| “ | Open your eyes. We already have an Atlantean living among us, and his name is Aquaman. | „ |
| ~ Dr. Stephen Shin explaining his theories to no avail. |
Dr. Stephen Shin is a minor character in the 2018 DC Extended Universe superhero film Aquaman and a major character in its 2023 sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
He is a disgraced marine biologist who became infamous for his conspiracy theories about the existence of Atlantis around the time of Ocean Master's surface attacks. Despite Aquaman ultimately saving the day, Shin somehow finds Aquaman's archenemy Black Manta left for dead and rescues him, leading Manta to recruit him in his plot for revenge against Aquaman, becoming Manta's right-hand man and assistant.
He was portrayed by Randall Park, who also played Jimmy Woo in Marvel Cinematic Universe and voiced Hunter in Strays.
Personality[]
Stephen Shin was originally a geuninely curious scientist, who dedicted his life to study Atlantis and prove its existence with relentless determination and absolute belief in his theory, as evidenced with him remaining adamant and vocal in his findings, despite many branding him as a crazed conspiracy theorist. This curiously and interest, however, would gradually wane into an unhealthy obsession to the point that Shin would go so far as to ally himself with the notorious criminal Black Manta, in order to better expirement and familiarize himself with foreign Atlantean technology, although for what purposes he intends to use them for remain dubiously unknown. Shin's obsession with the Kingdom of Atlanis is also exemplified by the many newspapers that he had collected over time, all revolving around Aquaman and Atlanris, which are seen when Manta surveys the former's room. Despite this, he does, at least, appear to be a hospitable fellow, notably rescuing the debilitated Black Manta and personally patching him up in his own home.
She also appears to somewhat fear Black Manta, as when he gleefully requested that the former discole to him his means of obtaining Atlantean technology, his initial delight was short-lived, becoming somewhat unsettled when he witnessed Manta seething with rage. Neverthelss, he appears to have allied himself with the malevolent pirate. However, a combination of attacking Atlantis, the place he dedicated his life to find, witnessing the destruction of the black trident would do to both the surface and the ocean, Manta's rage towards Aquaman causing him to become more and more unhinged and Manta's inhumane plan to sacrifice an infant, caused Shin to ultimately betray Manta and save Arthur Jr.
Story[]
Past[]
Dr. Stephen Shin was a renowned yet infamous marine biologist who studied at the United States of America's Institute of Marine Science for several years before early 2018, as by that time, Shin was fired due to his crackpot conspiracy theories about the alleged existence of Atlantis.
Aquaman[]
He first appears when he makes a major entrance in the news to explain what are actually attacks from the Ocean Master where humanity's trash and warships are washed up on shore, proposing a theory that forces from the underwater are attacking the surface world because of the trash boats often throw that contaminate the water. However, the newspeople dismiss his theory as "insane", despite that Shin cites Aquaman's existence as a proof of his claims.
In the mid-credits scene, Shin appears when his boat comes across the injured Black Manta, rescuing him after being left for dead by Aquaman and Mera at Sicility and nursing him back to health. As he recovers from his injuries slowly, Black Manta wakes up to see Shin tampering with his suit, who tinkers with it until it shoots an optic beam that destroys portion of the structure's ceiling. Shin then turns back to Black Manta and asks him if he used Atlantean technology, which Manta confirms. Intrigued, Shin asks Black Manta if he can tell him how he acquired it, which Manta promises to do if he helps him to track down Aquaman, foreshadowing their plans in the second film.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom[]
Four years after the first film, Shin is now a member of Black Manta's team working to uncover the secrets of Atlantis. He is shown with the other researchers in Antartica when they fall through the ravines. Kane and Shin lead the researchers through an underground cave where they discover the Black Trident of Korvax. They also steal Orischalcum, a powerful but deadly resource.
However, as they are attacking Atlantis, Shin starts to question his boss's actions. He wants to leave, but Kane farewarns him of the dangerous creatures outside that would kill him if he tried to leave. Despite choosing to stay, Shin sneakily tries to steal the Black Trident before Kane could use it; however, upon touching it, he gets a vision of the destruction Korvax would unleash on Atlantis and is even more horrified. Kane catches Shin with the trident and threatens him with a knife if he betrays him.
When Aquaman and the reformed Ocean Master (now going by his real name, Orm) arrive to stop Black Manta, Shin only pretends to threaten them in front of his team, but then closes the door and assures them he is on their side. However, before he has the chance to explain, he is knocked away by Black Manta blowing up the door behind him. He eventually betrays Manta by not giving him Aquaman's infant son and tries attack him, only to get knocked out by the villain. The Atlanteans eventually save Shin and Arthur Jr. and they escape the collapsing cave due to Korvax being sealed again with Black Manta falling to his death.
Trivia[]
- It's unknown why Stephen Shin was regarded as a conspiracy crackpot for his theories about Atlantis, considering that, in the DC Extended Universe, aliens and deities are confirmed to exist by the existences of Superman and Wonder Woman, making Shin's claims not sound too far-fetched.
