8 Things You Didn't Know About DC's Black Manta

To know your strengths is to understand your weaknesses. This is the idea Black Manta had when he donned his iconic garb to do battle with Aquaman. Manta’s suit allows him to travel to dangerous depths, helps him breath underwater, and is near impenetrable. It allows him to fight the much more powerful Aquaman as an equal, and weapons such as his dual knives, or harpoon, have been known to do some damage when used. Part of what makes Manta so ruthless is he is just an ordinary man, with some extraordinary skills.

That was until veteran comic book writer Mark Waid published Underworld Unleashed, in 1995. In the book, the sinister demon Neron makes his presence known. The “Lord of Lies” Neron, is known for making “deals”. He grants the wish maker’s deepest desires, at the cost of their soul. Black Manta, having no real powers, exchanges his soul for the ability to become half man, half manta ray. In this form, Manta gained further advantage over Aquaman, and didn’t need a suit to achieve it. In an ironic twist, it is Aquaman who manages to change Manta back, and heal his sadistic nature… if only for a bit.