Triton (comics)

Triton is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965). He belongs to the subspecies of humans called inhumans, who are born with superhuman abilities.

Triton
Triton as depicted in Secret Invasion - Inhumans #4 Art by Rich Buckler
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Unknown
Species	Inhuman
Place of origin	Attilan
Team affiliations	Inhuman Royal Family Deep Six
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina, speed, durability, agility, and reflexes Underwater breathing Aquatic vision

Triton made his live action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Inhumans, portrayed by Mike Moh. Additionally, Mark Hamill, James Arnold Taylor, and Michael Sinterniklaas have voiced the character in animation.

Publication history

He first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Triton is member of the Inhumans' royal family, son of Mander and Azur, brother to Karnak, and cousin to Gorgon, Black Bolt, Maximus, Medusa, and Crystal. Triton was born on the city-state island of Attilan and was exposed to the Terrigen Mist as an infant. The mists altered his body, turning his skin green and giving him the ability to breathe and survive underwater. However, he is unable to survive on land without a special breathing apparatus.^[2]

Triton later encounters the Fantastic Four alongside the other royal Inhumans and becomes their ally.^[3][4][5][6]

During the Secret Invasion storyline, the Inhuman royal family forges an alliance with the Kree to recover Black Bolt from the Skrulls' clutches. Together, they discover a weakness in the Skrulls' defense and split up to recover the resources to exploit it. Triton is sent to the oceanic planet Pelagia where he encounters mermen-like beings who closely resemble him. He develops feelings for the native, Dascylla.^[7] Although outnumbered by the hostile Pelagians, Triton manages to overcome them and find what he seeks. His breathing harness is then upgraded by the Kree, allowing him to operate in the vacuum of space.^[8]

In Death of the Inhumans, Triton is apparently killed in an explosion engineered by the Kree.^[9] It is later revealed that Triton is alive and in stasis alongside Naja, Sterilon, and several unnamed Inhumans.^[10] Black Bolt is later forced to kill Triton, among others, to stop the Kree.^[11]

Powers and abilities

Triton is a member of the Inhuman race, artificially mutated by the Terrigen Mist, giving him scaly greenish skin, a small dorsal fin running from the base of the skull to the forehead, membranous fins extending from his temples, and webbing between his toes and between his fingers. Triton is able to breathe water, to swim at great speeds, and to withstand the pressures of the deep sea. He cannot naturally breathe air and needs near-constant contact with water to survive, and cannot exist out of water without artificial aids. His resistance to deep sea pressure also gives him superhuman strength and speed underwater. He has the ability to survive underwater indefinitely, and the ability to withstand the temperature and pressure of ocean depths. His vision is more sensitive to the green portion of the visible spectrum, enabling him to see in relatively dark ocean depths.

Triton has undergone basic Inhuman royal militia training. When on land, he uses a water circulation system consisting of tubes across his body to survive.

Reception

Accolades

• In 2020, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Triton 17th in their "20 Most Powerful Inhumans" list.^[12]
• In 2021, Screen Rant included Triton in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of Marvel's Inhumans" list.^[13]
• In 2022, CBR ranked Triton 7th in their "10 Inhumans Who Should Join The Avengers" list.^[14]
• In 2022, Screen Rant ranked Triton 8th in their "Marvel's 10 Most Powerful Aquatic Characters" list.^[15]

Other versions

• Triserinak, a fusion of Triton, Karnak, and DC Comics character Serifan from Earth-9602, appears in the Amalgam Comics universe.^[16]
• An alternate universe variant of Triton from Earth-9997 appears in Earth X. This version possesses a serpentine, merman-like appearance.^[17]
• An alternate universe variant of Triton from a pocket dimension created by Franklin Richards appears in Heroes Reborn.^{[volume & issue needed]}
• An alternate universe variant of Triton from Earth-2149 appears in Marvel Zombies.^[18]
• An alternate universe variant of Triton from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe.^[19]

In other media

Character poster of Mike Moh as Triton for the television series, Inhumans.

Television

• Triton appears in Fantastic Four, voiced initially by Rocky Carroll and subsequently by Mark Hamill.^[20]
• Triton appears in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "Inhuman Nature", voiced by James Arnold Taylor.^[20] This version does not require water to survive.
• Triton appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced again by James Arnold Taylor.^[20] This version is an exchange student at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.
• Triton makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Guardians of the Galaxy episode "Crystal Blue Persuasion".^[20]
• Triton makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Avengers Assemble episode "The Inhuman Condition".^[20]

• Triton appears in Inhumans, portrayed by Mike Moh.^[21]
• Triton appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced by Hiroyuki Yoshino in Japanese and Michael Sinterniklaas in English.^[20]

Video games

• Triton appears as a non-playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Tom Kane.^{[citation needed]}
• Triton appears in Marvel Avengers Academy.^[20]
• Triton appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.^[22]