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| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
The Arion you faced in battle was a confused fool -- who still had embers of compassion burning in his heart. But that man is long dead. I stand before you reawakened! Reborn! I see myself...I see the world....with new eyes! 
- — Arion src
Arion is a powerful, ancient sorcerer, scientist, and former king of Atlantis with divine-related origin. A legendary hero known not only to Atlantis but to other civilizations such as the Amazons, he is hailed as Atlantis's first and greatest hero in Atlantean history.
History
Early Life
In ancient times, dark eldritch deities known as the Dark Giants preyed upon humanity for sport, as they say humanity as vermin. Gathering every sorcerer in the world to construct the White Gate, Arion confronted the deities himself and sealed them behind the relic deep within the ocean.[1]
During his time as king of Atlantis, Arion once saved Atlantis by combining Nth Metal with Atlantean magic and technology and making some sort of pact. He would claim to have instead saved it by spinning ancient magic in the center of the Earth core.[2]
Encounter with the Ocean Lords
Admired from afar by Poseidon due to his commitment to exploration and unity, the sea god went to Arion and revealed him the true nature of the world and it's unique power that allowed the Earth to flourish with life. Longing to share that power with the known universe to tithe and bind them all as one, the wizard king imbued a piece of conch shell with the power of the Life Force responsible for planetary genesis and called forth the Triumvirate of Sea Gods to receive this power. Unknown to him, this act caused Poseidon to falter and fear the sea gods. Despite knowing he was wrong, the Ocean Deity grew jealous and fearful of sharing his secrets with this alien supremacy. Unknown to Arion, his patron deity lied to the unsuspecting sorcerer about their true intents, portraying them as destroyers and conquerors out to plunder his home planet. Dismayed at this revelation, he used his magic and technology to invert a small piece of that power used to summon them and instead created the Tear of Extinction; after having imbued it into the Clarion. Using its power, he killed the Ocean Lords and caste them into the Graveyard of Gods though at the cost of poisoning himself with the necrotic Death Force power. Arion had been believed to have perished in the deed,[3] and from it. A legend was spurred detailing this event (with the exclusion of the mentioning of the tear of extinction's existence) and it's real, historical account was kept secret by the Atlantean royal bloodline.[4]
Sealing by Fate
Through unknown means, Arion had somehow managed to survive after the ordeal. But was driven insane by the Tears corrupting influence. Some time after the battle he came into contact with the Blue Beetle Scarab, gaining visions of a proclaimed calamity to befall Atlantis and was plunged into greater depths of madness from premonition he'd received. During battle with Doctor Fate over ownership of the Scarab, Arion intervened in an attempt to claim it for himself. The ensuring conflict allowed it to leave the battle and Arion was sealed away in a tomb under what would later be El Paso, Texas.[5]
Hard Choices
Main article: Blue Beetle: Hard Choices
An insane Arion faces Blue Beetle and Doctor Fate.
Having found the current Blue Beetle holder, Jaime Reyes, he sends his servant Mordcai Cull to retrieve.[6] Using his limited influence and Mordecai, he is successful in luring Doctor Fate, Jaime, and the Blue Beetle Scarab near the sealing grounds of his imprisonment as well as separate Jaime's soul from his body to give the scarab full control.[7]
As Doctor Fate fights the Scarab, it releases Jaime from it's body. As an act of mercy and gratitude for ushering his return, Arion uses his influence to merge his body with his soul and feeds off the energy from Fate and the Scarab, enabling him to break through his imprisonment.[8] With his newfound power, he defeats Doctor Fate and begins transforming the Earth into his dark image.[9] He then begins to casts a global enchantment and calls upon Jaime's assistance by using the spark of energy he retained from his unique bond with the Scarab, controlling his body into doing so. However, Jaime manages to break through Arion's telepathic control and re-take the scarab, severely weakening Arion.[10] Attempting to combat Doctor Fate once more, he is instead knocked out by a cannon blast from Jaime and is taken by Doctor Fate to be placed in a absolution crystal for ten thousand years, where he can either transcend his sins or be consumed by them.[11]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Transcendent Hybrid Physiology: Described as a god, demon, and homo magi, Arion has innate abilities thanks to his heritage.
