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| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
You want to bring the land and sea together? You raise this building to your own vain ambition? You're deluded. The world is afraid of you...and it should be. You will never be whole, Arthur Curry. Never. I have come to end the fear. 
- — Black Manta src
Black Manta, real name David Hyde, is an enemy to Aquaman and The Others. He has been on many super-villains teams, such as the Legion of Doom, the Injustice League and the Secret Society of Super-Villains.
History
Early Life
David Hyde is a descendant of the lost tribe of Atlanteans known as the Deserters.[4] His mother Ramona walked out on the family when he was a child and he was raised by his father Jesse on the family fishing boat, the Black Manta. Jesse tried to raise David to be tough, as he believed a black man would need to be in order to succeed.[5] He taught David to be unsentimental and to not let mercy cloud his judgement, via demonstrations such as stealing coins from a fountain and admonishing his son for saying a winning football team should have allowed their opponents to score out of pity. His most important lesson to David was "You don't need anyone".[6]
As a young adult, David worked for his father as a diver and a treasure hunter. They sought the Black Pearl which would allow the user to possess Hydrokinetic abilities. He began his search in the Bermuda Triangle where he discovered the lost Atlantean kingdom of Xebel. There he seduced a woman named Lucia who would adopt his surname and become 'Lucia Hyde', wanting the map to the Pearl. However she smelt out his evil intention so made a proxy map. Because of this David wasn't able to find the Pearl until much later.[7]
He was contracted by Doctor Stephen Shin to procure a sample of Arthur Curry's blood to prove that the young man was an Atlantean. During the encounter, Arthur's father, Thomas, came to his son's defense and suffered a heart attack. Thomas died three days later, and Arthur swore revenge. On the day of Thomas' funeral, Arthur stormed the boat belonging to the man he deemed responsible for his father's death. In the rain and darkness, Arthur murdered Hyde's father, on the assumption that he was the killer. Out of vengeance, Hyde crafted weapons and armor, and went hunting. When the Atlantean became a publicly-known hero as Aquaman, David became Black Manta.[8]
Manta would come into conflict with Arthur and his team the The Others many times. The Others wanted to find and safeguard the Seven Relics of Atlantis- powerful artifacts forged by the first king of Atlantis Atlan.[9] Manta attempted to stop the team at every turn but they were too strong as a unified force. Eventually the Others found the artefacts and split up across the globe, each member taking one artefact with them except for the seventh relic that was never found.[9] Aquaman would later go on to fall in love with the princess of Xebel Mera and co-found the Justice League, both aspects of Arthur's life that Hyde wanted to rip away from him.
The Scepter
Manta was contracted by an atlantean named Vulko to retrieve the Scepter of the first king of Atlantis, knowing he would need the atlantean artefacts to find the seventh he went after the Others to retrieve their relics.
Manta facing Arthur in Heidelberg
Manta tracked down the Others member Kahina the Seer and killed her, taking her relic the Seal of Clarity which allowed the user to translate any text.[10] He then traveled to Heidelberg in Germany where another ex-member of the Others- the Prisoner-Of-War hid, he guarded the Manacles of Force which could generate a powerful force field. Prisoner-Of-War was able to escape onto the streets of Heidelberg when Aquaman and Others member Ya'Wara teleported into the fight saving the Prisoner.[11] Manta fought Aquaman to a stand still but he saw he was outmatched by his three opponents and so Manta quickly grabbed Ya'Wara's relic the Globe of Transportation and used it to teleport away from the scene.[10]
He transported to Stephen Shin's home where he attacked Mera who was there to protect the doctor. Catching her off guard Manta was able to defeat Mera and take Stephen Shin hostage. He then travelled with Shin and his two Artefacts to the island where the relics were found and using the two in conjunction, Manta was able to unlock a secret passage and retrieve the Scepter that had sunk Atlantis.[12] Aquaman, Mera and the remaining Others ambushed Manta and his men and Manta was able to kill the guardian of the Atlantean Helmet Vostok-X.[13] Manta escaped the island using the Globe of Transportation and travelled to the meeting point where he handed over the scepter to Vulko's men. Aquaman and the Others once again ambushed Manta and this time Arthur defeated him for good, however Vulko's men were able to escape with the scepter.[14] Manta was sent to Belle Reve prison where Amanda Waller attempted to recruit him into the Suicide Squad but he declined.[15]
Saving the World
