Black Manta Powers & Comics History Explained

Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is the Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom villain, with a long and storied history in the comics and DCEU. While the aquatic villain was a side antagonist in the previous film, he is the central threat in the sequel and is more powerful and intimidating than before. Black Manta and Aquaman have a brief history within the DCEU, but their connection in the comics goes back many decades. The villain is a common enemy of Aquaman’s, who has fought the hero dozens of times throughout the comic book character’s history.

In 2018’s Aquaman, Black Manta introduced himself as a menacing archrival to Arthur Curry. While he doesn’t possess Aquaman’s ability to communicate with the aquatic world, he was still a solid match for Curry, even though he was ultimately defeated. He is returning for vengeance in the story of Aquaman 2, and he now possesses a powerful weapon from the comics that will make him Curry’s most formidable opponent yet. Here is everything to know about Black Manta, the villain of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Black Manta’s DC Comics History Explained

Black Manta, a.k.a David Kane, made his DC Comics debut in 1967 in Aquaman #35. While he was introduced as an enemy to Aquaman, little else was known about the character besides that his suit was high-powered, and he was a formidable foe for the king of Atlantis. More was revealed about his character when he finally took off his helmet in Adventure Comics Vol. 1 #452. Readers learned he was a Black American who wanted Black people to take over the sea after facing oppression on land. The comic also featured his darkest deed against Aquaman when he killed his infant son.

Black Manta’s backstory was finally revealed in 1992’s Aquaman #6. This comic introduces Manta as a child born in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay. While playing near the ocean, he was kidnapped by pirates and forced to serve them as a slave. One day, Manta saw Aquaman swimming alongside a pack of dolphins near the ship. He begged the hero to save him, but his pleas went unnoticed. He eventually killed his captors and escaped, but held a grudge against the Atlantean king for leaving him to suffer. He became Black Manta and was determined to defeat Aquaman and become master of the seas.

Black Manta’s Powers Explained

Black Manta doesn’t have any natural superpowers, but he is still a formidable warrior outside his suit. He is a gifted fighter, as he has trained since he was young to be a threat on both land and sea. He is also one of the deadliest assassins in the DC universe and a gifted strategist. While born on land, he has a natural understanding of the sea and is an expert diver and undersea scavenger. However, what mainly makes Black Manta such a threat to Aquaman is his suit. It’s not clear what makes his suit so powerful, but it’s nearly impenetrable, even from the world’s most powerful metahumans.

It’s equipped with several deadly weapons, including long daggers, harpoons, and a double-bladed gun. His helmet allows him to breathe underwater and comes with two massive eyes that not only give him the ability of infrared and scope vision but also to emit powerful beams that can injure or kill metahumans like Aquaman. The suit also comes with a jetpack that gives him the ability to speed up underwater and shoot out quickly. Additionally, the suit grants him superhuman strength, meaning just one punch can do dramatic damage. In Aquaman, the suit is a gift from Ocean Master, Aquaman’s brother, who gives Manta the suit so he can kill Arthur.

Black Manta’s Comics Changes Explained

While Black Manta is a consistent villain for Aquaman, his origin has changed many times. While 1992’s origin is the first given to readers, it changed in #8 of the 2008 Aquaman series. In this version, Black Manta was a troubled autistic child who was held in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum. He was subject to many harsh experimental treatments, but found comfort in water and was fascinated by Aquaman when he saw him on television. One experiment appeared to work on him, but it made him violent, and he killed the experiment’s conductor and escaped from the asylum.

His backstory changed again in the New 52 era, and this version is closest to his origin in the film. In this version, Black Manta was a mercenary hired to find a young Arthur Curry and steal a sample of his blood. During the attempt to steal his blood, Thomas, Arthur’s father, intervened and died from a heart attack. Arthur blamed Manta for his father’s death and attacked a boat he thought Black Manta was on, but accidentally killed his father instead. After killing each other’s fathers, Arthur and Manta became intertwined in a vicious cycle of vengeance and hatred.

Black Manta’s Black Trident Explained

The latest trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom teased the Black Trident, Black Manta’s mysterious, but dominating weapon. The weapon has a historical past, as the trailer teased its dark mystical abilities and capability to corrupt those around it. In the trailer, Orm, a.k.a Ocean Master, explains that during Atlan’s reign, there were seven kingdoms, and the Black Trident was a curse among them all. It’s not revealed who wielded it, just that it has cursed powers. So, it appears that Black Manta will acquire it somehow, but it could have a few connections to the comics.

The trident could be related to Triton, the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. In the comics, Triton has his own trident as many Atlanteans do, but he appears shaded and darker than many others. It’s possible Manta will seek Triton out and could either steal the trident from him or find out its location. There is also the possibility that David might find the location of the trident and restore it to its corrupt glory using Atlantean technology. That’s what his suit is built from and may be what restores the trident.

Black Manta’s Role In Aquaman 2 Explained

In Aquaman, Black Manta’s suit was severely damaged by Aquaman, and he was sent flailing into the sea. He was saved by Randall Park’s Dr. Stephen Shin, but he was left wounded and humiliated. David is now on a path of vengeance and wants to destroy not only Arthur but his family and his kingdom. He is more powerful than ever and is also leading a group of mercenaries on a mission to destroy Atlantis.

Arthur is now a father, husband, and king who seems to have a perfect life before Black Manta returns. After seeing how dangerous Manta is now, he seeks help from his brother, who is now imprisoned for his actions in the previous film. The two will have to put their bitter rivalry aside to team up and save their world from Black Manta’s fury. This sequel will be the final DCEU film before the universe is rebooted by James Gunn in 2025. This could be Jason Momoa’s last adventure as Aquaman, and Black Manta will be his most dangerous opponent yet in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.