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He’s the most well known of Aquaman’s rogues. The man who was a mystery for years before we even knew who was behind the mask. He is Black Manta, scourge of the seven seas and constant thorn in Aquaman’s side. So who is the man who lives behind the big-eyed helmet? Let’s find out!

For years the villain known as Black Manta was nameless, even his face was never seen, he was a mystery that came into Aquaman and his Justice League super friends’ lives, mess things up, get defeated and get away. The closest we have is that his name is David, he sometimes goes by David Hyde but it’s never certain if this is truly his full name or just another mask he hides behind. In some versions he was a young child, kidnapped by pirates and forced to be their slave, abused to work for them. When he saw a young Aquaman nearby, he tried to get his help but wasn’t noticed, as the hero was playing with dolphins and didn’t notice him. David would have to kill one of his captors to be free and would find the man who could have saved him and make him suffer.

In other times, David was an autistic child raised in Gotham where no one knew what to do with him, so they threw him into Arkham Asylum, just a child who found comfort in the cold ocean more than he did a warm bed. He would be tested and experimented on, to find a “cure” for his autism, this lead to his violent nature to come at the cost of this “cure” and David would kill his captors and begin a life of crime. Sometimes David is just a man who desires Atlantean treasures and is willing to kill for them. Another is that his father was killed by Aquaman’s actions and so he seeks vengeance on the King of Atlantis.

No matter the origins of David, the all end with him donning a high-tech suit, designed to resemble a manta ray and becoming the high-tech pirate that threatens the worlds of both land and sea. He and Aquaman, along with the King’s friends, family, and subjects, will come to blows over all manner of conflict. One of the biggest, and most personal, attacks David has committed against Aquaman was having killed his son, nearly getting himself murdered for this by the King, himself. While David prefers to use technology, especially technology he has made or tinkered with, David has sold his soul for power, making him into an actual manta ray/human hybrid for a time. Though David has a disdain for most people, he does tend to be a decent leader and works well in a team, like when villains form some kind of Injustice Gang or another. David even has had a child, Jackson Hyde, better known by his Atlantean name, Kaldur’ahm, Aqualad. They don’t get along well, really, to no surprise.

There you have it! Black Manta is probably the most iconic villain in Aquaman’s stories. He has been in animation, video games, and now live action film, where he’s not even the big bad, surprisingly. Now that Black Manta has been on the big screen, what will happen to him next? Who knows? See you next time!

Suggested Reading
Aquaman #35
Brightest Day
Adventure Comics
Teen Titans

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net