| Looking for a different version of this character? |
|---|
| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
I feel like a prisoner in my own life. I want to understand why I'm like this--who I really am... but my mother won't tell me anything about my father. I want to stop hiding myself... but I've grown up in a place where "different" is a bad word. I want to soak myself in water... but I live in an ocean of sand. I want to escape this prison... and start something new. 
- — Jackson Hyde src
History
Jackson Hyde is Aqualad, a young superhero with hydrokinetic powers and member of the Teen Titans. He is also the son of villain Black Manta, and is openly gay.
Joining the Teen Titans
Jackson grew up a gay teenager with a homophobic mother[1] who avoided telling him about his real father. She did not allow him to use his hydrokinetic powers even when he was alone, just as she did not like that he had bleached his hair.[2]
Jackson also had a boyfriend named Kenny, who was startled when he showed him his powers. Not counting on even the support of the people he loves, the boy left New Mexico with the objective of joining the Teen Titans at Titans Tower in San Francisco.[2]
Deciding to join the team, Jackson tried to "audition" but was rejected by Robin, who considered that the Titans were already perfect with the members he had chosen, although the other members did not agree. However, when facing King Shark, a super-villain capable of living and fighting underwater, Jackson's powers proved very useful: he saved Robin's life, defeated the villain, and helped rescue his hostages (at that time, he discovered that he could develop gills and breathe underwater). Thanks to this, Robin decided to give Jackson a chance as an experiment, gifting him a hydro suit originally designed for himself.[3]
Meeting his father
After some time with Teen Titans, Jackson visited his mother who revealed to him that she was the reason he had hydrokinetic abilities, and he was an Atlantean-human hybrid from Xebel. Shortly after revealing her heritage, Lucia was attacked by Jackson's father Black Manta. After trying to help his mother fight Manta, Jackson was kidnapped by his father.
As it turned out Manta wanted Jackson because of his necklace which contained a map to the Black Pearl, an ancient artefact which gives its user thalassokinetic abilities. After fighting off monsters guarding the location of the Pearl, Manta claimed the Pearl as his own. The Teen Titans intervened, but were quickly defeated by Manta's new found power. Jackson called upon his new found power of controlling electricity and shocked Manta to near death. After the conflict was resolved, Jackson was given the name Aqualad by the Titans member Tempest, the previous Aqualad, who encouraged Jackson to continue his legacy.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Atlantean Hybridized Physiology: Due to generations of living under the sea, Atlanteans have evolved to breath underwater. Even hybrids are far superior to any other human.[4][5]
- Superhuman Strength: Hyde was strong enough to cleave through a steel street light with his water sword.[4]
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Reflexes
- Superhuman Stamina
- Enhanced Senses
- Enhanced Vision: Jackson is able to see perfectly in the pitch blackness of the deep ocean.
- Enhanced Hearing: Jackson's hearing is far greater than any human's.
- Amphibious Nature: Jackson learned he can breathe underwater indefinitely. Having been born and spent his entire life above the water, he's easily adapted to prolonged periods without it. He even has no problem breathing and speaking while submerged.[5]
- Hydrokinesis: Jackson controls water as it was past down from his mother, it is unknown how she acquired these powers as they are usually reserved for Xebelian royalty. Jackson is an amateur at bending water, he usually focuses it into his waterbearers and uses it as weapons.
- Electrokinesis: A unique trait among Xebelians, Aqualad's ability to emit electricity most likely came from his mother, he is able to emit concentrated beams of electricity from his body.[6]
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Jackson's map necklace
Weapons
Notes
- Jackson Hyde was created by Greg Weisman, Brandon Vietti, and Phil Bourassa, first appearing in Young Justice (TV Series) Episode: Independence Day. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Jackson Hyde first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.
Trivia
- Jackson plays center-midfield in soccer. His favorite subject is Math and his favorite band is A Tribe Called Quest.[5]
Related
- 111 Appearances of Jackson Hyde (Prime Earth)
- 98 Images featuring Jackson Hyde (Prime Earth)
- 11 Quotations by or about Jackson Hyde (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Jackson Hyde (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ DC Universe: Rebirth #1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #6
- ↑ Teen Titans (Volume 6) #7
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #9
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #10
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #11
  This character is or was an ally of Aquaman, and a member of the Aqua-Family and/or its supporting cast. This template will automatically categorize articles that include it into the "Aquaman Supporting Cast" category. See also: Aquaman Villains. |
 This character is or was primarily a member of the younger superhero team known as the Teen Titans, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Teen Titans members" category. |