niven's The Magic Goes Away stating "When I steal I steal from the best". the proposal laid dormant until editor Laurie Sutton was looking for a new backup feature for Warlord. when artist Jan Duursema got involved she suggested changing the hero's name of Tynan to Arion, Kupperburg commented on the name change "Tynan sucked! it was always intended to be a placeholder name"[2] Publication historyArion began as a back-up feature in the DC Comics book Warlord with issue #55,[3] in which ran until issue #62 when 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 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] In 1992, Arion starred in a miniseries that established him in the modern era. He would also make appearances in several Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Justice League crossovers. Modern storiesDuring the early 2000s, despite the efforts to ensure the characters and concepts in the series were dissimilar to both titles, many references books and encyclopedias later connected Arion's character, supporting cast, and villains to the same Lords of Chaos and Order characters referenced in other titles.[7][8] Arion's character would play a role in the JSA title, where the character is involved in a conflict connected to the other characters involved in Lords of Order and Chaos and is killed off in the fiftieth issue of the series. Despite the character's death, a past version of the character hailing from the 1600s would appear in 2006 in the "Camelot Falls" storyline in the Superman title and is depicted as an antagonist to the story. Concurrently, a new incarnation of Arion appeared whose real name was William Knightly. New 52 & Rebirth-onwardEventually, a new version of the character was introduced in the Secret Six 2014 run by Gail Simone; while making a silhouetted appearance, the character's children, Uvian and his unnamed sons, formed a cult known as the Children of Arion and appeared in one of the main antagonists in the Gauntlet storyline in the series.[9] The character would eventually make a full appearance in the Blue Beetle series, acting as the main antagonist. The book connects Blue Beetle's mythos with other magical characters and concepts such as Arion and implies his scarab Khaji Da to be magical in nature.[10] Fictional character biographyOriginIn Arion's original origin told to him by Calculha, Arion was a cosmic being 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 an unwitting agent. He is found by his aged mentor and Sorcerer Supreme, Calculha, and is tutored in the art of magic and spell-casting. Through their training, they form a familial bond.[11] In his revised origin, elements from the former remain with some changes; Arion (referred to then as "Ahri'ahn") is the son of deities Calculha and Majistra, the former Sorcerer Supreme and the latter his equal with a connection to Egyptians as well as the younger twin brother of Garn Daanuth.[12] Due to the couple's differences in alignment from embodying light and darkness respectively, the pair separate and the two brothers are unaware of their connection until later in life. A prophesized hero, Calculha trained Ahri'ahn in white magic in preparation for his destiny. When near of age, he meets Majistra and Garn during a conclave with other wizards and the family later battles for supremacy when Majistra plots to empower herself with the Zodiac Crystals, artifacts of great magical power, to usher in a age of dark magic. While she manages to gain the upper hand with Calculha, Arion's intervention and sacrifice of usurping control of the crystals displaced her, mystically seared Garn's skin, granting him an albino-esque appearance, and also displaces Calculha when he tries to save his son from magically disintegrating. He sets his converted body into a star and his soul to the Darkworld dimension to be recalled at a later time although the family feud tiled the Earth's axis slightly, inadvertently causing an Ice Age.[13] Ahri'ahn's soul is later recalled thanks to blinded warrior Wyynde's 10,000 years later after guided by Calculha's spirit, christened "Arion", a corruption of his 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 Wyynde, Atlantean lieutenant guardsman, and Lady Chian, Captain of D'Tilluh's royal guard and lover.[13] 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 red gemstone he uses and serves 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 the Darkworld. Owing to its unique regard to time, only twenty years passed in the realm while 100,000 years passed on Earth.[14] 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 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 power 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 an 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 of the globe to rebuild.[15] Crisis on Infinite EarthsArion would appear in the Crisis on Infinite Earth crossover as being among the heroes taken in by Harbinger and aids the heroes. Post-CrisisOwing 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.[16] He was also made part of Power Girl's backstory, being his great-granddaughter jettisoned into the future, her powers said to originate from Arion's experimentation in genetic manipulation[17] and an ancestor of Zatanna Zatara through her mother's side.[18] Eventually, Arion and characters from 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 to 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.[19] 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.[20] In the Time Masters mini-series, Rip Hunter and his allies travel back in time to Atlantis where Arion assists them while trying to convince Hunter to not use violence. After Zero Hour: Crisis in Time!, Arion aided the Justice League of America against Scarabus.