A Tin Titan has just received a hilarious new nickname, making it undeniable that Spongebob Squarepants is now canon in the DC Universe. What makes this nod to the Nickelodeon series even better is that SpongeBob has been tied to the DCU since the early days of the show, with two of its most iconic characters – Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy – an amalgamation of at least seven DC heroes. . . Can you guess who?
Mark Waid and Emmanuela Lupacchino World’s Finest: Teen Titans #4 stands out in their mini-series, combining humor with a deep dive into some of the Teen Titans’ relationships. This issue focuses on Wally “Baby Flash” West, Roy “fast” Harper, and Garth, AKA Aqualad, as the latter two spend the weekend at Wally’s house.
However, the sleeping isn’t all fun and games, as tension builds between the boys, with Roy, in particular, showing his dislike for Garth. This leads to Roy lightly bullying Garth, including giving him the admittedly hilarious nickname “SpongeBob,” Which definitively establishes that SpongeBob SquarePants exists in the DCU.
Roy “fast” Harper calls Aqualad ‘SpongeBob’ – and it fits surprisingly well
World’s Finest: Teen Titans #4 makes hilarious reference to the Spongebob Squarepants episode “Tea at the Tredome”
Initially believing that he was Wally’s only guest for the weekend, Roy is startled when he walks into the kitchen and sees Garth, whom he had previously confessed to finding “Strange.” therefore, Roy isn’t exactly Garth’s biggest fan; When he sees him, he shouts, “SpongeBob!?” In surprise, referencing Aqualad’s ocean origins. The unexpectedness of the nickname makes the moment even funnier, especially since Aqualad is depicted chugging a jug of water, adding an inherent silliness to the scene. However, the real humor lies in the fact that this is actually another SpongeBob reference that fans of the Krusty Krab worker will undoubtedly recognize.
Aqualad Chugging a Jug of Water parodies one of the most iconic SpongeBob moments, specifically referring to Season 1, Episode 3, titled “Tea at the Treadome.” In this episode, SpongeBob visits Sandy for the first time in her underwater treadome, where she can live without wearing her diver’s suit. However, Sandy is unaware that SpongeBob needs water, and the dry environment wreaks havoc on him, causing him to dry out. This leads to hilarious tension like He faces a pitcher of ice water, repeatedly telling himself, “I don’t need it,” or eventually shout, “I need it!” And chugging the water in despair. Thus, Aqualad drinking from the jug serves as a tribute to this classic scene.
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Aqualad gets more water-themed nicknames – including a hilarious Katy Perry reference
Garth’s speedy-given nicknames in World’s Finest: Teen Titans: SpongeBob, Left Shark, Squidling and Wrinkles
SpongeBob is far from the only teasing, ocean-themed nickname that Roy calls Garth; The arrow-bent hero also refers to Aqualad as “squiddling” And “Wrinkles,” Both of which are undeniably unique and clever. Squidling, when broken down, is Spidey basically calling Aqualad a baby squid, which serves as a jab at both Garth’s youth and ocean origins. ring finger, On the other hand, is a more nuanced reference, alluding to how fingers begin to shrink at the tips if they stay in water for too long, once again tied back to Garth’s typical environment. Although there is humor in both of these nicknames, they pale in comparison to Roy Calling Garth “Left Shark.”
“Left Shark” Refers to one of the backup dancers from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl XLIX halftime performance in 2015. As she sang Teenage dream And fireworks, One dancer, dressed as a shark, stood out for being hilariously less in sync than his counterpart, the “Right shark.” Almost overnight, Left Shark turned into a pop culture phenomenon, with viewers finding his lackluster and goofy dance moves hilarious. so, When Roy calls Garth Left Shark, it’s both another clever ocean-themed jab and a nod to real-life pop cultureSubtly suggesting that Katy Perry is also part of the DC Universe.
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Despite the amusement sparked by the nicknames, they reveal the strained relationship between Garth and RoyLargely due to Roy’s behavior. Even though they are teammates, the Blitling names showcase Speedy’s lack of respect for Aqualad. This disrespect is evident to Wally’s parents, who confront their son about Roy’s meanness to Gart. Garth defends Roy, explaining to Wally’s parents that his home life and lack of attention from Oliver Queen contribute to his behavior. However, Roy overhears the conversation and misinterprets it as Garth insulting him, further straining their relationship.
While the Teen Titans are much closer at the end of the series than they were at the beginning, fans are left wanting more closure on Garth and Roy’s dynamic. Fortunately, fans may soon get more insight into their relationship, as Roy is set to join the Titans in October. The ongoing series features the original Teen Titans all grown up, along with added members like Starfire and Cyborg. With Roy now going by Arsenal and Garth as Tempest, their adulthood adds an intriguing layer to their relationshipand their interactions in Titans Will reveal whether they have moved beyond their childhood differences.
SpongeBob’s Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy spoof Aquaman, Aqualad, Batman, Robin… and more!
Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are a mash-up of DC’s silliest superhero tropes
With all the discussion surrounding Aqualad and SpongeBob, it’s a perfect opportunity to highlight how Merman and Barnacle Boy serve as parodies of some of DC’s most iconic characters, including Aqualad himself. On a surface level, Mermaid and Barnacle Boy clearly spoof Aquaman and Aqualad. This is evident not only through their underwater theme and names, but also their costumes. Merman’s outfit mirrors Arthur Curry’s earliest suits, with Aquaman’s signature orange top, green leggings, matching gloves and black shorts. Similarly, Barnacle Boy’s look rips off Aqualad’s classic red and blue color scheme.
however, The dynamic between Merman and Barnacle Boy resembles the relationship between Adam West and Burt Ward’s Batman and Robin of the ’60s TV series more than the dynamic between Aquaman and Aqualad. Mermaid mimics the Dark Knight, while Barnacle Boy embodies the boy wonder, incorporating goofiness, corny catchphrases and the iconic action sequences filled with words like “POW!,” “BAM!,” and “NAP!” – Similar to those found in the Batman and Robin Show. Merman even sports a utility belt packed with gadgets for almost any situation, echoing Batman’s own.
The “Invisible Boatmobile” is also a clear mash-up of Batman’s Batmobile and Wonder Woman’s invisible jet. Additionally, Merman and Barnacle Boy join the tips of their two golden rings together and say “The Oath,” Probably paying homage to the Wonder Twins’ iconic phrase, “Wonder Twin Powers Activate!” and ring join. So, while SpongeBob SquarePants Merman and Barnacle Boy may be obvious spoofs of Aquaman And AqualadThey also parody many other iconic DC Heroes.
World’s Finest: Teen Titans #4 Available now from DC Comics!
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