When the Crime Syndicate, an evil version of the Justice League from a different universe, came to Earth through Pandora's Box all prison systems were opened allowing the criminals to escape. King Shark gave Manta a silver coin that the Syndicate was giving out saying that they were being given out to the world's super-villains. The coin told Manta to go to the destroyed Justice League headquarters.[16] There, the Crime Syndicate declared they had killed the Justice League, displaying proof in the form of their weapons, including Aquaman's Trident. Black Manta claimed the Trident but left the gathering, not seeking to join the Society of Super-Villains, going to the grave of his father instead. But when Ultraman, the evil Superman, moved the moon to block the sun, it cause a tidal wave that swept open his father's grave. This angered Black Manta who swore revenge on the Crime Syndicate.[16]
The Injustice League
After witnessing Black Adam lose in a fight with Ultraman Hyde retrieved his body from the ocean, and met up with Lex Luthor, the Kryptonian clone Bizarro, and Captain Cold who also wanted the Syndicate gone for their own reasons.[17] Lex Luthor realizes that with the help of his Kyptonian clone, Black Adam, Black Manta, and Captain Cold, he may be able to stop the Crime Syndicate. They travelled to Wayne Enterprises to stockpile on technology but were met with Catwoman and Batman who had seemingly survived the death of the Justice League. Before the two forces could fight the Secret Society arrived.[18] The Evil Green Lantern Power Ring attacked the heroes but was killed by the newly arrived Sinestro, who with Deathtroke, Batman and Catwoman joined the team.[19] The team then assaulted the Crime Syndicate at the downed Watchtower, where Black Manta killed The Outsider, the leader of the society, and set the Syndicate's greatest enemy Mazahs, the Shazam, free.[20]
Mazahs slaughtered a majority of the Syndicate and took their powers including Johnny Quick, Rhonda Pineda (Earth 3) and Deathstorm. The team then had to kill Mazahs after he tried to take their powers as well. The Justice League were then able to return as they had been trapped in the Firestorm's Energy Matrix by Deathstorm and not actually killed. The remaining Syndicate members were captured and Black Manta returned the trident to Aquaman saying he was glad he wasn't dead.[21]
New Suicide Squad
Despite having previously refused Waller's offer to join Task Force X, Black Manta eventually volunteered to become a member of the squad; Hyde believed that Aquaman had died and therefore had nothing left to live for. Though Aquaman was revealed to actually be alive, Manta stayed with his decision because he had nothing better to do.[22]
On a team with Harley Quinn, Deathstroke, the Joker's Daughter, and Deadshot, the Squad went on a covert mission to Russia, though their cover was blown by the Rocket Red Brigade.[23] Manta was temporarily put in charge of the team to rescue Deadshot [24] when Deathstroke defected to the Russians. Ultimately successful, Manta and the Squad returned stateside [25]
Manta on the new Suicide Squad
For the team's second mission, the roster was revamped and sent to China to infiltrate a research facility trying to make meta-humans.[26] After blowing the compound, the team was pursued by one of the metas and the Chinese military.[27] Upon returning to Belle Reve, Manta expressed that he wanted to leave the squad due to the lack of organization. Though technically he was an independent contractor rather than a prisoner, Waller refused to let Manta leave, which infuriated him. [28]
Manta's third mission with the Squad was to infiltrate a League of Assassins splinter group known simply as the League, who were using American super-villain weapons to massacre people in the Middle East. [29] Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and Manta went undercover within the League, though Hyde was forced to knock Boomerang out when he almost blew their cover saving children[30]
David slowly found himself believing that the League's cause was a righteous one due to them wanting to make the world a better place, and purposefully ratted Deadshot and himself as spies for the Suicide Squad.[31] However, his partnership with the League wasn't meant to last, and Manta escaped with the Suicide Squad as the compound was destroyed by bombs.[32]
Betraying the Squad
After the destruction of the League, Manta was taken out of active duty by Vic Sage, Waller's boss. Sage also placed Waller on the Squad as an active member for her subterfuge.[33] Manta, still holding a grudge against Waller for refusing to let him leave, allied himself with Sage to take Waller down however possible.[34]
Sage directed Manta to break out of Belle Reve and leak information on Task Force X to the public, essentially shutting down the team and Waller. When Sage learnt the conversation was overheard by the assistant warden, Sage shot her and gave the gun to Manta. Waller, however, intercepted the plan and tried to have Sage and Hyde arrested by the F.B.I.. In retaliation, Sage released all of the prisoners from their cells within Belle Reve, hoping to escape in the confusion.
