In the comics, Aquababy is born Arthur Curry Jr. and the son of Arthur and Mera. Like his mother, he can control water with hydrokenesis, even at a young age. But, also like his parents, he became an unwitting pawn in the plans of the classic Aquaman villain, Black Manta. To force Aquaman and Aqualad into a confrontation, Black Manta kidnaps Aquababy and holds him hostage. He places the infant in a sphere of air, which Aquababy would not be able to survive since he can only breathe through water. Black Manta promises to release the child if the two aquatic heroes fight, but it does not end well. Even though Aquaman and Aqualad battle, Aquababy perishes.
This is a turning point for the king of Atlantis. Even though he vows revenge against his enemy, he is unable to kill Black Manta. There is no telling exactly where James Wan’s version of the story will go, but this is one instance where fans can’t count on a happy ending. The horror director is famous for his twists, so there is a small chance he could lean into the source material and legitimately endanger Arthur’s child. This event should encourage fans to see the film in theaters when it premieres on December 22.
