An Ask Greg Helper responds...

Greg Weisman says:

"Well, there were many inspirations. Cal Durham, obviously, but also the Arion series which demonstrated that not all Atlanteans are Caucasian. There was the need for further diversity in the series. And the fact that Garth was dead in the comics (at least for now) and had, in any case, left the name 'Aqualad' behind to become 'Tempest'. So it felt like the name 'Aqualad' was up for grabs. We liked the parallel universe notion of the Road Not Taken for the two characters, leading to an Aqualad /Tempest team-up. It all just seemed... right."

[Response recorded on May 12, 2011.]

Greg Weisman says:

"Our Aqualad, i.e. Kaldur'ahm, was completely created and designed BEFORE Geoff started in his new (now not-so-new) position at DC. So our version of his backstory and wardrobe, etc., all pre-existed Geoff's involvement. The version that he went on to put into DC's main universe, i.e. Jackson Hyde, was completely HIS adaptation of Kaldur (with help from an artist whose name I'm unfortunately blanking on at this moment). And we had NO involvement with that version at all, beyond providing Kaldur as inspiration and providing EXPLANATION of how his Water-Bearers work. The only element we really collaborated on was the identity of both versions' father."

[Response record on January 26, 2012.]