Orm Marius

> You were the reason our mother was executed. And I've hated you for it ever since. But I do not want to kill you, Arthur. I'm going to give you one chance. Go home. Do not ever come back to Atlantis. You are not going to win this. A war is coming to the surface whether you like it or not. And I am bringing the wrath of the seven seas with me.
>
> Orm Marius to Arthur Curry, Aquaman (film)

Prince **Orm Marius** is the former king of Atlantis, the second son of Atlanna, and Arthur Curry's younger half-brother. As the former ruler of Atlantis, Orm is a skilled warrior who sought to unite the Seven Kingdoms as the "**Ocean Master**" against the surface world, due to humanity's continued pollution and mistreatment of the seas throughout history.

Despite his best efforts, he ultimately failed to succeed in this undertaking and was finally defeated and apprehended by his half-brother, now known as Aquaman, who usurped Orm's throne to become the new King of Atlantis wielding the Trident of Atlan. He was then taken into custody after a brief reunion with Atlanna.

## Biography

### Early life

Born to King Orvax and Queen Atlanna of Atlantis, Orm was raised alongside Princess Mera of Xebel and became a great warrior under the guidance of chief counselor Nuidis Vulko.

#### Learning of his half-brother

At some point during his childhood, Orvax discovered that Atlanna sired a half-human son before their marriage and banished her to the Trench, for which Orm placed the blame on Arthur. While Atlanna taught her second son that the land and sea could co-exist, he eventually developed a strong hatred for the surface after this event and witnessing the damage they inflict on the oceans, which poisons Atlanteans.

### Rise to power

After taking his father's place on the throne, Orm began devising a master plan that would both unite the seven kingdoms and destroy the surface in one fell swoop. Besides his loyal duties, Orm participated in the Atlantean war sports, becoming the undefeated champion in trident combat by winning five times throughout his youth and also earning the title of 8th Dan Nautilus in unarmed Xebel-fu combat, Orm participated in a unknown war using the trident as his own weapon, earning the Coral Heart medal and dubbed a war hero.

### War for Atlantis

#### Sowing the seeds

As early as 2017, during the War for Earth, Orm was already sowing the seeds of discord between the surface and the Atlantean people. When the New God general Steppenwolf began to abduct Atlantean guards near the Atlantean Stronghold in the hope of finding the Atlantean Mother Box, King Orm chose to focus on fanning the war with the surface, perpetuating lies during that time. Thus, the Atlantean forces could not mount an effective defense against Steppenwolf when he finally broke into the Atlantean Stronghold with the Mother Box, nearly causing the death of Princess Mera in the process. Arthur Curry, thus had to take up Orm's responsibility to attempt to defend the stronghold from Steppenwolf and then follow him to the surface to prevent the entire Earth from being terraformed into an inhospitable world that would serve only Darkseid's Elite. In fact, Arthur's first attempt to save the Earth initially failed, as the Mother Box did activate and presumably encompass the globe. However, the speedster known as Barry Allen managed to rewind time back, allowing Arthur to help slay Steppenwolf and giving the entire planet, including Orm, another chance.

To carry out his plan and become "Ocean Master", Orm had to obtain the support of at least four kingdoms of Atlantis. In his first bid to gain Xebel's support, he employed the aquatic mercenaries Jesse and David Kane to hijack a submarine and stage a fake attack on both Atlanteans and Xebellians during a meeting at the Council of Kings. In doing so, he used the seemingly unprovoked attack from humans as a pretext to both gain Xebel's support and declare war on the surface.

 File:Nereus and Orm meet in the Council of Kings promotional still.png
At the same time, some people close to him - such as his Vizir, Vulko, and betrothed, Princess Mera of Xebel - sought to avoid his planned war with the surface. Together, they hatched a plan to journey to the surface to ask Arthur Curry, Orm's elder half-brother for help in both stopping the coming war by becoming the King of Atlantis himself.

#### Meeting Arthur and duel in the Ring of Fire

> You have our mother's trident; powerful...but flawed, like her. I wield my father's...and it has never known defeat!
>
> Orm Marius to Aquaman, Aquaman (film)

After arresting Arthur for illegally sneaking into Atlantis, Orm finally met his elder brother in the throne room of Atlantis, where he both explained his reasoning for his war against the surface and blamed Arthur for Atlanna's execution since her crime was having a half-breed son.

