8 Things You Didn't Know About DC's Black Manta
4. Race Bait & Switch
Black Manta was always visually striking. With his giant helmet, glowing red eyes, and sleek body suit, he is malice incarnate. To most readers, knowing the identity or appearance of the man under the mask was unnecessary, as his mystique allowed for an enigmatic villain, with no clear goal besides his hatred of Aquaman.
In 1977, things changed. An entire decade after the character’s debut, it was revealed that underneath the massive headgear was an African American man, who sought to control the seas and use it as a habitat for "his people". Manta believed that he was fighting to shield his people from all oppressors and injustice, and if he was able to take full dominion of the seas, he could build a sanctuary for his race.
“Not that racism is my motive," Manta explained. “There is no profit in prejudice, but since blacks have been suppressed for so long on the surface, they fight well for a chance to be “masters” below.” This is one of the rare instances of a white comic book character having a high profile black arch-nemesis. Black Manta has continued to be portrayed as African American going forward.