During the breakout, the Suicide Squad arrived to defend Waller and oppose their former teammate Black Manta. Though Manta defeated most of them by himself, Deadshot shot in the wrist, allowing Captain Boomerang to get the upper hand on him and defeat him. Manta was returned to his cell, now charged as an actual criminal, and re-integrated on the Squad as a criminal member.[35]
Manta occasionally did missions for the Suicide Squad, again with a new roster, until he was eventually released.
Spindrift
Now free of Belle Reve, Black Manta planned to destroy Aquaman once and for all, starting with his beloved, Mera, and Spindrift Station, an embassy for peace between Atlantis and the surface world.[36]
Black Manta terrorizing Aquaman
Posing as a reporter, Black Manta infiltrates Spindrift Station. Claiming to be sick after sampling Atlantean food, he sneaks off and begins to plant explosives around the station.[37] He is discovered in the act by a guard, forcing Black Manta to kill him and reveal his presence. He triggers the charges, damaging Spindrift Station and flooding areas.[38] As Aquaman searches for the saboteur, Black Manta uses the distraction to sneak up on Mera and shoot her with an electrified harpoon. Aquaman arrives and the pair fight; Aquaman implores Black Manta to give up on their feud, but Black Manta refuses as he wants to destroy everything Aquaman stands for. Eventually, Aquaman gains the upper hand, but unexpectedly turns his Trident on himself and offers Black Manta the chance to kill him. However, Aquaman tells Black Manta that killing him will never satisfy him. Black Manta sees the truth and surrenders. Aquaman uses the moment to apologize for killing his father.[39]
While being transported to prison, the convoy carrying Black Manta is attacked by a group called N.E.M.O. who seek to recruit him. Impressed by Black Manta's assault on Spindrift Station, the N.E.M.O. representative Black Jack explains that the group also hates Aquaman and Atlanteans as they are essentially the sea illuminati and Atlantis has gotten in their way many time before.[40] Taken to meet N.E.M.O.'s leader, the Fisher King, Black Manta listens to their plans and offer.[41] Believing that the group is thinking too small, and not content to be a servant, Black Manta kills the Fisher King and asserts himself as the new leader of N.E.M.O.[42]
N.E.M.O.
N.E.M.O. had previously sunken a U.S. battleship and pinned it on Atlantis, hoping to cause a war between Atlantis and the surface that would destroy the underwater nation. Manta thought that a more direct approach was required so that Arthur wouldn't discover N.E.M.O.'s existence so unleashed the Shaggy Man, a powerful creature created by mad scientist Professor Anthony Ivo, on Arthur's home town Amnesty Bay hoping to keep his mind off the investigation.[43].
Manta near victorious
Arthur was able to stop the Shaggy Man but was badly beaten by the terrifying creature, this effected Manta's plan to destroy Atlantis as Arthur was seen as a hero once again.[44] Manta decided to bring the timetable forward so had his men equipped with Atlantean armour and weaponry openly invade several U.S. cities. The N.E.M.O. attacks prompted the American government to declare war on Atlantis who they believed responsible.[45]
Manta commanded a N.E.M.O. sub to attack Atlantis and kill everything in its pass, hoping to build hate for the Americans among Atlantis.[46] Aquaman ripped through the submarine and captured the captain and his crew forcing Manta to remotely detonate coral bombs in their heads so they couldn't reveal N.E.M.O.'s existence to the world. Unfortunately Aquaman was able to track the signal used his telepathy to its source where he found Manta.[47] Manta and Black Jack attacked Arthur but were both defeated so Manta blew up the boat they were on, faking his and Black Jack's deaths. With the new evidence Arthur was able to cease hostilities between Atlantis and the surface world foiling Manta's ploy.[48]
The Black Pearl
The Teen Titans attempt to stop Manta
After his assumed death Manta resurfaces when his subordinate King Shark is defeated by the Teen Titans. Shark tells him of an unknown teen who defeated him with Hydrokinetic abilities. Manta investigated this boy and deduced him to be his son. The boy named Jackson Hyde was birthed from Lucia Hyde and he had the real map to the Black Pearl that he so desperately craved.[49]
Discovering Lucia's location, Manta assaulted her hoping to draw Jackson out, when Jackson sprung to her defense Manta kidnapped Jackson. He used the map in his son's possession to find the location of the Black Pearl.[7] Manta and Jackson fought off the creatures guarding it and claimed the Pearl. However the other members of the Teen Titans showed up and attempted to defeat Manta, with his new hydrokinetic abilities Manta easily crushed the Titans but was defeated by Jackson when he electrocuted Manta to near death. After Manta's defeat his son Jackson took on the role of Aqualad[50]
Promises of the Dark
Black Manta wouldn't be seen again for some time until the events of the Dark Multiverse's invasion of the light. He, along with a few other villains of the positive multiverse, were approached by the dark god; Barbatos and his legion of batmen with the allure of fulfilling his greatest desire.