 File:Arthur and Orm ready to fight.jpg
While he offered Arthur an opportunity to leave forever, a provoked Arthur instead challenged him to a fight, which Orm interpreted as invoking the Combat of the Kings. This combat took place in the Ring of Fire, an ancient amphitheater surrounded by lava. After a decent fight, Orm gained the upper hand, destroyed Atlanna's trident, and nearly killed his brother before Mera intervened and escaped with Arthur. Orm faced chase on a stinger fighter alongside stinger patrols in the city and succeed in shooting down Mera's ship.

### Preparing for war

> Princess, prepare your armies...we move against the Brine Kingdom at once.
>
> Orm to Princess Scales, Aquaman (film)

While Arthur and Mera searched for King Atlan's Lost Trident, Orm continued to prepare for his war against the surface. He once again hired David Kane, this time to track down and kill Arthur and Mera with the help of his elite Atlantean soldiers, providing the mercenary with Atlantean armor and weaponry that Kane further modified to suit his own needs and style. At the same time, he moved to gain the support of the Fishermen Kingdom, meeting with King Ricou in his throne room with Nereus and Vulko by his side. After Ricou objected to Orm's proposed war, however, Orm killed the king and coerced his daughter (and new Queen of the Fishermen) into joining him and his war.

 File:Orm Kills Ricou2.jpg
After he realizes that both Kane and his Atlantean soldiers failed to bring down Mera and Arthur, Orm also turned on Vulko and revealed that he knew he had been supporting Arthur all this time. After imprisoning him upon revealing his betrayal, Orm further prepared to launch an attack against the Kingdom of the Brine, the last kingdom he needed the support of to earn the title "Ocean Master".

#### Battle of the Brine

> Join me or die!"
> "And you'll expect me to address you as 'your highness?'"
> "Not Your Highness. Call me... Ocean Master.
>
> Orm and the Brine King, Aquaman (film)

With only the Kingdom of the Brine left to bring to heel, Orm led the full forces of Atlantis, Xebel, and the Fishermen kingdom into battle against the Brine. Amid the onslaught, Orm engaged the Brine King and came close to dealing the death blow, only for Nereus to intervene and remind Orm that they needed the King for their plans. After the Brine King defiantly refused to ever swear his allegiance to him, Orm moved to execute him, only to be for the ground to burst open as the Karathen emerged from the earth's core, ridden by Arthur wielding the Trident of Atlan.

Orm ordered his forces to focus their fire on the newcomers, but the Karathen proved too strong and Arthur's ability to command the entire sea and summon an army of sea creatures (including the Trench) eventually overwhelmed their combined forces. Additionally, due to his possession of the trident and said ability to command the sea, the forces of Atlantis began to accept Arthur as the true king, instead of Orm.

#### Defeat

> That trident doesn't change what you are - a half breed bastard. Atlantis will never accept you as its king.
>
> Orm to Arthur, Aquaman (film)

 File:Arthur destroys Orm's Trident.PNG
Amidst the fighting, Arthur and Orm swam to the surface to finish their duel on the front top of a infantry frigate. As they readied for battle, the rest of the Atlantean forces also surfaced to watch. Now in his element, a great sense of self, and fighting with Atlan's trident, Arthur defeated Orm but chose to spare his life. After angrily behesting Arthur to kill him, Orm seemingly accepts his fate after discovering Arthur has found and rescued their mother Atlanna. After a brief reunion, Orm was taken away by Atlantean soldiers, with Arthur becoming the new King of Atlantis.

## Personality

> I see...but how you plan to stop this storm at the surface which continues? because for centuries, they have polluted our waters, poisoned our children, and killed the creatures of the sea. And now you come here against your people?
>
> Orm explains his goals to Arthur, Aquaman (film)

Ever since that he was born, Orm Marius has been raised on the values of being a great king as well as been guided by Vulko to become a magnificent great warrior, allowing him to develop great skills of warfare. As Orm rose to the surface world to learn about it, he has become known to the massively great damage that the human race and the surface are causing to the Seven Seas with pollution, factories, and trash, driving him into developing a psychotic obsession to destroy them all including the surface world to save Atlantis from extinction.

