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

The role a father plays in his son’s life is a huge connecting thread with Black Manta and Aquaman. In an interesting turn of events Black Manta is told he, himself, has a son, and goes on a mission to reunite with his offspring. In true comic book fashion, Black Manta is able to track down his son, only to realize that he has been taken in by a nice couple in New Mexico, and is going under the name Jackson Hyde.

Infuriated, Manta tries to murder Jackson’s adoptive father but is stopped by Jackson himself, who uses his ability to create hard-water constructs to defend against the attack. Manta makes a second attempt at Jackson’s father’s life, only to be stopped by Aquaman. Together Aquaman and Jackson fend off Black Manta, but only for a short while. Black Manta tracks down Aquaman again, severing his hand, and when he goes to deliver the death blow he is attacked by Jackson. Manta tells his own son that he never meant anything to him, before being forced to retreat. Eventually Aquaman takes in Jackson as his protégé and christens him the new Aqualad, something that Black Manta will never forgive.