The Trench (comics)

Trench
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Aquaman Vol. 7 #1 (Nov. 2011)
Created by	Geoff Johns

The Trench is the name applied to both a fictional kingdom, and its inhabitants as a group, that escaped the destruction of Atlantis in DC comics.

Publication history

The Trench first appeared in Aquaman (vol. 7) #1 (Nov. 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.

Fictional biography

In their first appearance, the Trench are seen attacking a town and killing, eating, and destroying many of the inhabitants.

It is revealed that the Trench had been inhabitants of Atlantis before that continent was destroyed and submerged by Atlan the Dead King. Only three major groups of old Atlantis survived that event, including Aquaman's Atlanteans (the main group to continue in Atlantis), the Xebelians in the Bermuda Triangle, and the Trench, who were thrown deep into the Marianas Trench, where they adapted traits and powers, as well as appearance, that differed from the Atlanteans where they resemble carnivorous piscine humanoids.

In the Justice League (vol. 2) storyline "Throne of Atlantis", the Trench attack the Atlanteans, human surface dwellers, and the Justice League after Aquaman's friend and mentor Vulko uses the Dead King's Scepter to control the Trench. This was part of a deadly, yet successful, bid by Vulko to make Aquaman take on the role of King of the Atlanteans.

In other media

Film

Live-action

• The Trench appear in 2018 film Aquaman. They are one of the known tribes of Atlantis alongside the Atlanteans, the Xebel tribe, the Fisherman tribe, the Brine tribe, the Deserted tribe, and the Forgotten tribe. Atlanna is sacrificed to the Trench for having a half-breed son. Later in the film on their quest to find the lost Trident of Atlan, Aquaman and Mera are attacked by a legion of amphibious monsters identified as Trench. They fend off the attack and reach a wormhole that transports them to the Hidden Sea located at the center of the Earth. Later, Aquaman is seen commanding the Trench along with Karathen and other marine animals in battle against Orm and his followers. The Fisherman Princess made note of it to King Nereus.
• In February 2019, Warner Bros. announced that a "horror-tinged" spin-off called The Trench was in development. Wan will produce while Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald were asked to pen the script. The movie will focus on the amphibious monsters that Arthur and Mera faced in the film.

Animation

The Trench appears in the animated film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. A group of them appear to attack Arthur Curry and Mera though the group is killed. They are later seen throwing Mera, Aquaman, and the Justice League to the Dark Trench. Some Trenchers arrive at the edge of Atlantis only to be met by Aquaman and Mera.

Video games

The Trench also has a minor appearance in the video game Injustice 2. In Black Manta's ending, a small group of them are seen swimming towards Brainiac's ship when Black Manta says he found a place where Atlantis would be forgotten forever.

External links

• Trench at DC Comics Wiki