Zack Snyder shut down a rude troll who mocked him and questioned how Jason Momoa’s Aquaman could possibly have tattoos.
The criticism came in a video where the clueless troll ripped Snyder’s version of Aquaman, mocked not only Snyder but also Momoa’s performance, and argued the character’s tattoos make no sense because Aquaman can survive heavy weapons fire.
The troll’s point was that if Arthur Curry can take that kind of damage, then a tattoo needle shouldn’t be able to pierce his skin.
Well, Snyder completely shuts down and embarrasses the troll, answering with a detailed explanation that ties directly into the backstory he created with Momoa.
Zack Snyder explains Aquaman’s tattoos
According to Snyder, the idea for the tattoos was developed by him and Jason Momoa before the films were made as a way to honor Momoa’s Pacific Islander roots.
Snyder explained that after Arthur’s father is killed by Black Manta’s father at the end of the first act, Arthur takes his father’s ashes back to his people in the Pacific Islands for a ritual cremation.
During that grieving ceremony, Arthur receives the tattoos to honor his father’s memory.
Snyder also addressed the biggest complaint head-on.
He said Vulko, who was tasked by Arthur’s mother to watch over him, provides a special Atlantean needle to the Samoan tattoo artist. That needle is what allows the artist to pierce Arthur’s dense skin.
Snyder replied to the troll video on IG:
“Right, so this concept was developed by me and Jason Momoa before the films were made, to honor his Pacific Islander roots. When Arthur’s father is killed by Black Manta’s father at the end of the first act, Arthur takes his ashes back to his people in the Pacific islands for a ritual cremation. During that grieving ceremony, he receives the tattoos to honor his father’s memory. Vulko, tasked by his mother to watch over him, provides the Samoan tattoo artist with a special Atlantean needle that can pierce Arthur’s dense skin. The tattoos become a permanent inscription of that loss and identity, bridging his Pacific Islander heritage with his Atlantean lineage — and this loss also creates the blood feud between Arthur and Black Manta that drives the larger conflict.”
More than just a design choice
Snyder’s explanation makes clear the tattoos were never just there because they looked cool.
He says the tattoos were meant to become a permanent inscription of Arthur’s loss and identity, connecting his Pacific Islander heritage with his Atlantean lineage.
Snyder also tied that moment to the larger story, saying the death of Arthur’s father helps fuel the blood feud between Aquaman and Black Manta.
That’s a lot more thought than the troll gave Snyder credit for.
Troll attack backfires
Instead of scoring points, the troll ended up getting a full explanation from Snyder that adds even more depth to Aquaman’s backstory.
And for Snyder fans, it’s another example of how much thought he put into the details of the DCEU, even ones critics still try to mock years later and completely fail at doing.