As Aquaman and Deathstroke made their way to the planets core in search of Nth Metal, they were ambushed by David. Flanked by Dark Knights The Drowned, Red Death and Murder Machine; Manta revealed that his deal with the dark would make him ruler of a cold and black water world where he would lord over Arthur's people with an iron hand.[51]
Legion of Doom/Drowned Earth
Manta was one of the villains selected by Lex Luthor to be part of his Legion of Doom, a team created to find and harness the seven forces, energies hidden by the Source Wall and now once again free, which were the key to unlock the powerful Totality.[52] After the Legion lost the Totality to the Justice League, even if Sinestro and Grodd took hold of two of the forces, Manta and Cheetah teamed together, armed with the third force found by Lex, the Tear of Extinction. With that power, they had the task of killing Poseidon, so that they could free the Triumvirate of Sea Gods and unleash their power upon Earth.[53]
Manta made a pact with the Triumvirate: their freedom and Poseidon's death, in exchange of Manta's nemesis own powers. The Triumvirate were loyal to their words, as they captured Aquaman and took away his connection with the Life Force, which they gave to Manta. Possessing the power of Aquaman, Black Manta now ruled the oceans on Earth, controlling all the humans transformed into creature of the sea by the water polluted from the Space Kraken, a beast under control of the alien god Drogue.[54]
David then discovered that Mera was trying to reach the Tomb of Arion to steal the Tear herself, as Ocean Master informed her that the substance could kill the Triumvirate. Mera could not know that the Tear was not there anymore, but was instead on Manta's weapons and Cheetah's claws.[55] Reaching her inside the Tomb, David was displeased to find out that some of the deadly Tear was still inside old king Arion's bones: Mera was able to take it, and start a counter against the Triumvirate, which now was scared and called for retreat.
The Drowning of Aquaman!
Bursting with hate, Manta convinced his allies to release upon Earth a terrible creature, the Death Kraken. This creature was a different version of the Kraken which poisoned Earth's waters, and Drogue could barely control it. Its power was death itself upon contact.[56] As the creature approached Earth, a returned Aquaman, helped by the League, tried to contain him. Aquaman then was successful in pleading with the Triumvirate, convincing them to fight for Life and not Death once again, like they did before. Seeing the tides turning, Lex called Manta to order retreat, but David refused, too blind to see. He only wanted to finally dominate those seas which took his father from him.
Using his Tear-infused knives, Manta killed Drogue and Gall, and injured Tyyde. Then, he tried to take control of the Death Kraken, but as he was not Drogue, he lost control of the beast, which now was ready to condemn all life on Earth, including David's. Manta called Lex for help, but he was denied: after refusing Lex's order, he was not considered a member of the Legion anymore. Tydde then gave to Aquaman back his connection to the Life Force, who was stripped from Manta. Aquaman sacrificed himself to save Earth, killing the Death Kraken thanks to the power of the Life Force. Manta, saved from death as well, disappeared.[57]
Year of the Villain
Despite their prior issues Lex Luthor, now transformed into his "Apex Predator" form, offered Black Manta a gift: a giant robot programmed with the memories and personality of his dead father named Mecha Manta. Meanwhile, Jackson travelled to Amnesty Bay and joined up with Aquaman, becoming his sidekick.[58]
David accepted Mecha Manta, but refused to treat him as if he was his father, making multiple modifications to his programming to make him less like Jesse. Mecha Manta guided David to an ancient undersea sacred garden which Jesse had hoped to find one day. He used Mecha Manta to destroy it in the hopes of drawing Aquaman and Mera out.[59] As David expected, Mera lead an Atlantean expedition to the surface seeking vengeance and reunited with Arthur, and Manta attacked them both with Mecha Manta.[60] David attempted to kill Arthur and himself by detonating Mecha Manta, but Mecha Manta refused and ejected the control pod, sending David to safety.[61]
Ten months later Jackson tracked Black Manta down and asked for the pod, which he needed to locate Aquaman's kidnapped daughter Andy Curry.[62] They fought until David agreed to give him the pod if Jackson would use his hydrokinesis to pass through the portal into Xebel and plant a device that would allow David to enter the city, warning that Jackson had four days to finish the job or he would go to Amnesty Bay and kill Lucia.[63] Jackson went to Xebel as agreed but decided not to plant the device, he returned and told Manta to stay away from him and his mother.[64]
Devil Ray
One of Black Manta's Manta Men brought him a mysterious rock from the bottom of the ocean.[4] After he obtained the rock he began suffering extremely painful aneurysms and suspected he was dying. He swore to find out the secrets of the stone before it killed him. He wrote a letter to Jackson detailing his thoughts at the end of his life, but did not send it.[65] Manta met with Stephen Shin, who told him that the rock was an ancient Atlantean metal called Orichalcum, and that many people around the world had been having similar attacks as him. Shin had tested the blood of one of the victims and found Atlantean genetic markers, suggesting that the Orichalcum was somehow activating latent Atlantean DNA in humans with distant Atlantean heritage. This would mean that Manta himself was an Atlantean, which he rejected out of hand.
