In
Adventure Comics #260 and subsequent Silver Age comics, it was revealed that Aquaman was Arthur Curry, the son of a human
lighthouse keeper named Tom Curry and his mother Atlanna, an outcast from the lost continent of
Atlantis. Due to this heritage, Aquaman soon discovered as a youth that he possessed various aquatic abilities, including the ability to survive underwater, communicate with sea life, and tremendous swimming abilities. Eventually, Arthur decided to use his talents to become the defender of the Earth's oceans and its inhabitants, starting a career as "Aquaboy." As Aquaboy, he eventually met
Superboy (Earth's
only other superpowered superhero at the time) on one occasion (
Superboy (volume 1) #171). Eventually, Arthur grew up and changed his name to "Aquaman."