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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.

Death of a Prince

Main article: Aquaman: Death of a Prince

Black Manta began a series of more vicious personal attacks on Aquaman, beginning with an assault on Atlantis' agricultural system.^[1] He also hired a robotics engineer named Weisbogg to destroy the city's dome with a mechanical Bugala, although this plan also failed.^[2]

After burying him under tons of rubble, Aquaman still managed to escape through a network of underground caves.^[3] Aqualad and Aquagirl uncovered one of his criminal operations in Mississippi, and it was revealed that he had been smuggling guns to the villainous King Karshon who had dethroned and exiled Aquaman.^[4] Fighting his enraged nemesis again after Mera and Aquababy had been kidnapped, Manta knocked him out and gave him to Karshon in exchange for information about the City of the Lost Tribes.^[5]

This was the home of the pacifistic Idylists, and he easily conquered it with a team of mercenaries. Revealing himself to be African American, he explained that he hoped to create an underwater colony where his people could be free from the persecution they faced on the surface world. Aquaman and Aqualad were put into an arena and forced to fight each other to the death. Manta placed Aquababy into a chamber where he would slowly suffocate until one of them had killed the other. The two heroes managed to break free while he escaped, but the baby died and they were too late to save him.^[6] Aquaman pursued revenge with the intention of murdering his nemesis, and Manta almost managed to kill him but was betrayed by one of his disillusioned mercenaries named Cal Durham. Broken and pleading for mercy, Manta was spared by Aquaman who decided that it wasn't worth compromising his ideals and had him arrested instead.^[7]

Underworld Unleashed

Main article: Underworld Unleashed

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.

Infinite Crisis

Main article: Infinite Crisis

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.

One Year Later

Main article: One Year Later

One year later, he took over Sub Diego but was forced to flee when King Shark bit off his face.

He can be seen as a member of Libra's Secret Society of Super-Villains.

Brightest Day

Main article: Brightest Day

During the Brightest Day, Black Manta is next seen working in a fish market. When the local news and his customers revel in the return of Aquaman, Manta leaps over the counter and murders them with his knife. Black Manta is later seen burning a shorefront house to the ground and walking into the ocean. He immediately leaps out wearing his Black Manta costume and yelling "Aquaman."

Black Manta is seen later at Thomas Curry, Aquaman's father's tombstone, where he is approached by Siren and her Death Squad after demolishing the tombstone. The Death Squad began fighting Black Manta but before the fight can get too far along, Siren stops them. She tells Black Manta that they need to work together to find his son, as she makes a hard water image of Jackson Hyde. Black Manta and Siren track down Jackson and attempts to kill his foster father. Jackson (using his ability to create hard water constructs) defends his foster father, but cannot stop Black Manta from shooting a trident-shaped dart at his foster father. Aquaman then arrives on the scene blocking and crushing the dart. Black Manta prepares to face his old nemesis again. During the battle, Aquaman pulls Jackson and his foster father to safety from Black Manta and Siren.

After Jackson learns the truth behind his origin, Aquaman and Jackson (now calling himself Aqualad) are ambushed by Siren and the Xebel soldiers. The fight continues onto the beach where innocent citizens get caught in the crossfire. As Aquaman is about to strike back at Siren, Black Manta springs from the water and severs Aquaman's right hand. Jackson attacks his father and berates him for siding with the people who killed his own wife, only for Black Manta to throw Jackson to the ground and coldly states that both he and his mother mean nothing to him. When Black Manta is about to impale his son with one of his blades, Mera arrives with Aquagirl, who saves Jackson by strike Black Manta's square in the face. Jackson and Mera are able to work together to seal Black Manta, Siren and the rest of the invaders away in the Bermuda Triangle, Black Manta vowed to get his son, Jackson.

The Others

The DC Universe heavily changed its continuity into the DCnU following the events of Flashpoint in 2011. This was part of an effort to make storylines more accessible to newer readers, beginning with the New 52. This new timeline combines elements from the DCU, Vertigo Universe and Wildstorm Universe while drastically changing the origins and histories of characters.

As Kahina the Sheer was travelling to give her former teammate Ya'Wara a specific Atlantean relic of her's called the Golden Seal, Black Manta intercepted and killed Kahina, and took the Seal. He then vows to kill her entire family before getting his revenge on Aquaman.^[8] It is revealed through flashbacks that Aquaman created a team known as the Others (forged of six Atlantean relics from the Dead King's tomb), who are trying to catch Black Manta, but they fail and Black Manta escapes. Black Manta goes after Aquaman's former teammate Prisoner-of-War next in Heidelberg.^[9] It is also revealed that Aquaman killed Black Manta's father by accident for Manta attacking Aquaman's father. Seeking revenge, Black Manta will attempt to kill all of Aquaman's family (whose Aquaman's son was murdered) and friends. When Black Manta chases Prisoner-of-War, he is confronted by Aquaman in a battle.^[10] During the attack, Black Manta steals one of Ya'Wara's Atlantean relics and teleports to meet Stephen Shin, Aquaman's former friend.^[11] Black Manta tasers Mera and and pulls Shin to teleport away with him. Meanwhile, the Others are reunited and discover that there is a seventh Atlantean relic in the Dead King's tomb. Manta has Shin captive in the Dead King's tomb to find the seventh relic. They then locate the seventh relic in the Dead King's throne.^[12] Manta prepares to kill Shin, but is thwarted when Aquaman and the Others attack his henchmen. Black Manta kills Vostok-X and escapes with the relic scepter. After Vostok-X's death, Aqauman, through tears, swears that he is going to kill Manta for this.^[13] Black Manta delivered the relic scepter to an as-of-yet-unknown Atlantean, who was revealed to be the Atlantean that hired him, but the Others springed in and attacked. The mysterious Atlantean managed to grab the relic scepter and escaped, while Black Manta is to battle the Others. When Black Manta is defeated, Aquaman spares his life for the time being reasonable for the Others after he refuses Black Manta's vengeance wanting to be killed. Black Manta and his henchmen are taken away by the authorities.^[14] While in Belle Reve Prison, Black Manta refused to jon Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad.^[15]