David and his assistant Gallous tracked down Gentleman Ghost, and forced him to use his powers to astral project Black Manta to Atlantis just before the Great Deluge.[66] In the vision, Manta witnessed a tribe of black Atlanteans abandon Atlantis just before Atlan sank the city and flee to Africa.[67] While he was doing that, a new villain named Devil Ray launched a coordinated series of terrorist attacks around the world, including on Black Manta's ocean floor base. Devil Ray announced that he was taking over the oceans for black people as Manta had once claimed he wanted to do.[66]
Manta and Gallous flew to Ethiopia on the trail of the lost tribe, but were attacked by a mysterious white-haired woman and a demon mid-flight. They eventually managed to knock the mystery woman unconscious and, recognising her necklace as Orcihalcum, Manta spared her life.[67] When the woman woke up they questioned her and learned that she had almost no memories, and couldn't even remember her own name, but she was also suffering the same painful attacks. Gallous named the woman Torrid, and the two sides agreed to work together. Torrid remembered that the immortal wizard Doctor Mist had ruled the land eons ago, and he may know something about the ancient Atlanteans. They went to Doctor Mist's headquaters in Ethiopia but he refused to help them and attacked. Manta eventually brought Doctor Mist down with a taser and demanded he tell them what he knew.[3]
Doctor Mist used his magic to cure them both of their illness and confirmed to Manta that he was a descendant of the Deserters. Manta wanted to leave immediately, claiming the mission was over, despite Mist and Gallous reminding him that there were still thousands of people worldwide suffering the attacks, and Mist could not simply cure them all one by one. Suddenly, Manta received a message from Devil Ray, who told him that as a child he had idolised Manta and modelled his life on him, but had become disillusioned as Manta only ever helped himself rather than their people. He also revealed that he was the Manta Man who originally gave Black Manta the Orichalcum.
Devil Ray emerged from a portal and attacked. Manta easily overpowered the younger man but Devil Ray shot Gallous in the chest with a weapon called a "smart trident", which left her alive but could kill her at Devil Ray's command. In exchange for Gallous' life, Black Manta went with Devil Ray to his hideout and helped him forge an Orichalcum trident. Devil Ray revealed his plan was to poison the population of Atlantis, then raise the city back to the surface to be a new black homeland, which he would rule as king.[4]
They completed the trident, but its energy output was too much for Devil Ray to control. Black Manta installed control circuitry on the trident and used Devil Ray's computer to calibrate it, while at the same time installing a tracker and a means of shocking anybody holding the trident. He also took the locations of the gas poison bombs Devil Ray had hidden in Atlantis from the computer. When the trident was completed, Devil Ray prepared to kill Manta but at that moment he got a call from Gallous telling him that Doctor Mist had removed the smart trident and repaired her heart. Doctor Mist and the others teleported in and attacked, but Devil Ray used the trident to fuse Torrid and her demon into their true form as Charybdis. She attacked them and Devil Ray teleported away.
