Atlantean Trident

Lore & Background

The lore of the Black Trident is rooted in the ancient history of Necrus, a lost kingdom hidden in Antarctica. Its creator, Kordax, was imprisoned with blood magic after his rebellion against King Atlan. The trident operates on a specific magical condition: it requires the blood of any descendant of King Atlan to release Kordax from his imprisonment. In the film, Black Manta seeks this power specifically to kill Arthur Curry and destroy Atlantis. The weapon's origin is revealed through visions shown to Orm when he touches the artifact on a volcanic island in the South Pacific. These visions disclose that Kordax was the brother of King Atlan and that the trident commands an army of undead warriors from Necrus, serving as a conduit for dark magic rather than a tool for sovereignty.

In Their Own Story

Five months after finding the Black Trident in an Antarctic cavern, David Kane / Black Manta breaks into an Orichalcum reserve on Atlantis to power his ancient machines. The trident possesses him, granting him command over undead warriors from Necrus. During a battle on a volcanic island mutated by Orichalcum radiation, Arthur Curry's half-brother Orm touches the trident and learns its provenance through visions of Kordax. Realizing Manta has kidnapped Arthur Jr. to obtain Atlan blood, the brothers travel to Antarctica. In Necrus, Manta throws the Black Trident at Mera, but Orm catches it before it strikes her. The spirit of Kordax leaves Manta for Orm, who uses Arthur's blood to free the entity. However, convinced by Arthur to abandon his hatred, Orm destroys both Kordax and the Black Trident, causing Necrus to collapse.

Reader's Guide

The Black Trident functions primarily as a vessel for possession and a key to unlocking ancient imprisonment. Its mechanics are strictly tied to lineage; it demands the blood of Atlan's descendants to free its creator, Kordax. Once possessed, the wielder gains command over undead armies from Necrus but loses their own autonomy to the artifact's spirit. The weapon is not a tool for hydrokinesis in the traditional sense but rather a source of dark magic that can overheat the world and destroy families. In the climax, the trident proves vulnerable to destruction by its own wielder when Kordax is convinced to let go of his hatred, leading to the collapse of the lost kingdom.

Did You Know?

• The Black Trident was created by Kordax, the brother of King Atlan and ruler of the lost kingdom of Necrus.
• Possession of the trident requires the blood of any descendant of King Atlan to release Kordax from imprisonment.
• Orm Marius catches the trident mid-air when Manta throws it at Mera, causing the spirit of Kordax to leave Manta and enter Orm.
• The weapon commands an army of undead warriors from Necrus while possessing its user.
• Black Manta's suit was redesigned in all-silver for this film to be more accurate to Silver Age comics, contrasting with the Black Trident's dark aesthetic.