- "Free me from my prison and I will grant you the strength to kill the man who murdered your father. You will take from him what he stole from you, and his home will burn, and his kingdom will fall before my legions."
- ―Kordax to David Kane[src]
Kordax was the King of the Kingdom of Necrus, the younger brother of King Atlan and the creator of the Black Trident. Despite Atlan's warnings about the Black Trident and the danger of Orichalcum, Kordax forged his trident, causing all the inhabitants of Necrus to become monsters, going to war against Atlantis, which ended with Kordax's confinement and disappearance of his kingdom. Centuries later, Kordax manipulated Black Manta with the trident to free himself, achieving his goal after controlling Orm Marius, however, he ended up being killed by Arthur Curry, causing the destruction of Necrus.
Biography[]
King of Necrus[]
Explotation of Orichalcum[]
- "By exploiting Orichalcum, Necrus rapidly became a superpower unlike any other. But it came at a terrible price. Poisoning the land, the sea, even the mind of the tyrant whole ruled Necrus, Atlan's own brother, Kordax. Atlan pleaded with him to stop using it before the world was irrevocably damaged. However, Kordax resented Atlan, thinking his own brother was trying to steal his power."
- ―Orm Marius[src]
Kordax argues with Atlan.
Millennia ago, Kordax became the tyrannical King of Necrus, part of the seven kingdoms: Xebel, Brine, Fishermen, Trench, the Deserters and Atlantis, which was ruled by his brother, Atlan. Unlike the other kingdoms, Kordax overexploited the use of Orichalcum to create numerous war machines, becoming a superpower, poisoning the land and seas, including Kordax's mind. Eventually, Kordax was confronted by Atlan to stop the explotation of Orichalcum before the world was irreversibly poisoned, however, Kordax believed that his brother sought to steal his power, bringing him into conflict with Atlantis.[1]
Necrusian War[]
- "So he resorted to dark magic and crafted an instrument of evil, the Black Trident. He transformed his people and himself into monsters, to fight Atlantis. So the two brothers went to war. But Atlan defeated Kordax and imprisoned him and all of Necrus with a spell cast with his own blood to ensure that Kordax's dark power would never be found."
- ―Orm Marius[src]
Kordax turns his people into monsters.
Looking for a way to confront any threat that tried to attack, Kordax used the power of Orichalcum and the support of black magic to create a weapon of great power, the Black Trident, with which he devastated his civilization, turning them into monsters and creating numerous creatures, but as a result of using the Trident, Kordax was consumed by the power of the weapon, also transforming him into a monster like his subjects, however, he used his monstrous army as a way to attack Atlantis and kill Atlan, which sparked a massive war between Atlantis and Necrus.
Kordax is imprisoned by Atlan.
During the war, Kordax led his troops into battle, which resulted in several deaths of both Atlanteans and the Necrusian Zombies. Kordax had a decisive duel against Atlan, who was able to defeat his brother by cutting off his right hand, which held the Black Trident. After being defeated, Kordax was shackled in chains to his throne, where Atlan used his own blood to cast a containment spell, freezing Kordax and the entire Necrus civilization in Antarctica. Atlan, in order to ensure that no one would find Kordax's evil power, ordered the history of Necrus to be expunged from the chronicles, causing Necrus to become known as the Lost Kingdom.[1]
Black Manta's Campaign[]
Possessing Black Manta[]
- "Soon you'll be more powerful than he is. But you're not ready yet, and you involved him far too soon. I sense them closing in on us."
- ―Kordax to David Kane[src]
Kordax contacts Kane through a vision.
Millennia later, in 2022, David Kane and the Manta Men dove to the bottom of Antarctica, unaware they were on Necrus, in search of Atlantean implements to repair Kane's armor, but after an encounter with a giant creature, Kane found the two halves of the Black Trident, with which, the spirit of Kordax contacted Kane in a vision, asking to be released from his prison, offering to grant him great strength that will allow him to kill Jesse Kane's killer, Arthur Curry and destroy both his home and his kingdom, with the help of his legions, an offer that Kane accepted, and Kordax gave him knowledge of his plans for revenge.
Kordax reprimands Kane for his delay.
Under Kordax's influence, Kane and his subordinates learned that they must obtain the Orichalcum in order to thaw the glaciers of Antarctica in order for Necrus to be free, leading the Manta Men to set up a base in an Ancient Orichalcum Refinery, where they obtained the weapons and ships of Necrus' soldiers. For five months, Kordax contacted Kane about his progress, telling him that in order to be free, he must acquire the blood of the Atlan bloodline. Kordax began to possess Kane, altering his mind and berating him for his incident in the last theft of the material until being interrupted by Stephen Shin. During his attack on the refinery, Orm Marius temporarily held the Black Trident, sensing Kordax's power and Necrus' history.[1]
Battle at Necrus[]
- "I live again! I have waited countless centuries in the dark for this moment!"
- ―Kordax after being freed from his prison[src]
Kordax manipulates Marius to attack Curry.
Following the destruction of the Orichalcum Refinery and with Necrus thawed out, David Kane kidnapped Arthur Curry, Jr. in order to kill him and carry out the release of Kordax, who eventually possessed his mind completely. During the battle between Kane and Arthur Curry at Necrus' throne, Kordax possessed Kane in order to take Curry's blood, but was knocked down by Mera, before he threw the Black Trident at her, which Orm Marius held to save her and Jr., causing him to be possessed by Kordax, freeing Kane from his influence. Filled with power, Kordax, in Marius' body, was confronted by Curry, feeling more powerful in an Atlantean body, mentioning that Marius hated him more than Kane as Curry attempted to free his brother.
Kordax gets his freedom.