Black Manta chased after Devil Ray in an ancient plane built by the Deserters while the others fought Charybdis. Along the way, David sent Aquaman a message telling him the locations of Devil Ray's bombs, either being unwilling to allow a genocide or possibly to spare Devil Ray the guilt of committing one. He caught up to Devil Ray at the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Devil Ray shot him down but Manta survived and tackled him into the ocean. They fought underwater and Black Manta shocked Devil Ray with the circuits he had hidden in the trident. David told the younger man that he was sorry he hadn't been able to be the savior he needed, and warned him not to waste his life on hatred like he had. Devil Ray abandoned the trident and flew away just as Manta's allies arrived. Black Manta told them to let Devil Ray escape and they departed to cure the other Deserter descendants. Alone, Manta deleted his letter to Jackson and stared out towards the ocean.[68]
Aquamen
Arthur Curry invited David to meet him at an isolated bar in Iceland. Manta went to the meeting and asked Aquaman why he shouldn't just kill him.[69] Arthur told Manta that there were Atlantean sleeper agents in hiding on the surface, ready to launch attacks on the surface and spark a war if they were activated.[70] Black Manta agreed to track the sleepers down and his investigation lead him to a man named Jonas Martin in Paris, France. At a restaurant Martin went into a frenzy and attacked his wife, screaming in Atlantean. Manta tried to restrain Martin but he died of a heart attack. The incident made the news and allowed Jackson, who was unaware of his deal with Arthur, to track him down. Jackson attacked David, believing he had murdered Jonas, but Arthur stopped him and told him that David was working with him.[71]
Jackson knocked them both aside with a tidal wave and fled with Martin's body. Arthur told Manta that Jonas Martin, and presumably other sleepers, had been activated and took him to the hidden broadcast station that their activation signal originated from. The equipment required two people to operate it, and they found one corpse at the controls, meaning the other person was still at large. They deactivated the machine, which subjected them both to a huge surge of energy that would ordinarily be fatal to a human.[72] The two escaped the collapsing broadcast station but Mera tracked them down and demanded to know what was going on. Arthur admitted what he knew about the sleepers and she told them that Jackson had gone to Gotham City to confront the people responsible.
Arthur and Manta rushed to Gotham to find Jackson fighting Scavenger, who was equipped with upgraded armour.[73] David fought Scavenger but the lesser villain proved to be far more formidable than he thought and even managed to overpower him. Jackson saved him and Savenger escaped. The three of them returned to Atlantis and Manta promised the Aquaman Family that he wanted to be a better person and that they could trust him.[70]
They developed a plan to deactivate the sleepers using the Orichalcum trident, but for the signal to reach all the sleepers around the world it would need to be mounted on a broadcast tower. Jackson and Mera created a tower from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, while Black Manta tracked Scavenger to ensure he did not interfere. Manta was told to only observe but he attempted to kill Scavenger instead. Scavenger was able to detect the bullet flying towards him, and teleported out of the way behind Manta. They fought while teleporting to the locations of the rest of the Aquaman Family as Scavenger tracked Manta's comm link. They eventually crashed into the tower, knocking the trident free and forcing Jackson to carry it to the top of the tower and absorb the energy of the transmission. Mortimer tried to reach Jackson but David and Arthur overpowered him.[74]
Jackson was unharmed and the sleepers were deactivated, but one of them managed to infiltrate Atlantis itself and kill the council in a suicide bombing. Jackson and his father helped clear the rubble from the destroyed council chamber and rescue Atlantean civilians trapped underneath. Manta even blasted and fired one of the Manta Men who claimed he had gone soft and that they should be looting Atlantis rather than helping it. David apologised to Jackson for not reaching out to him when Lucia was hurt and Jackson admitted he probably wouldn't have been willing to speak to him anyway. David promised Jackson that he would always have his back, but Jackson was unsure how to respond. That evening, the news that the entire Justice League, including Arthur, were dead was broadcast to the world. David watched the news reports in the Manta-Sub, his face impassive.[75]
Dark Crisis
When he learned Arthur was dead, Black Manta abandoned his brief flirtation with heroism, left Atlantis and Jackson and rejoined the Legion of Doom.[76] Black Adam came to the Legion and asked for their help against Deathstroke's Secret Society, who had begun launching attacks around the world following the League's death. The Hall of Doom was attacked by the Secret Society, who were under the control of the Great Darkness. The Darkness granted the lesser villains greater power, and the Legion were overwhelmed and possessed by the Darkness themselves.[77] Black Manta was part of Deathstroke's army of villains in the attack on the Hall of Justice.[78] He was freed of his brainwashing when Deathstroke and the corrupted Darkness were defeated and snuck away in the aftermath of the battle with the other villains.[79]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Abilities
- Archaeology[51]
- Aviation: Black Manta can pilot a helicopter. He flew a helicopter during his escape from Belle Reve after the Crime Syndicate broke all of the prison's occupants out of their cells.[16]
- Disguise[36]
- Diving
- Genius Level Intellect
- Gadgetry
- Investigation: Manta is the greatest treasure hunter to ever live, he has investigated many ancient myths of treasure and found their source.[23]
- Leadership: Mr. Hyde is a taciturn headman, with an incredulous amount of guile and charisma. Boasting an army of trained mercenaries who follow his orders to the letter, both human and atlantean.[8] And proved just as capable of subsuming the whole of the age old international cabal known as the Nautical Enforcement of Macrocosmic Order to his will with relative ease.[42] He has also led the Suicide Squad on multiple occasions.[24]
- Medical Science: Black Manta has sufficient medical expertise to perform an autopsy.[71]
- Seduction: Black Manta was able to seduce Xebelian Lucia into helping him with his quest for the Black Pearl.[7]
- Tactical Analysis: Manta proves to be an adept strategist and directional coordinator having a cunning, tactical mind on par with a great many of Earth's greatest intellects.