After the death of his parents, Orm has become the new king of Atlantis and began devising a wide master plan to destroy the Earth and humanity by uniting all of the kingdoms underneath the sea into a great war.

Ruthless, manipulative, bold and above all-powerful, arrogant and murderous, Orm has been doing multiple stages such as hiring the services of the human mercenary David Kane into killing his brother and manipulated King Nereus and others into assisting his war, becoming the "Ocean Master".

Nereus, of course, supported him but Mera has never wanted Orm as King, knowing full well his power fantasy would ruin everything he came across. Causing Orm great hatred for her, enough to send a personal detail to aid Black Manta in murdering her and Arthur behind Nereus' back; after the fact, his partner in crime demanded Orm bring him his daughter back unharmed. To this end, his rule can be described as both dictating and tyrannical, with a hint of hypocrisy to match as he shows no qualms in putting those who did not agree to his plans in place and even killed the Fishermen King just because he would not aid his genocidal war plans. All of this was for the ultimate goal of destroying the surface world by unleashing the wrath of the seven seas. Other contradictory evidence of his turnabout ways come in his needing a human; a race of beings whom he and his people hate with a venomous passion.

To do for him what he cannot do for himself, as was evident when enlisting the help of Black Manta to trigger his conflict or resolve things behind the backs of his people and/or confidantes. More to that point, Orm is willing to go around the backs of those whom he would call a partner to achieve his own goals, despite preaching about how he does what he does for all mariners while willingly turning his spear on anyone who dared not go along with his costly and genocidal plans.

Moreover, his blaming the half-brother whom he never really knew for their shared mother's demise. Despite it were his spiteful, human-hating father and his equally bigoted subjects banished her to the trench in the first place and not because of Arthur that they lost their beloved parent. Orm's ideal for global conflict also shows an extreme lack of hindsight or foresight on his part, as it never occurred to him that the surface dwellers had their silent guardians fighting on their behalf; few amongst who were more than powerful enough to dismantle him and his fleet of warmongers by their lonesome. Thus indicating Orm was supremely ignorant of their presence on land or egotistical to the point of suicidal idiocy; his misguided sense of superiority making him believe Atlantis and its armies could best what are essentially Demi-Gods as easily as any surface-based military power. A testament to his phenomenal sense of narcissism and self-righteousness reflects in how he relegates himself and his righteous rage against the surface as the Karathen, a legendary sea beast who protected the oceans at one time in Atlantis' past. Despite his many faults and fallacies, however, Orm is not purely evil by his nature, and his goal is not to seek power for himself by having Atlantis conquer Earth but instead, to save Atlantis from the damage the humans could potentially deal, in much the same way as the deceased General Dru-Zod had attempted to create a new Krypton on Earth to restore its lost way of life. Also, he genuinely loved his mother and was devastated by her execution, which made him all the more bitter towards the surface world and Arthur for the death of Atlanna ever since, as he perceived it as mostly his fault.

Spending decades time to blame him for their mother's death, which while partially to manipulate Arthur into challenging Orm, was also done because he genuinely believed Arthur caused their mother's death, which succeeded in provoking his brother, who angrily challenged Orm to a duel, but even then, Arthur couldn't help but feel sympathy for Orm's pain over the loss of their mother, which led to him refusing to strike down Orm later on.

Discovering the fact that Atlanna was still alive and Arthur had rescued her was enough for Orm to accept his fate, surrender and be imprisoned for his crimes. Even though all he did was for the greater good of his people and his initial demands of Arthur killing him. Although he despised Arthur for the fact his birth caused Atlanna to be sentenced to the Trench, Orm seemed to have a level of kinship for him regardless, stating that he did not want to kill Arthur and giving him several chances to leave forever. He also looked shocked, regretful and even a bit grieving when he saw Mera's ship sinking in lava, thus believing she and Arthur are both dead. Although he does not answer when Arthur suggests they have a brotherly talk, later on, he seemed to contemplate doing so as he was taken away to be jailed.

His relationship with his father was not well-known, but it seemed Orm highly respected his father's fighting skills, describing Orvax as having been unchallenged during his reign and his trident never suffering defeat and even stating Atlanna's trident was flawed, although he still showed some respect for his mother's fighting skills by stating that her trident was nevertheless powerful. Orm also appeared to respect his teacher Nuidis Vulko, as he sounded betrayed as he revealed to Vulko he knew of his treachery and asked his mentor why appearing to be somewhat jealous of how Arthur was favored by Vulko and asking that he at least be given a view in his prison.

