The Trench (comics)

Publication history

The Trench first appeared in Aquaman (vol. 7) #1 (November 2011) and were created by Geoff Johns. In September 2011, The New 52 had rebooted DC's continuity. Johns introduced the Trench into this new timeline, making them antagonists in the Aquaman series.

Powers and abilities

The Trench have adapted to underwater life like all the Atlantean kingdoms. They can generate bio-luminescent light from their bodies and spit a chemical from their mouth that causes paralysis. The Trench have razor-sharp teeth and needle-tipped claws that can cut through anything.

Known Trench

• Trench King - The King of the Trench. Killed by Ocean Master.
• Trench Queen - The Queen of the Trench. She was killed when Aquaman threw his trident into the volcanic fissure under her.
• Trench King II - The second King of the Trench who succeeded the first after his death.
• Trench Queen II - The second Queen of the Trench.
• Shellestriah - The half-human daughter of the second Trench King.

In other media

Film

• The Trench appear in Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.
• The Trench appear in DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis. The Siren takes command of them after finding the Book of Legends.
• The Trench appear in the projects set in the DC Extended Universe:
  • The Trench appear in Aquaman. This version of the species are one of the known tribes of Atlantis. While on a quest to find the lost Trident of Atlan, Aquaman and Mera are attacked by a legion of Trench, though they fend them off before reaching the Hidden Sea. After acquiring Atlan's trident, Aquaman leads the Trench into battle against Orm Marius and his followers, a feat previously believed to be impossible.
  • A "horror-tinged" spin-off film called The Trench was in development, with Aquaman director James Wan set to produce while Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald were asked to pen the script, but the project was cancelled by April 2021.
    • Aquaman director James Wan later admitted that there never had been a real plan to make a movie about the Trench, and that this announcement had at the time been intended as a misdirect to cover up the real spin-off, a movie focusing on Aquaman villain Black Manta.
• An alternate universe incarnation of the Trench appear in Justice Society: World War II. This version of the species hail from Earth-2 and are controlled by Aquaman and the Advisor to help the Nazis destroy New York. The Trench engage the Justice Society of America in battle and kill Hawkman before the Flash and Black Canary destroy the monsters in turn.

Video games

• The Trench make a cameo appearance in Black Manta's ending in Injustice 2.
• A member of the Trench appears in Lego DC Super-Villains as part of the "Aquaman" DLC.

References

References

1. (2016). "The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe". DK Publishing.
2. ''Aquaman'' (vol. 7) #2. DC Comics.
3. ''Justice League'' (vol. 2) #17. DC Comics.
4. ''Aquaman'' (vol. 7) #4. DC Comics.
5. ''Aquaman'' (vol. 8) #62. DC Comics.
6. ''Aquaman'' (vol. 8) #56. DC Comics.
7. ''Monkey Prince'' #5. DC Comics.
8. Kit, Borys. (February 8, 2019). "'Aquaman' Spinoff 'The Trench' in the Works (Exclusive)".
9. (2021-04-01). "Ava DuVernay's 'New Gods', James Wan's 'The Trench' DC Movies Not Moving Forward at Warner Bros.".
10. (October 25, 2021). "Canceled Aquaman Spinoff Was A Secret Black Manta Movie Reveals James Wan".