The Aquabats - Superhero Mythology

Superhero Mythology

One of the most defining characteristics of The Aquabats is the band's theatrical mythology in which they claim to be crime-fighting superheroes on a quest to save the world, a theme which has been reflected in the band's music, costumes, stage shows, and promotional material for the entirety of their professional career.

Detailed in their lyrics, liner notes, comprehensive website and now television series, The Aquabats have developed a small but elaborate universe surrounding this mythology, describing the band's fictional adventures as well as conceiving an extensive roster of enemies and allies, many of whom are the subjects of specific songs and have appeared as part of the band's stage shows in mock fight scenes or comedic skits. Over the years, this mythology, and in particular the fictional backstory regarding their origins, has continually changed, evolved and occasionally been retconned to explain changes in the band's line-up.

The Aquabats' origin story can be separated into two distinct eras. For the first half of their career, the band maintained a canonical backstory established over the course of their first two albums, alleging the band members were actually humanoid bat creatures hailing from a distant island called "Aquabania". According to legend, Aquabania had been invaded by the villainous Space Monster "M", forcing its inhabitants to flee to the ocean. Eventually washing ashore in California, they were taken in by Professor Monty Corndog, a mad scientist who used "chemicals" to give them superpowers. Donning costumes including "radioactive rashguards", "power belts", and "anti-negativity helmets", The Aquabats decided to channel their powers through music in order to "take over the world" by attracting legions of fans to aide them in combating Space Monster "M" and reclaiming their homeland, fighting the numerous villains and monsters who'd attempt to thwart their musical quest along the way.

With the heavy line-up changes in the early-to-mid 2000s which left only two of the original members remaining, The Aquabats eventually phased the Aquabania elements out of their backstory, reestablishing themselves as a group of freelance superheroes of indeterminate origin who travel the countryside, fighting evil and "destroying boredom". This loose framework would later serve as the basis for the band's television series, The Aquabats! Super Show!, where each member's character was further developed to showcase their own individual powers and personalities, transitioning the Aquabats' mythology from a story arc to a character ensemble. Though the series has since featured several characters from The Aquabats' history, most notably Space Monster "M", they've been introduced in a context unique to the show rather than a continuation of the band's original mythology.