- Mechanical Engineering: Hyde was able to make his suit, which is considered a technological marvel.
- Tracking: Manta was able to track down members of the Others- some of which had been in hiding for years.[10][9]
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced): Black Manta was trained to fight by his father from an early age. He's honed his skill over the years fighting Aquaman. He is capable of defeating multiple opponents with or without his suit.[43] He was able to easily beat Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn and Deadshot in one-on-three combat, even though all three were accomplished fighters.[35]
- Intimidation: Black Manta rules N.E.M.O. largely through fear.[43]
- Master Swimmer: Black Manta is highly skilled at swimming. Deathstroke stated that he "cuts through water like a torpedo".[80]
- Seamanship: Manta can pilot a submarine.[49]
- Weaponry: Black Manta has a large arsenal of both underwater and above water weaponry. He's even used Aquaman's trident with proficiency as well as the Dead King's Scepter. He can cut a man's throat with a coin.[16]
- Demolitions: Manta was able to destroy Spindrift Station with coordinated explosions.[36]
- Marksmanship: Manta is highly accurate with rifles and other ballistic weapons, able to mow down dozens of hostiles with just a pair of machine guns.[25] He is also accurate when firing his grappling hooks.[10]
- Swordsmanship: Manta often uses swords or daggers when combating Aquaman and other enemies.[10]
- Throwing: Black Manta can throw knives with high accuracy.[57]
Other Characteristics
- Illness: (Formerly) Black Manta suffered painful and debilitating brain aneurysms as a result of his latent Atlantean DNA being awakened by Orichalcum.[65] He was later cured by Doctor Mist.[4]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Black Manta's Armor: Black Manta wears a diving suit that enables him to survive underwater to unknown depths; it insulates him against the cold and protects him from pressure changes. The suit is sealed so completely that it cannot be entered even at the atomic level. It greatly increases his underwater mobility, primarily through the use of some sort of diver propulsion vehicle, and allows him to leap great heights when shooting out of water. It is also effective as a means of camouflage in dark water. He wears a distinctive manta-shaped helmet with two large eyes that allow for infrared and scope vision, as well as powerful optic blasts capable of hurting or killing metahumans. It also protects his head from trauma.
- Artificial Gills: Manta's helmet connects to an oxygen supply in his back which allows Manta to survive underwater for an unlimited amount of time. His suit is also atomically sealed so that no water can get inside.[20]
- Enhanced Durability: Black Manta is able to take hits from Aquaman without dying due to his suit.
- Enhanced Strength: Black Manta is strong enough in his suit to combat Aquaman.
- Flight[68]
- Grappling Line: Manta's suit comes with a built in grappling line on his right gauntlet. This grappling line functions in a way similar to the one used by Batman and his allies, as it fires a strong cable that latches onto a surface and winches Manta upwards.[16]
- Optic Lasers: Manta can fire beams of heat energy out of his eye pieces capable of singeing an Atlantean's skin at maximum power output.[10]
- Shock Gauntlets: Manta is able to produce an electric shock from his gauntlets powerful enough to stun an atlantean.[12]
- Hydrokinetic Negation: David had modified his costume to make him resilient against Mera's water manipulation abilities.[8]
- Seal of Clarity: Manta stole the Seal from Kahina's corpse. It translates any text and was used in conjunction with the Globe of Transportation to unlock Atlan's scepter. When Manta was defeated it was given to the Operative to safe guard until a new guardian could be found. (Formerly)
- Bone Crown: A relic of power once belonging to Fleet Admiral Drogue, whosoever wears the crown has control over the Space Kraken race born upon the sea gods alien world. But it only worked for it's original wearer.[57]
- Orichalcum: David Hyde had somehow procured sizable amounts of the fabled meta materia orichalcum and implemented it into his arsenal.[81]
Transportation
- Manta-Sub: Black Manta possesses a small submarine which he usually drives while travelling in the ocean. The submarine is shaped like a Manta and can only fit few people in it.
