Ahead of his film debut in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, DC’s September solicitations reveal that King Shark will also be getting his own comic. While the longtime villain has popped up in many stories over the years, this marks the first time King Shark will be the protagonist of his very own series.

Also known as Nanaue, King Shark made his first, full appearance in Superboy #9 back in 1994. Since then, the character has gone up against countless other DC heroes, including Batman and the Flash, but most often finds himself facing off against Aquaman - a fitting matchup considering both claim the oceans as their domain. However, King Shark is also a frequent member of Task Force X, AKA the Suicide Squad, and his sheer strength, durability, and savage tendencies make him one of the team’s heaviest hitters. However, his regenerative capabilities make him hard to control; Nananue has regrown entire limbs and even survived the detonation of his explosive implants meant to keep each Suicide Squad member in line. Despite his impressive feats, King Shark usually takes a backseat to other, more popular characters - but that is about to change.

Related: The Suicide Squad: 10 Things Only Comic Book Fans Know About King Shark

King Shark’s comic origins have changed a bit over the years, but in the current continuity, Nanaue is the son of a being called the Shark God. Not much is known about King Shark’s father, but the solicitations for Suicide Squad: King Shark #1 confirm that he will have a big role to play in Nanaue’s solo series. While on leave from the Suicide Squad, King Shark is ordered by his father to participate in a tournament where he will face other, animal-based DC characters. The exact parameters of the contest are unclear as of yet, but it’s safe to assume King Shark will have his work cut out for him.

  • Suicide Squad: King Shark #1
  • Story by Tim Seeley
  • Pencils and Inks by Scott Kolins
  • Cover by Trevor Hairsine
  • Variant by RicCardo Federici
  • On leave from the Suicide Squad, King Shark and unfortunate tagalong the Defacer get swept into a mystical tournament for totemic animal spirits at the behest of King Shark’s father, the god of sharks! Now King Shark must battle brutal warriors like Queen Tiger, King Roach, Prince Nematode, Princess Peregrine, and the terrifying Man King to finally attain his destiny and make his dour dad proud!
  • On sale 9/21/21

It will be interesting to see how exactly King Shark is portrayed while helming his own series. The character has always been somewhat inconsistent in terms of his intellect; sometimes he is no more than a mindless brute, but in other instances he is surprisingly well-spoken. It doesn’t help that the character is equally elastic in media outside of the comics. While King Shark is comedically mild-mannered in the Harley Quinn TV show, he will be the complete opposite in The Suicide Squad movie. The trailer already references King Shark's worst deed and implies he will primarily provide comic relief through his violent acts and lumbering lack of intelligence. All this to say, there are many different avenues DC could take in King Shark’s comic series.

If nothing else, Suicide Squad: King Shark should provide a deeper look into Nanaue’s past than the comics have ever shown before. With the inclusion of his father, the Shark God, and plenty of other animalistic fighters, King Shark’s solo series is bound to be a wild ride.

More: King Shark Gets His Crown In Suicide Squad Art