ParaphernaliaEdit

Transportation

Black Manta's Sea-Saucer: Advanced submersible craft

NotesEdit

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.

TriviaEdit

Black Manta only joined the Legion of Doom during the Flashpoint event.

LinksEdit

Black Manta (New Earth) 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."

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Footnotes

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Aquaman

Characters	Aquaman • Golden Age • Arthur Joseph Curry
Supporting	A.J. • Aquababy • Aquacow • Aquadog • Aquagirl (Lorena Marquez • Tula) • Aqualad (Garth • Jackson Hyde) • Alonzo Malrey • Arion • Atlan • Atlanna • Atlantean Royal Family • Blubber • Cal Durham • Cerdian • Cron One-Eye • Dane Dorrance • Deep Blue • Dolphin • Drin • Esther Maris • General Horgan • Guardian of Hy-Brasil • Iqula • Kako • Koryak • Lagoon Boy • Letifos • Little Mermaid • McCaffrey • Mera • Naiad • Nemek • Neptune Perkins • Nera • Nuada • Pomoxis • Porm • Red Torpedo • Rodunn • Sea Devils • Spought • Sheeva • Stephen Shin • Storm • Sweeney • Tom Curry • Topo • Trevis • Tsunami • Tusky • Vulko • Waterbearer
Villains	Admiral Strom • Annunake • Anton Geist • Awesome Threesome • Black Jack • Black Manta • Bugala • Captain Demo • Charybdis • Clownfish • Creature King • Cutlass Charlie • Dagon • Deep Six • Demon Gate • The Eel • Electric Man • Eochaid Bres • Fire Trolls • Fisherman • Giant Jellyfish • Gregory Jupiter • Hagen • Human Flying Fish • Hunter/Gatherers • Huntress • King Shark • Kordax • Krakor • Krusivax • Land-Masters • Lava Lord • Liquidator • Leron • Lord Nemo • Marine Marauder • Maritorn • NKVDemon • Noble • Nuliajuk • Ocean Master • O.G.R.E. • Queequeg • Qwsp • Scavenger • Sea Thief • Sea Wolf • Stavros Markos • The Shark • Siren • Thanatos • Thirst • Tiamat • Toxxin • The Trench • Triton • Universal Food Products • V'lana • Weisbogg
Locations	Amnesty Bay • Aquacave • Aquaman Museum • Atlantis • The Clear • Curry Lighthouse • Dimension Aqua • Hidden Valley • Mercy Reef • New Venice • Oceanid • Poseidonis • Secret Sea • Sub Diego • Thierna Na Oge • Tritonis
Miscellaneous	Origins • Publication History • Recommended Reading
Creators	Mort Weisinger • Paul Norris • Nick Cardy • Ramona Fradon • Jim Aparo • Bob Haney • Jack Miller • Neal Pozner • Craig Hamilton • Keith Giffen • Robert Loren Fleming • Curt Swan • Shaun McLaughlin • Ken Hooper • Peter David • Martin Egeland • Jim Calafiore • Dan Abnett • Andy Lanning • Erik Larsen • Eric Battle • Dan Jurgens • Rick Veitch • Will Pfeifer • Patrick Gleason • Kurt Busiek • John Arcudi • Geoff Johns • Ivan Reis
Storylines	American Tidal • Death of a Prince • The Obsidian Age • Once and Future • The Other League • Retroverse • Thicker Than Water • Tide of Battle • Time and Tide • The Trench • The Waterbearer
Comics	Adventure Comics • Aquaman • Volume 2 • Volume 3 • Volume 4 • Volume 5 • Volume 6 • Volume 7 • Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis • Aquaman: Time and Tide • Brightest Day • Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman • More Fun Comics
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[0] Adventure Comics #435

[1] Adventure Comics #436

[2] Adventure Comics #437

[3] Adventure Comics #446

[4] Adventure Comics #448

[5] Adventure Comics #452

[6] Aquaman #57, see excerpt

[7] Aquaman (Volume 7) #7

[8] Aquaman (Volume 7) #8

[9] Aquaman (Volume 7) #9

[10] Aquaman (Volume 7) #10

[11] Aquaman (Volume 7) #11

[12] Aquaman (Volume 7) #12

[13] Aquaman (Volume 7) #13

[14] Aquaman (Volume 7) #14

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