## Powers and abilities

### Powers

**Atlantean physiology**: As a high-born Atlantean, Orm possesses incredible superhuman abilities that surpass most other Atlanteans, with only other high-borns, such as his mother, Nuidis Vulko and half-brother currently being his equal in power. As a warrior prince of Atlantis, Orm was trained in the battle arts he has practiced for years to become the best.

* **Superhuman strength**: Orm naturally has incredible strength as a high-born Atlantean, making him far stronger than regular Atlanteans. He was strong enough to swiftly cut through the metal of a submarine with his trident, as well as raise a huge pillar to save King Nereus when he was caught during the attack on the Council of Kings. Orm's strength allowed him to greatly rival and even at certain occasions surpass Arthur in combat, with him repeatedly able to send Arthur flying a great distance, causing him pain, with his blows and even able to throw him to the ground and break his trident with several blows in their first fight as well as hold Arthur to a standstill when they struggled with their tridents clashing, eventually able to force him off, and still knock him around with his blows, only being outdone when Arthur used Atlantis's ultimate combat technique to force him back and leave him stunned long enough to break his trident. He was also able to quickly kill the Fishermen King, defeated the Brine King, and several Trench monsters with relative ease. Orm's strength also extends to his ability to jump great distances.
* **Superhuman durability**: Orm possesses nigh-invulnerability, including resistance to explosions of powerful energy, immense blunt-force trauma, falls from great heights, explosions, low-caliber bullets, and tremendous underwater pressures. Additionally, he endured many extremely powerful blows from his half-brother Arthur, as well as Mera's hydrokinetic attacks. However, Orm is seemingly not immune to molten lava, as he made a notable effort not to fall into it while fighting his half-brother.
* **Superhuman speed**: While underwater, Orm can swim at supersonic speeds. Orm's speed was able to rival and even, at times, overcome his brother Arthur, dodging many of his brother's blows with relative ease.
* **Superhuman senses**: As an Atlantean, Orm possesses enhanced senses to help him better navigate underwater.
	+ **Enhanced vision**: Orm's vision is better enhanced to help him see in the darker environment of the sea. From his perspective, the seemingly dark environment of Atlantis is brightly lit, with the vivid and vibrant flora and fauna of the sea being as clear as though he were on land.
* **Amphibious adaptation**: As a high-born Atlantean, Orm can survive both on land and in underwater environments, unlike most Atlanteans, who cannot breathe air.
	+ **Aquatic respiration**: Orm can naturally breathe underwater.

### Abilities

> Orm has spent his entire life underwater, training to be a warrior, training to be the best.
>
> Nuidis Vulko to Aquaman, Aquaman (film)

 File:Orm kicks Arthur during their duel.jpg
* **Master combatant**: Having trained his entire life at Atlantis to become the best, Orm is extremely skilled in both armed and unarmed combat, being an 8th Dan Nautilus in Xebel-Fu and the five-time undefeated trident champion. He was particularly adept at fighting underwater but also considerably skilled in fighting in a surface environment, as shown by how he was able to dominate his half-brother Arthur throughout the majority of their first fight, which took place underwater, and eventually come out on top, only being prevented from killing Arthur by Mera's interference and in their final duel, which took place on land, Orm was still able to stand toe-to-toe with Arthur, forcing Arthur to use Atlantis's ultimate combat technique, which Orm was unprepared for, to win. Moreover, Orm swiftly killed the Fishermen King, defeated the Brine King quickly, and even slew many Trench monsters with relative ease.
	+ **Trident mastery**: Being the five-time undefeated trident champion, Orm is extremely skilled in the use of his trident in combat. He used it to cut a submarine, kill the Fishermen King, as well as quickly overpower the Brine King and slay many Trench monsters. He was able to match his brother Aquaman's use of their tridents, even besting and breaking their mother's trident in their first fight and forcing Arthur to use Atlantis's most powerful polearm technique with his newly acquired Trident of Atlan to emerge victorious in their final fight.
* **Master swimmer**: Orm, like all Atlanteans, is an extremely skilled swimmer.