However, Kordax was able to overcome Curry, warning him that he must kill his brother or he would kill him, and holding him at his table to use his blood to break free from his imprisonment. Curry was able to confront Marius, holding the Black Trident beside him to free him from Kordax's influence, who spiritually manipulated Marius into killing Curry and taking back power as the King of Atlantis, as well as trying to convince Curry that Marius would never change. However, Curry and Marius were able to break free of the trident's curse, before Kordax broke free of his chains and gained his freedom after his thousand-year imprisonment.
Kordax is murdered by Curry's Trident.
Kordax claimed his happiness that his eternal night had ended after so many centuries, planning to start a new era of conquest, but before attacking, Curry threw the Black Trident to kill him, although Kordax was able to catch his old weapon with ease. Before killing the two brothers, Curry threw the Trident of Atlan at the Black Trident, causing Kordax to be injured and finally killed. With Kordax's death and the destruction of the trident, Necrus began to crumble, as the Necrus Zombies disappeared and Curry along with Marius and their allies escaped the devastated kingdom, which was left in ruins after the end of the curse.[1]
Personality[]
A huge brute and a true conqueror, Kordax desires to wield and use a powerful, magical dark energy that could ultimately prove deadly to both sea and surface dwellers.[2] He was an egotistical individual, having transformed Necrus into a superpower using Orichalcum, oblivious to the deadly effects on the environment. When confronted by his brother, Kordax believed he was trying to take away his power and so resorted to using dark magic to create the Black Trident. Transforming himself and his people unwillingly into undead monsters. Even after becoming an undead, the dark magic of the trident purged the entirety the little goodness Kordax had left, leaving him a completely irredeemable monster of pure darkness and without even any altruistic shield who only followed his own interests. After being locked away by Atlan for generations, Kordax has become desperate to escape his prison and dominate the world. To that end, he convinces David Kane to help him under the guise of using his power to kill Atlan's descendant, Aquaman. Communicating vast knowledge to the human so that he will find a way of releasing him from his prison.
Kordax is a cruel and manipulative individual with no loyalty towards anyone but himself. Taunting Arthur Curry as being unworthy of both the Trident of Atlan and the title of King, lamenting he was half the person his brother was. When Orm Marius took control of the trident, Kordax attempted to manipulate him. Promising him the title of Ocean Master once again and commenting that Orm hated Arthur even more than Black Manta had. Finally, Kordax attempted to manipulate Arthur himself albeit unsuccessfully. Once freed from his prison Kordax relished the feeling of being alive again after having been trapped for eternity. His overconfidence however became his weakness as once Arthur destroyed the Black Trident, he began to disintegrate, putting an end to the undead king before he could wreak havoc upon the world.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Undead Atlantean Physiology: Kordax was a powerful Atlantean and was the brother of King Atlan. It is unknown if Kordax possessed marine communication like Atlan and their descendant Arthur Curry did.
- Superhuman Strength: He was able to effortlessly break out of the ice that imprison him when the spell was weakened.
- Superhuman Reflexes: He was able to catch the Black Trident just as he was released from imprisonment, after Aquaman threw it at him.
- Immortality: Due to the fact that Kordax lived for so long, he is presumably immortal or has a form of it. Notably, Atlan wasn’t immortal, he only possessed longevity and died between 753 B.C. and 1000 A.D. after Atlantis sunk into the ocean.
- Dark Atlantean Magic: Kordax utilized this evil Atlantean sorcery to create the Black Trident and wreak havoc upon the seven kingdoms, including turning his people into twisted abominations.
- Black Trident Creation & Empowerment: In order to battle Atlan, his brother, Kordax created a weapon so corrupt and powerful.
- Possession: When a person uses the Black Trident, Kordax has the power to possess them and control their intentions and mind. This is probably due to the fact that he is its creator and so there is a psychic bond.
- Physical Augmentation: Kordax was able to make Black Manta a lot more durable, strong and fast when he possessed him through the dark magic of the Black Trident.
- Vision Giving: He could show the possessed users of the Trident what their future could look like if they embrace the power of the Trident.
- Knowledge Bestowal: By possessing Black Manta, Kordax was able to give him a great deal of intel about Orichalcum and the Trident itself. He also advised and assisted him from afar.
- Monstrification: By using his Trident, he was able to transform a large number of Atlanteans into undead monsters. Even any being that is transformed into one of those monsters submits to Kordax's will.
- Possession: When a person uses the Black Trident, Kordax has the power to possess them and control their intentions and mind. This is probably due to the fact that he is its creator and so there is a psychic bond.
- Black Trident Creation & Empowerment: In order to battle Atlan, his brother, Kordax created a weapon so corrupt and powerful.
Abilities[]
- Trident Mastery: Kordax was able to engage his brother, Atlan, in combat during the Atlantis-Necrus War. He landed precise and deadly swings, though he was ultimately no match for his older brother.
- Expert Combatant: Kordax was able to catch the Black Trident with his one hand, with relative ease. It is noteworthy to mention that Kordax did this without looking.
- Expert Tactician: Kordax was able to manipulate Black Manta into doing what he wanted him to do and forced Kane to free him by spilling Atlan’s blood on the ritual table in his throne room.
- Expert Leader: Kordax was a highly skilled leader, ruling Necrus with an iron fist. He led his people into battle against Atlantis and his brother Atlan, though he ultimately lost the war.
Equipment[]
- Black Trident: Kordax used a dark form of Atlantean magic to forge this unholy weapon. It is capable of many powers such monstrification.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[] |
Enemies[] |
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Kordax was an outcast member of the Atlantean Royal Family because of his grotesque appearance, which led to him seeking vengeance against the Atlanteans and losing his left hand for a sword.
- In the comics, it is actually Mongo who is the ruler of Necrus, not Kordax.
References[]
