Some say he is some say he isnt. I just want to know...

I don't think so.

No he is an improvement! In any shape or form.

Based on what I know about Aquaman and reading the first paragraph on CV Namor wiki, I'd say yes. Their origin story is nearly identical with both being the Human/Atlantian hybred of a man and an Atlantian Princess. And the clincher is that Namor was first published two years before Aquaman. But, it was the golden age and rip-off characters were all over the place.

@rdclip: so technicaly hes not a rip off?

Namor is split down the middle, into Aquaman and Black Adam. They each took an arm and pulled. Adam got his looks and attitude. Aquaman got his powers and origin.

You realize that neither of those characters were the first "king of the sea" type superhero?

Who cares? The word "ripoff" is beginning to get annoying on this site.

Pretty much.

Though personally, I much prefer Aquaman over Namor anyway.

Namor 1939, Aquaman 1941.

They're more like different takes on the same idea.

Oh and black adam 1945

Spock 1966

Yeah, and it's not like Namor is the character that invented it.

@decoyelite: The idea is actually older than the language I am currently typing in by by a couple thousand years.

@decoyelite: There are lots of ideas comic writers try to pass off as new and unique that have actually been around as long as humans have been telling stories like when Dan Slott tries to pass off his SpOck body swap like its a totally new thing that he came up with that hasn't been used in thousands if not millions of stories dating back to Babylonian and ancient Greek folk tales and myths.

@joshmightbe: Yeah, there's not many really new ideas left, which is why the whole "rip off" kick that people on this site seem to be on is so annoying.

@decoyelite: I agree, there isn't a single super hero or just fictional character in general that doesn't owe its inspiration to something that came long before it.

@joshmightbe: how about VIBE? no before hand character and thats a fact

who cares? Marvel and DC haave soo many rip off/ similar characters. It doesn't matter.

@the_stegman: ripoff ripoff ripoff

@squalleon: Aquaman (I can't say his name with snickering) is an 'improvement' to Namor? Aquaman? Aquaman. Aqua. Man. Aquaman is in the top five lamest superheroes of all time, in any universe. Any character can have a great story, but that's doesn't make them a great character. Ugh. I don't even want to continue this conversation.

Maybe Namor is a ripoff of Superman.

@lifeofvibe: There are hundreds of characters who can control vibrations, He may be the first Latino to do it tho.

You lack any reasonable argument to make a conversation to begin with.

this, and they both acknowledge the other just as much

this was a DC comic when they somehow got involved in parallel universes

Marvel's nightstalkers series paying homage to Superman after the "Death of Superman" arc

"Burried Alien" (Bart Allan) winning the race in Marvel of the Universe's fastest speedster (to the moon i think, Makkari won the later one).

@jack_vii: What makes you think he is lame?

when you think about it, ALL superheroes are lame, if your logic hold water.

... Heh, water...

@waezi2: In my opinion, he has zero (ahem) depth and purpose. He's one of those character's who's only a superhero because he's in a comic book. By that I mean he's not larger or greater than the pages he's drawn and written on - unlike Spiderman, Batman, Wolverine or Superman. The latter characters carry a degree of weight, substance and meaning that. . . Aquaman. . . does not have. He's bland. There's no profound creativity in his character. Personality-wise, as a character he's still looking for one that works -same goes for Wonder Woman and Hal Jordan.

How I think he can be fixed -

1. If he's the ruler of Atlantis, he should be more of a king and less of a superhero, then he wouldn't be as lame a superhero. A sense of regalness. Similar to Thor. That fixes his personality problem.
2. Get rid of his hybrid, half-human-half Atlantean heritage. he should be 100% Atlantean. That fixes his unnecessarily convoluted 'backstory'.
3. His power should come from his title as King of Atlantis (not his Atlantean strength, stamina, etc.) which should include hydro-manipulation, weather-manipulation, and command over all sea-life. That fixes the bland and useless aspect of his current power-set.
4. Less 'superhero' looking outfit. Again more regal.

For starters, anyway.

To me, Aquaman is a half***, second (or even third) thought character.

In his debut Aquaman wasn't atlantean he was son of a scientist that give him his powers. Later they gave him this atlantean king role but i don't like it, don't make sense a king leave his kingdom to fight crime and super-villains, he has an army and stuff to do the job for him.

