- ❝ David, it's not always about you. ❞
- — Aquaman
Black Manta is a minor character on Harley Quinn. He is a member of the Legion of Doom and the archenemy of Aquaman.
Appearance[]
Black Manta is never shown outside his deep-sea suit, leaving his physical features unknown. However, it can be inferred that he is African-American (given that this is a hallmark of his character in the comic books and on account of Dr. Psycho's racially derogatory jokes towards him). His scuba suit is a Navy Blue, segmented, form-fitting outfit with dark blue colored shoulder guards, arm plates, neck brace, crotch, and a diamond shape on his chest that stretches towards his naval area with a stripe. Several magenta-colored stripes surround various parts of his suit: one for each shoulder, two for each thigh, one stripe surrounding his belt region, two stripes beneath his torso, and two more falling vertically around his neck. His most significant feature is his bulbous, ovoid-shaped helmet with similarly shaped magenta lenses. Two grey breathing tubes protrude from the back of his helmet and into his back.
Biography[]
Season 1[]
"So You Need a Crew?"[]
- Main article: So You Need a Crew?
Black Manta was featured alongside many of his Legion of Doom teammates in the line-up of prominent villains during the 80s when Queen of Fables told her backstory to Harley Quinn. Later, in the present day, he stood behind Lex Luthor when he announced Doctor Psycho's exclusion from the Legion on live TV.
"L.O.D.R.S.V.P."[]
- Main article: L.O.D.R.S.V.P.
Black Manta fights Aquaman
Black Manta was present at the Legion of Doom's party for prospective new members when Harley Quinn was nominated against KGBeast. When Aquaman crashed the party to get revenge on Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy for stealing from him, Black Manta stepped between them, claiming his fight was with him and mocking him by calling him by his first name, Arthur. Annoyed, Aquaman told him everything wasn't about him, which Black Manta dismissed before attacking him. However, Aquaman knocked him out with a beam from his trident, causing him to crash into Poison Ivy and subduing her. While Black Manta was down, Harley defeated Aquaman and later joined the others in applauding her for her feat. He later clapped as Harley was announced as the new member of the Legion.
"A Seat at the Table"[]
- Main article: A Seat at the Table
Black Manta was there at the Hall of Doom for Harley's official welcoming into the Legion of Doom, where he was later seen mingling with Felix Faust and Scarecrow. He also attended the Legion's weekly pitch meeting and brought bagels for his team mates. However, the Joker angrily threw one in his face, believing he had only brought cinnamon raisins before realizing his mistake.
Season 2[]
"Something Borrowed, Something Green"[]
- Main article: Something Borrowed, Something Green
Black Manta and Tommy Tomorrow at the wedding
Black Manta was a guest at Poison Ivy's disastrous wedding to Kite Man where he was seen mingling with Tommy Tomorrow before the start of the ceremony. After the wedding was hijacked by the GCPD and an enormous fight erupted, he could be seen blasting GCPD trucks while Harley Quinn tried to convince Kite Man and Ivy to remarry.
Season 3[]
"The 83rd Annual Villy Awards"[]
- Main article: The 83rd Annual Villy Awards
Black Manta attended the 83rd Annual Villy Awards, where he shared a table with Captain Cold, Doctor Trap, and Nora Freeze. He was shouted out by Catwoman's speech after she won an award and accused the awards ceremony of only rewarding her because she was black and them not acknowledging black villains in the past, like Black Manta. He was the only one who clapped for her when she left the stage.
Season 4[]
"Gotham's Hottest Hotties"[]
- Main article: Gotham's Hottest Hotties
To be added
"B.I.T.C.H."[]
- Main article: B.I.T.C.H.
To be added
"Getting Ice Dick, Don't Wait Up"[]
- Main article: Getting Ice Dick, Don't Wait Up
To be added
"Metamorphosis"[]
- Main article: Metamorphosis
To be added
"The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise of All Time"[]
- Main article: The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise of All Time
He was briefly seen on the security footage from the day before when Jim Gordon showed it to Harley, as well as in a frozen state kept as a trophy alongside many others like him by a middle-aged Robin 25 years in the future.
"Potato-Based Cloning Incident"[]
- Main article: Potato-Based Cloning Incident
To be added
"Killer's Block"[]
- Main article: Killer's Block
To be added
Personality[]
Not much of his true behavior is known aside from his obvious animosity towards Aquaman, whom he addresses in the first person, and his violent disdain for Dr. Psycho's racist comments.
Media Appearances[]
Season 1
- "So You Need a Crew?" (cameo; flashback and on TV screen)
- "L.O.D.R.S.V.P."
- "A Seat at the Table" (cameo)
Season 2
- "Something Borrowed, Something Green" (cameo)
Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red
Season 3
- "The 83rd Annual Villy Awards" (cameo)
Season 4
- "Gotham's Hottest Hotties" (cameo)
- "B.I.T.C.H." (cameo)
- "Getting Ice Dick, Don't Wait Up" (cameo)
- "Metamorphosis" (cameo)
- "The Most Culturally Impactful Film Franchise of All Time" (cameo)
- "Potato-Based Cloning Incident" (cameo)
- "Killer's Block" (cameo)
- "Pilot, Hell Yeah!"
- "Grand Reopening, Hell Yeah!"
- Sexiest Villain Alive, Hell Yeah! (cameo)
- Impossible Schemes, Hell Yeah!
Trivia[]
- Phil LaMarr's casting as Black Manta is ironic given that he previously voiced Manta's archenemy, Aquaman, on Young Justice.
- LaMarr's casting is also coincidental with the fact that he starred as Black Vulcan on Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. In that show, LaMarr's character resented Aquaman for giving him his superhero name, believing it to be a racial slur.
Gallery[]
- See also: All images of Black Manta
