After marrying Mera and having a son named Arthur Jr., Aquaman has found solace in his family. He reigns as the king of Atlantis as well, and despite attempts by some to discredit his lofty aspirations for the realm, he must contend with the constraints of holding public office. After being vanquished by Aquaman earlier, the Black Manta reappears. He has a strong desire for vengeance and plans to use Dr. Shin’s assistance to destroy Atlantis, use the newly found Black Trident’s power to overthrow his adversaries, speak with the evil king Kordax, and see visions of the secret kingdom of Necrus. Aquaman, who is not as enraged, seeks assistance and wants to return to his imprisoned half-brother Orm. The siblings’ major concern is stopping Black Mantis’s goal to pollute the entire world, even if they still have trust issues.