I have to disagree on some points. Aquaman does go through some dry spells in his stories, although he's one of my favorites, I'll admit that his stories in his own book never really caught my interest until the New 52. His stories and characterization are just perfect, as well as his current supporting cast; I also like Mera as his "sidekick."

1. They've done that, it didn't really catch on with a lot of people; fighting assassins and polluters. I'd also say Thor is more like a barbarian with a fancy old English accent, lol.

2. Perhaps. Although it's adding a really powerful dynamic to his current series, does it imply that human D.N.A. is all that's needed to make an Atlantean child a Super Atlantean? I feel like something more is needed. Perhaps something connected to Poseidon, which would also give him claim to the throne? Although I wouldn't want to see him fall into any cliches like being Poseidon's half-mortal son or even chosen one or anything. Or, a new twist could be given with the Lady of the Lake behind his origins and aquatic powers.

3. So his powers should come from Atlantean magic? And wait, did you just call his current powers useless? The guy is an underwater Superman that can command an army of aquatic life to do his bidding. Also, your proposition suggests that anyone who sits in the throne will have his powers, so if he's overthrown then he'd lose his powers.

4. Like he has now? A glimmering metallic golden-orange scalemale armor with a high collar, armored gloves, golden belt and golden trident. I can't speak for his legs, he needs something on his legs; that's the only part of Aquaman's design that bothers me. Too plain.

In the original comics, they had various reasons for Aquaman to help. Saving the world saves Atlantis too, the Justice League are his allies, etc. In the New 52, they make him an outcast, both on land and in the sea, which pretty much explains everything. Besides, Aquaman can't be in the sea all the time fighting off assassins and polluters, that gets boring.

Kinda like two takes on the same idea.

Although Namor WAS first. So,by the definition of many people,yes he WAS/IS a rip-off.

But I don't consider him one because he's developed into his own character.

But by the definition of many,then yes I guess he can be considered a rip-off. But I don't think so because they are two distinct different characters. Completely different. And both are badass.

If that's the case,Batman is a rip-off of The Shadow.....even though he's developed into a completely different character.

and this.

Basically,I say no because of many factors.

@deadpool: I read aquaman before and after N52, I know how they do. But don't make sense what you say and what they want us to think. It is the same thing that saying that GL is boring because it's in space all time. We can have murderers, mad scientist, thieves, monsters underwater, all that happens in space or surface can happen underwater, it's just a different background so there will be some adaptation. That's all.

And a king would fight an extra-dimensional conqueror with his army not by his own. Just saying a king needs to think on everything that happens to his kingdom and his people. He doesn't have much time to fight super-villains.

It's almost the other way around.

No. Aside from the obvious similarities, they aren't that similar. Also, they were created a mere two years apart, it's not that big a deal.

Are there similarities? Of course. Ripoff? No.

Is Hawkeye a Green Arrow ripoff? Is Static a Spider-Man rip off? No. Just a few ssame qualities does not a ripoff make.

you've never read a comic book featuring Aquaman in your life, have you?

The last one is a reference to Barry Allen after he died saving the universe. Buried Alien = Barry Allen.

I find it funny that before everyone (a lot of people) loved to call Namor a ripoff and in reality its Arthur. NOW! It's not a big deal or they want to argue on technicalities.

Ha ha [×]

√8

Aquaman Greatest Ripoff of all Time.

I agree with this. Plus Aquaman was more heroic overall. I've never been a big fan of either character. Can Namor talk with the fishes?

Considering that Namor didn't really take off until after Aquaman was published, the latter is hardly a ripoff.

In fact I think I remember reading something that Namor had actually gone on Hiatus after his initial publication and didn't really come into his own until the mid 40's.

I would say no, they may come from the same place, but I doubt AM's creators were looking at Namor for ideas.

@mikex20: how is Namor a ripoff of Superman?

I much prefer the term, 'improvement of'

@martianmanhunterisbetterthancy: yea sorry, meant Barry Allen not Bart Allen

@captaindoeo: Maybe it's just a coincidence I only read the bad ones.

I prefer Namor, both are cool!

Both are cool!

Mermaids and mermen are cited in various mythologies across the world, then it means that both are ripoffs ?