LogFAQs > #972947122

#74 - King Shark
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The King Shark is a humanoid child of the so-called King of All Sharks and a monstrous, massive beast with a ravenous appetite. Nanaue was rescued from the hands of the Ocean Master and his ilk by the Dweller in the Depths, incurring a life debt that overrides his incessant need to cause trouble. He has been assigned to guard the mysterious A.J. Curry by the Dweller, and Nanaue has proven to do just that - although his mouth keeps him in trouble with nearly everyone else. The King Shark has developed a small affinity for Minerva, a Princess of one of the Atlantean city-states.

Now, I've really gotten bad at providing some sort of DM's insight into these characters, so I want to focus on how the character of Nanaue exists in so many different incarnations, especially over the last decade, and how I tried to distill an essence of the character that is different from the rest. First of all, the most popular iteration is likely James Gunn's King Shark from The Suicide Squad; fortunately, when I crafted mine, I was focused more on how King Shark baits other characters in with his perceived softness. Is King Shark actually slow? No; he's actually quite dastardly, though his obsession with devouring anything to fill that black hole of a stomach often plays itself comedically. But, at the same time, Nanaue has some code of ethics, some sense of decorum, and he recognizes that he is a leader not just because of his heritage and power, but because he knows how to control shark-kind.

But Nanaue does like to rely on a facade, a masquerading disguise of simplicity to put his allies at ease and earn himself as much food as he can muster. King Shark is forever driven by one thing and one thing only. How he manages to achieve his goal of collecting that one thing? King Shark isn't picky.

Perhaps that's why his versatility is so subtle. Surviving and protecting AJ Curry under the instructions of the ancient prophet the Dweller in the Depths required patience, wisdom and a keen sense of danger on the unforgiving ocean floor. Remaining relatively stoic and holding his cards close to the chest, King Shark may have some lack of understanding for surfacer nuance, but he also exaggerates his stupidity quite often to put others at ease. Amanda Waller, after all, has use for Nanaue just as much as everyone else, and King Shark recognizes the value in serving under her command while the rest of the world falls apart otherwise. Sharks sometimes need to hunt in schools, after all. This is why the Big Troubles are equally as important to him as Checkmate - there are means to different ends, and Nanaue is not to proud to follow path to where it leads.

Unlike the New52's failed attempt at a brilliant Nanaue, and unlike the original abjectly violent character in Superboy's original run in the 90s, my King Shark relies on the charm of the blank face and curious intellect to propel him forward. He's the smartest of the sharks, but he's still a shark - a shark with a very sensitive nose. But he's also not the ridiculously moronic Shark from James Gunn's Squad, either. I'd like to think he straddles the best of every era, but predominantly is anchored in one theme: loyalty. Whether his bond with AJ or his growing fondness for his fellow royal, Minerva, Nanaue takes quickly to someone he respects and who demonstrates a willingness to treat him as an equal. And so long as you provide him alternative snacks on any excursion in which you bring Nanaue, the King Shark will forever have your back.

#73 was not only undrafted, but I'm fairly confident I never saw anyone express an interest in drafting them, either!