- Immortality: Arion possess immortality, having been alive since the times of the Dark Giants, whom plagued humanity millions of years ago.[5]
- Transformation: Arion can transform himself into a dark, insect-like creature as well as others into insect-like Atlantean demons.[12]
- Magic: Arion is historically known to be a great and power wizard according to Black Orchid's account, having managed to seal away the immensely powerful Dark Giants, elder gods that once plagued humanity millions of years ago.[13] He also managed to gain the upper hand on Nabu and defeat him after his resurrection and absorption of his sorcerer energies to revive himself.[14]
- Energy Projection: Arion can manipulate other sorts of energies with his magic such as cosmic energy within Jaime from the Blue Beetle Scarab.[12]
- Magic Absorption:Arion proved capable of enough to absorb the sorcerous energies replenish his own from beings powerful as Doctor Fate and objects such as the Blue Beetle Scarab's occult and cosmic energies.[15]
- Electrokinesis: Arion can conjure bolts of electricity out of his hands.[15]
- Power Replication: After coming into contact with the Blue Beetle Scarab and becoming obsessed with the object, Arion manage to use his magic to imitate the capabilities and effects of the scarab.[5]
- Molecular Reconstruction: Arion proved capable enough to separate Jaime Reyes's body from the Blue Beetle Scarab during it's battle with Doctor Fate even while imprisoned in his tomb.[5]
- Force Field:Arion is capable of creating force fields to protect himself from harm.[15]
- Ectokinesis:Arion can control the essence of other human beings.[15]
- Dimensional Travel[12]
- Power Distribution: Arion's essence can be granted to others to give them powers, having turned Mordecai Cull into an Atlantean demon with magical powers and appearances that resemble Blue Beetle's own.[16]
- Psychokinesis:Arion possess a strong mind powerful enough to force a bond between himself and Khaji Da.[12]
- Mind Control:Arion can use magic to force others to be compelled to follow his whims such as Jaime Reyes and the Blue Beetle Scarab.[12]
- Atmokinesis: Arion is capable of unleashing powerful, magical storms using his mind.[12]
- Magic Senses:Arion possess senses that can alert him to forces that work against him.[17]
- Retrocognition: Arion can read the history of humanity shortly after being freed from the dimension in which he was imprisoned in by Doctor Fate.[12]
- Darkness Manipulation: Arion possess powers of a darker and malevolent nature.[12]
- Reality Alteration: Although requiring him the use of arcane objects such as the Blue Beetle Scarab to sufficiently power him, Arion at the height of his power is able to end all of creation with a spell.[12][18]
- Energy Projection: Arion can manipulate other sorts of energies with his magic such as cosmic energy within Jaime from the Blue Beetle Scarab.[12]
Former Powers
- Death Force Connection: Through the creation of the Tear of Extinction and fusing it with the Clarion, the substance containing the force would seep into his body. Though a painful and fatal process, he gained access to the force and the power to slay gods such as the Triumvirate of Sea Gods.[19]
Abilities
- Genius Level Intellect: Arion was described as a great scientist by Poseidon, whom the god even admitted to having underestimated his ingenuity.[20] His reign in Atlantis became historically responsible for Atlantis's advanced technology and applications of magic.[21]
- Occultism: Arion was very knowledgeable in sorcery, often combining it with technology to achieve various advancements such as studying Poseidon's life giving power and combining it with his magic and technology to create a deadly inversion.[20]
- Historiography: An explorer, Poseidon stated that he traveled to every corner of the Earth during his tenure in Atlantis as an explorer, scientist, and later king prior to his descent into insanity.[20]
- Science[20]
- Leadership[21]
Weaknesses
- Mental Instability: Contact with both the Blue Beetle Scarab[5] and Tear of Extinction turned Arion insane and evil.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Mantle of the Savior
- Arion's Gemstone
- Clarion (Formerly)
- Tear of Extinction (Formerly)
- Blue Beetle Scarab (Formerly)
- Arion's Keeperchest (Formerly): Special containers meant for locking even the most volatile of magic, though proved powerful enough to contain a nuke augmented by magical energies.
Notes
- Arion’s being has had contradictory elements: Although stated outright to be a demon[18], he is also referenced a god by Doctor Fate & Blue Beetle.[12][22] He’s also referred to as an Atlantean during ancient times, liking him to be Homo Magi.
- Arion was created by Paul Kupperberg and Jan Duursema, first appearing in Warlord #55. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Arion first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Secret Six (Volume 4) #8 by Gail Simone and Dale Eaglesham.
Trivia
Related
- Appearances of Ahri'ahn (Prime Earth)
- Images featuring Ahri'ahn (Prime Earth)
- Quotations by or about Ahri'ahn (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Ahri'ahn (Prime Earth)
External Links
=
Footnotes
- ↑ Secret Six (Volume 4) #8
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dark Nights: Metal #5
- ↑ Justice League Volume 4 #12
- ↑ Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Blue Beetle (Volume 9) #7
- ↑ Blue Beetle (2016) #5
- ↑ Blue Beetle (2016) #6
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBB7 - ↑ Blue Beetle #8 (2016)
- ↑ Blue Beetle #10 (2016)
- ↑ Blue Beetle #11 (2016)
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 Blue Beetle (Volume 9) #10 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "BB1010" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Secret Six (Volume 4) #8
- ↑ Blue Beetle (Volume 9) #7
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Blue Beetle (Volume 9) #8
- ↑ Blue Beetle (Volume 9) #6
- ↑ Blue Beetle (Volume 9) 9
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide: New Edition
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #12
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Justice League Volume 4 #12
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Trinity (Volume 2) #19
- ↑ Blue Beetle (Volume 10) #11
  This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of the Blue Beetle Legacy in any of its incarnations. Including Dan Garrett, Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes as well as any alternate universe equivalents. |