> **I'm no fool, King Orm. As Ocean Master, you'll be commander of the greatest military might on this planet.**I am the natural choice to lead it.**Nereus and Orm**Aquaman (film)

* **Expert leader**: Orm is a very capable leader, with the people of Atlantis following him without question, only accepting Aquaman as their rightful king after the latter acquired Atlan's trident.
* **Expert pilot**: While pursuing Mera and Arthur, Orm was able to easily pilot a stinger.
* **Expert rider**: Orm, due to regularly battling from the back of his massive tylosaur mount, is extremely skilled.

## Equipment

 File:Orm Marius.jpg
* **Ocean Master's armor**: Orm wore this armor during the Battle of the Brine and his second fight with Aquaman. The suit is highly durable. Its helmet withstood repeated strikes from a massive propeller with no sign of damage. The face area also changes to reflect Orm's expressions.

### Former equipment

* **Trident**: Orm wields his father's trident as his main weapon of choice. It is made out of Atlantean steel, being able to tear through a submarine and break Atlanna's trident with a couple of strikes. It was, however, destroyed by Aquaman using the Trident of Atlan.
* **Orm's golden armor**: Orm wore this armor upon first meeting his half-brother, Aquaman in his throne room.
* **Orm's gladiator armor**: Orm wore this gladiatorial armor during his first fight with Aquaman in the Ring of Fire.

## Relationships

Family* Atlan † - ancestor
* Orvax † - father
* Atlanna - Mother
* Arthur Curry/Aquaman - half-brother and rival

Allies* Tylosaur - pet and mount
* Black Manta
* Atlantean soldiers
	+ Murk
* Topo
* Mera - former fiancé turned enemy
* Kingdom of the Fishermen
	+ Ricou † - victim
	+ Rina
	+ Scales - ally turned enemy
* Nuidis Vulko - adviser turned enemy
* Kingdom of the Brine
	+ Brine King - attempted victim
* Trench

## Trivia

* In the DC Comics universe, originally Orm was Aquaman's human half-brother and was the son of Thomas Curry and a woman named Mary O'Sullivan. He resented the fact that he had none of Aquaman's powers, being fully human and eventually named himself the Ocean Master, a high-tech pirate who caused natural disasters to hold the world at ransom. In Post-Crisis, Orm is the son of Atlan and attempts to rise to the throne of Atlantis after having learned his father was an Atlantean wizard. In the New 52, Orm is the half-brother of Aquaman, born to Aquaman's mother Atlanna and the warlord Orvax Marius. He again becomes Ocean Master and an enemy of Justice League.
* Patrick Wilson is 6 years older than Jason Momoa.
* Since the Ocean Master title is granted to an Atlantean who holds the allegiance of four of the Kingdoms of Atlantis, but Orm was interrupted just before gaining the armies of the Brine, he never technically achieved the title (at least legally speaking). Arthur, on the other hand, became King of Atlantis by defeating Orm, with Xebel and the Kingdom of the Fishermen pledging their allegiance shortly after. He never gained the support of the Brine, however the first kingdom he turned was that of the Trench, meaning he is the true Ocean Master.

## Behind the scenes

* Orm/Ocean Master was just one of several villains from the greater DCEU that were planned to appear in *Justice League 2*. Originally, he and Black Manta would have been imprisoned in a desert prison in the middle of the Atacama Desert at the end of *Aquaman*, and in *Justice League 2* Lex would have enlisted the help of Dr. Maru, who had somehow survived since she was last seen in *Wonder Woman*, to help break them out and join Lex's Injustice League.
* Craig Henningsen was a stunt double for Patrick Wilson in the role of Orm Marius.

## References

Beall, Will, Wan, James, Johns, Geoff (writers) & Wan, James (director) (December 21, 2018). *Aquaman*.
Terrio, Chris, Beall, Will (writers) & Snyder, Zack (writer and director) (March 18, 2021). *Zack Snyder's Justice League*.
3. ↑ Part of the storyboards featured in The Dreamscapes of Zack Snyder's Justice League

## External links

The ***DC Extended Universe Wiki** has a collection of images and media related to* **Orm Marius***.*
* File:Favicon.png Orm Marius on DC Database
* File:WP favicon.png Orm Marius on Wikipedia

de:Ocean Master
es:Orm Marius
fr:Orm Marius
pt-br:Orm Marius