Black Manta (New Earth)
From DC Database
Contents |
History
The boy who would become Black Manta was an autistic youth who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and loved to play by the sea. As a youth he was kidnapped and forced to work on a ship for an unspecified amount of time. At one point he apparently saw Aquaman with his dolphin friends and tried to signal him for help but was not seen. Finally, he was forced to defend himself, killing one of his tormentors on the ship with a knife. Hating the emotionless sea (and Aquaman, who he saw as its representative), the boy was determined to become its master.
As an adult, he designed a costume (primarily a black wetsuit with bug-eyed helmet that was able to shoot blasting rays from its eyes) and fashioned a high-tech submersible inspired by black manta rays. Taking the name Black Manta, he and his masked army became a force to be reckoned with, engaging in at least one clash with Aquaman previous to his first appearance as a rival to the Ocean Master. He also joined the short-lived Injustice League.
Nemesis
The fearsome, 6'4" Black Manta and Aquaman battled repeatedly over the next several years. During one of these clashes, it was revealed that Black Manta was actually an African-American man (which is why he called himself Black Manta), whose stated objective at one point was for black people to be dominant in the ocean after having been oppressed for so long on dry land (though this goal was revealed to be a ruse he used to trick Cal Durham into following him). His main goals were defeating Aquaman and gaining power for himself.
Finally, Manta killed Arthur Curry, Jr., Aquaman's son, which left Aquaman in a depression but also obessed with getting revenge against Black Manta .
Black Manta later sold his soul to the demon Neron in exchange for more power, and transformed into a Manta/Man hybrid. He took to wearing a new costume that completely covered his appearance, and inexplicably stopped tormenting Aquaman and instead indulged in drug smuggling from his new base in Star City. Here, he was opposed by Green Arrow and Aquaman.
In a later confrontation, Aquaman, sporting the Lady of the Lake's Healing Hand, reversed Neron's alterations to Black Manta, and rewired Manta's afflicted brain, making him normal for the first time in his life. Unfortunately, Manta remained a violent criminal, lulling Aquaman into a false sense of partnership and almost killing the Sea King in the process.
In later events, Black Manta was used as a test subject to make water breathers, using genetic manipulation. This succeeded and since then Black Manta has returned to the oceans to face Aquaman once again.
He was apparently killed by Aquaman in anger, after causing a disturbance in Sub Diego in which Captain Marley was severely injured. Aquaman summoned various predatory sea-life to attack Black Manta and left him for dead. He reappeared, however, during the battle with Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
None known.
Abilities
None known.
Paraphernalia
Equipment: High tech equipment.
Transportation:
Black Manta's Sea-Saucer: Advanced submersible craft
Weapons:
Laser beams
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985-86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.
Trivia
- No trivia.
See Also
- Discuss Black Manta (New Earth) on the forums
- Appearances of Black Manta (New Earth) (Chronological)
- Appearances of Black Manta (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Black Manta (New Earth)
- Quotations by Black Manta (New Earth)
- Images featuring Black Manta (New Earth)
Recommended Reading
- None.
Links and References
- Black Manta at Wikipedia.org
- Unca Cheeks' Top Twelve DC Super Villains with Black Manta "a serious contender in the Most Complex (and Loathsome) DC Super-Villain Sweepstakes."
- DC Comics Encyclopedia
Footnotes
  This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of Aquaman, or members of the Aquaman Family. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Aquaman Villains." |
