Atlantis (DC Comics)
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Atlantis is a location in the DC Comics Universe. The city first appeared in Adventure Comics (vol. 1) #260 (May 1959), and was created by Robert Bernstein and Ramona Fradon. The city's early history was later laid out in The Atlantis Chronicles, a limited series published by DC Comics in 1990. It was written by Peter David, and illustrated by Esteban Maroto.
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History
Atlantis
The continent of Atlantis was settled 65,000,000 years ago by a humanoid extraterrestrial race known as the Hunter/Gatherers who proceeded to hunt the Dinosaurs to extinction. One million years ago, Atlantean society flourished alongside Homo erectus, the precursors of modern man. This apparently occurred long before the intervention of the White Martians whose genetic tampering with Homo sapiens created the Metagene.
Thousands of years ago, when magic levels on Earth began to drop due to the sleeping entity known as Darkworld beginning to wake up, the Atlantean sorceress Citrina struck a deal with the Lords of Chaos who ruled Gemworld, so she would be allowed to create a home there for those Homo magi and magic dependent species such as Elves, Centaurs, and so forth who wished to emigrate from Earth. Gemworld was colonized by Homo magi emigrants from Earth made up of the twelve ruling houses of Atlantis.
Darkworld was a dimension formed by the body of an unnamed cosmic entity who later fell into a deep sleep. This entity's dreams were responsible for creating the first Lords of Chaos and Order, Chaon (chaos), Gemimn (order), and Tynan the balancer. These beings and others were worshiped as gods by the citizens of Atlantis. Darkworld was tethered to Atlantis by a massive "chain" created by Deedra, goddess of nature. Some Atlantean magicians such as Arion and Garn Daanuth later learned to tap the mystic energies of Darkworld, enabling them to wield nearly godlike power.
New Atlantis
Main article: Skartaris Atlantean survivors of the city of Challa-Bel-Nalla, then ruled by Lord Daamon an ancestor of Deimos, moved to Skartaris and formed an alliance with an extraterrestrial race they called the Red-Moon Gods. These aliens provided the Atlanteans with advanced technology that Travis Morgan would later discover in New Atlantis.
Lemuria
In DC Comics, the Lemurians are a scientifically advanced race of blue skinned humanoids covered in part with large green scales, they live in the underwater city of Lemuria. Zanadu the Chaos Master professed to be a sorcerer from Lemuria.
Sub Diego
Main article: Sub Diego Sub Diego is the new name of a portion of the city of San Diego, California which was submerged during an artificially generated earthquake, part of a plan which changed part of the surviving population into subaquatic beings. The city had a recent increase in population due to an influx of refugees from Atlantis, following the destruction of that city by the Spectre.
Atlantis Chronicles
The Atlantis Chronicles was a 7-issue comic book limited series published by DC in a monthly format from March through September 1990, written by Peter David, and illustrated by Esteban Maroto. The series focused on a series of Atlantean historical manuscripts, also called The Atlantis Chronicles, and chronicled the rise and fall of Atlantis. Each issue delt with a separate era or event in the continents past, beginning with its sinking, as told through the royal historian's point of view.
Zodiac Crystals
The Atlantean Royal Seal is one of twelve powerful mystical artifacts known as the Zodiac Crystals. The Twelve Crystals were created by Calcuha and Majistra; the parents of Lord Arion of Atlantis. The twelve artifacts are able to tap into the magical energy of the Earth to perform sorcerous feats and Geomancy. The current location of the twelve crystals is unknown.
Homo magi
Main article: Homo Magi In the DC Universe the Homo magi originated on the lost continent of Atlantis. The continent was a focal point for unharnessed magical energies (wild magic), and the local Homo sapiens evolved into Homo sapiens magi as a result of their exposure to these energies. Upon the fall of Atlantis, people who carried the predisposition for magic were scattered to the four winds. Today, every human being capable of casting spells is a descendant of the Atlantean "Homo magi".
Atlantean colonies
There have been other undersea cities called Atlantis in various DC comics titles. They include:
- Sub Diego home of Mayor Cal Durham and Lorena Marquez.
- The city of Tritonis, home of Lenora and Lori Lemaris.
- The coral outcropping known as Mercy Reef, location where Aquaman was abandoned at birth.
- The twin cities of Shayeris and Crastinus in the Hidden Valley, home of the Idyllists and birthplace of Aqualad.
- The city of Hy-Brasil, home of the Hy-Brasilians, their entire city is a floating war machine.
- The city of the Lemurians (from Super-Team Family #13-14, and Secret Society of Super-Villains #10)
- The Atlantean outpost city of Venturia, domain of Queen Clea, a foe of Wonder Woman's.
- The city of Aurania, enemies of the city of Venturia and Queen Clea.
- The city of Tlapallan, populated by a sub-species of Aztec styled onyx-skinned Atlanteans.
- The region of Maarzon is populated by tribes of green-skinned barbarians.
- The city of Thierna Na Oge is home to powerful magicians, and ruled by Queen Nuada Silverhand (her namesake is Nuada Airgetlám).
- References to other undersea cities named Atlantis were in Challengers of the Unknown and The Sea Devils, such as the homes of Dolphin and Man-Fish
- The homes of Neptune Perkins, Tsunami, Deep Blue, Little Mermaid (of the Global Guardians), Piscator, and Siren have all been referred to as Atlantis.
Some of these cities existed in pre-Crisis DCU continuity and it is unclear if they are part of the current continuity.
Alternate versions
On Earth-9 (Tangent Comics) the city of New Atlantis was founded atop the ruins of Atlanta, Georgia, after the Florida penninsula was destroyed in that world's version of the Cuban Missile Crisis. On Earth-50 (Wildstorm Comics) the city of Atlantis was founded by two alien races known as the Kherubim and the D'rahn, both races were allied against their mutual enemies the Daemonites. Later when they discovered the true horrific nature of the D'rahn, the Kherubim turned on them and sank the city.