[21] 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) 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 rebuild the Rock of Eternity. It was later revealed that this Arion was an imposter named Bill Knightley who used Arion's reputation to bolster his own.[22] In the "Camelot Falls" Superman storyline, a past and depowered version of Arion appears from 1659 after learning of a cataclysmic future centered around the presence of Superman. Using vestiges of magical power from artifacts collected over the millennia, he time travels to the modern era and reveals to Superman and his friends his vision, believing that alien interference has a hand in creating apocalyptic situations for humanity in the long-term, and tells him to quit. When he refuses despite escalating present situations supporting his point, he actively opposes Superman and nearly discredits him. He also kidnaps a "pretender" to his name, William Knightley, to understand his fate in the modern era. He battles Superman once more, who eventually prevails due to Phantom Stranger's protections but manages to slip back to his proper time by using Knightley as a decoy due to long-lasting disguise spells and Knightley possessing mystical powers.[1][23] The New 52 onwardAlthough 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 millions of years ago, he was the wizard responsible for sealing away elder gods known as the "Dark Giants", who 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 are also 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.[9] Following the company-wide rebranding in DC Rebirth, Arion is reintroduced in Blue Beetle. 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 an 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, Atlan, and Atlanna. In the Blue Beetle "Hard Choices" storyline, a villainous version of Arion appears. 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 the 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. Arion is then sealed in a crystal of absolution by Doctor Fate for 10,000 years.[10] Arion appears in several flashbacks in the "Drowned Earth" crossover. Within the story, Atlantis and Themyscria are revealed to have been allies in the past during his reign and is a highly regarded hero in their legends, being one of the few males to be held in such regard. Arion is also Poseidon's protege, impressed with the younger sorcerer's intelligence and rulership and reveals the existence of the Life Force. Using his skills, Arion creates the artifact, Clarion, and communes with life outside Earth to share the Life Force with planets lacking it. Selfishly not wanting to share his power and envious of Arion's accomplishments, Poseidon lies and convinces Arion the alien gods he invited were conquerors. Believing Poseidon's duplicity and feeling guilty, Arion inverts his own invention and the Life Force to create the Death Force and a instrument capable of killing the alien gods by co-singing them into the Graveyard of the Gods afterlife but seemingly at the cost of his own life. In the aftermath, the alien gods (known as the Triumvirate of Sea Gods or Ocean Lords) bore a grudge against the pair and would attack Atlantis and Aquaman thousands of years later and Poseidon's actions and Arion's fate inadvertently led to Atlantis' well known isolationist policies. However, Queen Mera, the ruling monarch of Atlantis, would also fulfill Arion's intents by using the Clarion to broadcast her intentions of connecting her kingdom with interested, oceanic alien worlds.[24] Unlike the Hard Choices storyline, the Drowned Earth crossover suggested Arion was insane through the Tear of Extinction[24] instead of Khaji-Da.[10] The 2021 edition of the DC Comics Encyclopedia addresses the discrepancy, stating that he was indeed driven insane although instead of dying as the story suggested, he disappeared for a millennia and his fall from grace due to the Tear of Extinction was covered up by Atlantean authorities by claiming he perished. The entry also expresses the chronological events that happened afterward, including the flashback and present accounts of the character in the Hard Choices storyline as well as suggesting the Camelot Falls storyline also took place.[25] In the 2018 Justice League backup issues of Justice League Dark, the famous sorcerer of Arthurian legends, Merlin, plots to conquer all of the 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, who has a natural connection to Darkworld and puts him under mind control as one of his Sapphire Knights.[26] CharacterizationHistorical and mythological figureAhri'ahn (simplied to Arion in the fictional Atlantean language) was originally depicted as the "Lord High Mage" during the times of ancient Atlantis, a senior government post held by sorcerers that makes him a designated expert in the mystic matters, a protector, and a leader in the Atlantean government that was only surpassed by the monarch and their aide.[27][15] Although the continuities and histories of the character changes various details regarding his background, he is also commonly portrayed as a revered, influential figure and eventual monarch of Atlantis.[15][24] More recent stories casts the character as a mythological figure in Atlantean history, in which Mera compares to the King Arthur legends on the "surface".[24] Heritage and lineageBoth the Arion, Lord of Atlantis backup issues in Warlord early issue of the ongoing series of the same name first state the character to being a cosmic being created from magic energies with the power to influence chaos and order.[11] A later issue retroactively changes Arion's background, instead casting him as a demigod and the biracial son of gods Calcula and Majistra as well as the twin brother of Garn Daanuth.[15] Prior to the New 52, the character was confirmed to be a distant ancestor of Zatanna from Sindella's line.[28] In the current continuity, the character is the ancestor of the Atlantean royal family,[24] making him related to characters such as Aquaman, Ocean Master, Atlanna, and Andrina Curry. IdentitiesDue to the character's immortal lifetime, at times, he has adopted various identities and fabricated various backgrounds to hide his true nature as a Lord of Order and immortal sorcerer:
