#I also found him immensely more likeable in the snyder cut than in the whedon cut

[artbyblastweave]

In retrospect I actually really did like the DCEU's take on Aquaman- a guy who does not, in fact, put particular stock in his royal heritage, correctly identifies that accident of birth as the site of a lot of his personal misery, and, if not for the plot dragging him into succession crisises or alien invasions or whatever kicking and screaming, would structure his life as a never-ending pub crawl through coastal dive bars punctuated by charitable Maritime superpowered interventions. Reasonable celebrity in certain circles as an inevitable byproduct of his lifestyle, but by no means the actual goal. Neatly sidestepping the tired "Aquaman gets no respect" refrain through characterization as a guy who's simply not playing that game in the first place. "Superhero who just wants to grill (and fight pirates and sea monsters if any happen to present themselves)" is a really underrated niche