- Globe of Transportation: Manta was able to steal the Globe of Transportation from Ya'Wara. The Globe allowed Manta to teleport around the globe at will. However when Manta was defeated Ya'Wara reclaimed the artefact. (Formerly)
- The Black Manta: The fishing boat that was used by David and his father.[82](Formerly)
Weapons
- Orichalcum Trident: A trident forged from the ancient mystical metal Orichalcum.[4] Manta created it with, and subsequently stole it from, Devil Ray.[68] He gave it to Arthur and Jackson to deactivate the Atlantean sleeper agents. It appeared to have been lost when the tower of water they were broadcasting the signal from collapsed,[74][75] but he later retrieved it.[83]
- Knives: Manta possesses a pair of specially stropped cutlery specially tailored to flensing even the dense skin of super atlanteans like Aquaman.[11]
Notes
- Black Manta was created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy, first appearing in Aquaman #35. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Black Manta first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Aquaman (Volume 7) #7 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.
Trivia
- Black Manta has three long scars across his face from his first battle with Aquaman when he was hit across the face with a fish hook.[8]
- Manta has a fan base amongst criminals and lesser super-villains, its most notable member being King Shark.[16]
- Black Manta's ancestry includes ancient Atlantean heritage.[67]
Related
- 171 Appearances of David Hyde (Prime Earth)
- 105 Images featuring David Hyde (Prime Earth)
- 16 Quotations by or about David Hyde (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: David Hyde (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Aquaman (Volume 8) #62
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sinestro #19
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Black Manta #4
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Black Manta #5
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #62
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #54
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #10
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Aquaman (Volume 7) #10
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Aquaman (Volume 7) #8
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Aquaman (Volume 7) #7
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Aquaman (Volume 7) #9
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Aquaman (Volume 7) #11
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 7) #12
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Aquaman (Volume 7) #13
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 7) #14
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Aquaman (Volume 7) #23.1: Black Manta
- ↑ Forever Evil #3
- ↑ Forever Evil #4
- ↑ Forever Evil #5
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Forever Evil #6
- ↑ Forever Evil #7
- ↑ Suicide Squad (Volume 4) #30
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 New Suicide Squad #1
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 New Suicide Squad #2
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 New Suicide Squad #4
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #5 - 6
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #7
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #8
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #9
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #10
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #12
- ↑ New Suicide Squad Annual #1
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #13
- ↑ New Suicide Squad #14
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 New Suicide Squad #16
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 Aquaman: Rebirth #1
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #1
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #2
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #3
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #4
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #5
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Aquaman (Volume 8) #6
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Aquaman (Volume 8) #7
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #9
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #11
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #12
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #14
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #15
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Teen Titans (Volume 6) #9
- ↑ Teen Titans (Volume 6) #11
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 Dark Nights: Metal #5
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #5
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #8
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Justice League/Aquaman: Drowned Earth #1
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 Justice League (Volume 4) #11
- ↑ Justice League (Volume 4) #12
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Aquaman/Justice League: Drowned Earth #1
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #51
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #52
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #53
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #55
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #59
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #62
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #63
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Black Manta #1
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 Black Manta #2
- ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 Black Manta #3
- ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 68.3 68.4 68.5 68.6 Black Manta #6
- ↑ Aquaman: The Becoming #6
- ↑ 70.0 70.1 Aquamen #4
- ↑ 71.0 71.1 Aquamen #1
- ↑ Aquamen #2
- ↑ Aquamen #3
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 Aquamen #5
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 Aquamen #6
- ↑ Dark Crisis #3
- ↑ Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #4
- ↑ Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
- ↑ Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7
- ↑ Deathstroke (Volume 3) #4
- ↑ Titans: Beast World: Waller Rising #1
- ↑ Aquaman (Volume 8) #54
- ↑ Titans: Beast World: Waller Rising #1
- ↑ Teen Titans (Volume 6) #13
  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." |
 Secret Society of Super-Villains member |
 Injustice League member |
 Suicide Squad member |
 Legion of Doom member |
 This character is or was a member of the Sinestro Corps, chosen by Sinestro to counteract the Green Lantern Corps and spread terror throughout their sector with a Power Ring. |