Garth is Tempest, the former Aqualad and first young partner of Aquaman. He begins as an Atlantean outcast, later becomes a founding Titan, and eventually grows beyond the sidekick role after training in Atlantean magic. As Tempest, he remains tied to Aquaman, Atlantis, the Titans, Dolphin, and his son Cerdian. (More DC Characters in Profile)
Born into the Shayeris, a reclusive and pacifist sect of the Atlantean people, Garth was discarded by his own society due to the violet hue of his eyes—a physical trait feared as the "Curse of Kordax." Abandoned to perish in the unforgiving depths of the Crag, he was eventually rescued by Arthur Curry, the man known as Aquaman. Under the King’s guidance, Garth rose from a forgotten outcast to a celebrated hero, serving for years as the first Aqualad and standing as a founding member of the original Teen Titans. His early years were defined by his loyalty to the crown and his growing status as a bridge between the undersea kingdoms and the surface world.
His evolution from a protégé into a sovereign mystic occurred after he ventured into the Hidden Valley to study the ancient, long-forgotten arts of his ancestors. Emerging with a mastery over the elemental forces of the ocean, he shed his old identity to become Tempest, a warrior-sorcerer of unparalleled potential. No longer limited to physical strength and aquatic telepathy, Garth learned to manipulate water temperature to freeze or boil the seas, fire beams of concussive energy from his eyes, and travel across mystical dimensions. Though he has faced profound loss, including the destruction of his home and the weight of royal responsibilities, he remains a pillar of the Atlantean court and a guardian of the mystical ley lines that sustain the Seven Seas.
Appearance:
Tempest has a fair skin. His short black hair is styled with a slight spike, with a single lock hanging down the right side of his face. His eyes glow solid white with no visible pupils. A thin black curved mark arcs vertically across his right eye. He wears a tight, form-fitting bodysuit. The high collar, upper chest, shoulders, and a section of the right torso are solid black. The remainder of the torso is bright red. Thick black swirling lines and hook-like patterns cover the red sections of his chest and abdomen. The upper arms are red and feature matching black hook-like patterns. A thin light blue and white band encircles each arm just below the elbow. Solid black material covers his forearms and hands. Bright circular energy bursts emanate from his hands, showing orange and yellow on the right hand and blue and red on the left hand. The bright red material of the bodysuit covers his groin and upper thighs. Solid black material covers his lower thighs, knees, calves, and feet seamlessly.
Personality:
Garth is defined by a quiet, soulful stoicism that was forged in the isolation of his youth. Having spent his earliest years as an outcast due to the "purple eye" superstition, he developed a deeply introspective nature and a profound sense of empathy for those who exist on the fringes of society. While he has grown from a shy, insecure protégé into a formidable sorcerer-warrior, he still carries the weight of a man who has lost much—his first love, his birth parents, and at times, his sense of belonging. This lends him a grounded, serious demeanor that contrasts with the more impulsive nature of some of his peers, yet he possesses a dry, understated wit that only emerges when he’s among those he truly trusts. He doesn't seek the spotlight or the throne; he is a man of duty who views his immense magical power as a heavy responsibility to be managed with clinical precision.
His relationships are the anchors that keep him from drifting too deep into his own melancholy. Aquaman is the father figure who gave him a name and a purpose, and while their bond has been strained by royal politics and personal tragedy, the mutual respect between them is unshakable. However, it is with the original Teen Titans—Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Wally West, and Roy Harper—that Garth finds his truest sense of home. To them, he isn't just a mystical powerhouse or a prince of Atlantis; he is a brother who has bled and grown alongside them since they were sidekicks. His romantic history is marked by a tragic, enduring love for Tula, whose loss remains a defining shadow in his life, and a complex, deep connection with Dolphin. Within the Atlantean court, he remains a vital bridge between the crown and the mystical realms, acting as a trusted advisor to Mera and a guardian to the younger generation of aquatic heroes.
Garth’s Atlantean physiology makes him a juggernaut of the deep, adapted to survive the crushing pressures and freezing temperatures of the ocean floor. He is a true amphibian, capable of breathing both water and air, and possesses the superhuman strength to lift roughly eight tons. His body is naturally high-temperature to keep his muscles primed for swimming at speeds reaching eighty-five miles per hour, and his skin is highly impervious to physical injury. On land or at sea, his senses are far beyond human limits; his night vision is exceptional in murky depths, and his hearing is acutely tuned to his environment, though he navigates a world of blurred shades due to a unique form of color blindness.
Beyond his physical prowess, Garth is a master of ancient mystical arts, bridging the gap between a warrior and a sorcerer. He possesses a potent form of marine telepathy that allows him to command aquatic life, but his true power lies in his hydrokinetic sorcery. He can manipulate currents, create massive whirlpools, and even boil or freeze large bodies of water at will. This elemental control is channeled specifically through his hands—his left generating intense heat and his right producing bone-chilling cold. He is also capable of projecting concussive mystical blasts, detecting magical signatures, and casting invisibility spells to mask his presence.
Garth’s sorcery extends to the metaphysical, allowing him to open dimensional portals, project his astral form, or even possess smaller creatures to gather intelligence. His magical capacity is so immense that he has served as a conduit for cosmic-scale events, such as shifting the entire city of Atlantis through time. Despite his power, he remains tethered to the sea, needing periodic contact with water or high humidity to maintain his strength. While he is a skilled occultist and a proven leader within both the Atlantean court and the Titans, he remains a humble guardian of the deep, viewing his abilities as a necessary responsibility to his people.
