Black Manta (Character)

Publisher: Black Manta

Created by: Nick Cardy and Bob Haney

1st appearance: Aquaman #35, 1967

Nationality: Unknown

Team Affiliations: None

Real Name: David Ray

Legal Status: Wanted by Atlantis for crimes against the ocean.

Height: 6′ 3             Weight: 230 lbs

Eyes: Brown         Hair: Black

Relatives: Aqualad (son)

Skills and abilities: Skilled in the use of weapons and creating technology. Capable leader.

Powers: Mutation grants him gills which allow him to breath in water. He also has the strength, endurance and stamina of an Olympic level athlete.

-His manta suite allows him to survive the pressures of the deep ocean, release electricity, enhance his strength, endurance. he can fire harpoons, bullets and various other things from the writs of the suit.  it also grants a level of camouflage. He also carries an assortment of bladed weapons with which he’s an expert. Concentrated beams of heat can also be fired from the helmet.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X92MalkVjEY&feature=related]

Biography

As a child he was captured on a ship where he was subject to torture and routine sexual abuse and molestation. The day his mind snapped however was when he saw a young aquaman swimming in the ocean. All attempts to gain his attention and thus to save himself where unsuccessful. He fixated on this day as his abuse continued until he vowed revenge on all those who had been party to his suffering. He slaughtered all his attackers one night and set out to make Aquaman pay for not saving him. After gaining his freedom he found many treasures on the vessel and when he returned to land he had enough money to amass a personal army over time and build technology which would one day enable him to gain revenge on Aquaman. When Ocean master recruited him to kill Aquaman he was overjoyed and thus he became the rival of Aquaman with the plan to rule the seas. Unable to best Aquaman he eventually killed his young son Arthur. Jr. After laying low for years he sold his soul to the demon Nekron and became a manta human hybrid with enhanced physical attributes. Defeated by his foe again he had his soul restored. He briefly ruled Sub Diego a new underwater city but was driven out. When he thought Aquaman was dead he became a local fisherman and had a normal life. When he realized he was alive however the news drove him over the edge once more and he slaughtered all those around him. He then allied with the Xebel forces to find his son Aqualad and kill his enemy. In the finale conflict he cut off aquaman’s hand before his son used his powers to seal black manta and all of Xebel back into the Bermuda triangle.