ReputationThe character is recognized as a Lord of Order and is remarked to be considered one of the most powerful sorcerers in the DC Universe due to his immortal lifetime and studies.[1] He is among the few characters outside Doctor Fate and Zatanna whom has been referred as Sorcerer Supreme.[29] Supporting castsFriends and allies
Villains and enemiesGarn DaanuthGarn Daanuth is a fictional supervillain introduced in Warlord #62 (July 1982). His character is the major antagonist in both Arion, Lord of Atlantis and Arion the Immortal titles, serving as Arion's arch-enemy. He is affiliated with the Lords of Chaos, originally stated to be one of their agents. Later and modern revisions of the character instead mention him as a genuine Lord of Chaos. In the DC Universe, he serves as a prominent evil figure in ancient Atlantis's history and the former ruler of Mu, whose people culturally resemble ancient Egyptians. He is also alleged to be an ancestor of the Titans hero, Tempest (formerly Aqualad)[30] and a distant relative to significant DC characters such as Aquaman, Ocean Master, and Zatanna through his brother's bloodline. Other
Powers and abilitiesBeing among the Lords of Order whom possess a human form, his demigod heritage and studies over the centuries makes him a powerful sorcerer.[31] He is classified as an archmage, a designation that suggests he himself is an enchanted being or a higher-dimensional entity.[32] Arion utilizes a distinctive form of magic known as "Atlantean magic", originating from a connection to the extradimensional realm known as Darkworld and differs from other magical practices in the DC Universe such as those practiced by Doctor Fate.[6] At the height of his power, Arion's abilities were considered nearly limitless and possesses a wide array of powers, including the capacity to alter his size, cast illusions, and even unleash devastating natural disasters.[27] Alongside his extraordinary magical abilities, Arion possesses heightened senses, psychic abilities, and the gift of prophecy, enabling him to perceive disturbances in both the present and the future. Though he favors magical solutions, Arion is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman. His versatility extends beyond magic, as he is even adept in the art of three-card monte.[27][31][33] After The New 52 reboot, the character was also retroactively established as a technological and scientific genius responsible for the advanced technology that Atlantis possess.[24] Artifacts, technology, and resourcesArion is also classified as a sorcerer, a class of magic users who uses enchanted objects to enhance their abilities and safeguard themselves from the inherent costs and perils of magic.[32] This classification is especially relevant to instances the character is depowered or has relinquished a significant portion of his powers.[32] Among his arsenal of mystic artifacts includes the Mantle of the Savior, the robes he often wears weaved by his father with mystical threads. Most notably, the Mystic Gem of Ahri'ahn is the magic crystal often on his chest, powering his magic by converting solar energy into magical energy and can also draw power from Darkworld.[15] Arion also uses Calculha's magic crystals, shattered pieces of a magical crystal ball containing a portion of his divine father's power. These crystals serve as a finite source of magic due to a limited supply, requiring him to use them only in emergencies.[15] At some point, Arion also used the Staff of Arion, a conduit of Atlantean magic[34] he can summon at will.[35] The staff is also owned by Traci 13.[34] Arion also possess a vast amount of resources; Arion's base of operations is the Citadel of Sorcery, an inheritance from his father. This large structure, decorated with Atlantean and Egyptian-like designs, acts as a sanctum and possesses a large collection of knowledge and artifacts, some which predate Arion, and is a source of magical power which can awaken other's abilities.[15] Among Arion's most renown technological creation is the Tear of Extinction, a fusion of magic and technology that takes the form of a liquid substance infused with the "Death Force" a cosmic force capable of killing even the divine and sends them to a form of the afterlife known as the Graveyard of the Gods but usage of it can drive the user insane.[36] Other versionsWilliam Knightley
William "Bill" Knightley is a sorcerous hero from Ohio whom took the name and inspiration from Ahri'ahn himself, hoping to use his name ("Arion") to help jumpstart his superhero career and had an opportunity in the form of the Day of Vengeance event, being one of the many heroes to help fight off an insane Spectre. Finding it difficult, he would meet his predecessor's past self, who views him as an imitator and fraud trading in on his name, and would punish him for it despite Bill's stating he was considered dead in the present time and plea to be his advisor. Ahri'ahn would later use Bill as a stand-in for him to be arrested by Superman in his place due to having coming into conflict with the hero and world governments, using a long lasting disguise spell and his actual sorcerous abilities to have him masquerade as himself. Despite Ahri'ahn and his insistence on Bill being an imitator, the magical community is unaware and believes William to be Arion himself. Furthermore, the character's ability to replicate his specific brand of magic and mystical spells cast by Zatanna believing him to be Arion suggests a connection between Bill and Arion.[23] In other media
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