Black Manta, Movie Star

As all Aqua-Fans have heard by now, it's been reported that Black Manta will indeed be the villain in the 2018 Aquaman movie. I don't think this comes as a big surprise to anyone, since he is by far the Sea King's most famous foe, comes with a cool handle (let's face it, "Ocean Master" elicits a snicker), and it gives the filmmakers the chance to come up with a really cool voice modulator! Seriously, after Challenge of the Super Friends, James Wan and co. have their work cut out them.

Who does everyone want to see play Manta? My first instinct would be the intense and charismatic Chiwetel Ejiofor, but Marvel has him wrapped up across the street as Baron Mordo in Doctor Strange. Although, if JK Simmons can go from The Daily Bugle to the GCPD, then who knows?

Aquaman (Vol.9) #1

"The Drowning Part One: The End of Fear" by Dan Abnett, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessey, and Gabe Eltaeb.

Since I had the good fortune to read Aquaman #1 ahead of its release, this post is coming much sooner than the Shrine's issue reviews normally do. To that end, I decided to change things up a bit by skipping a detailed plot synopsis (and the accompanying spoilers) and just going right to what I thought of it.

Building upon what he laid down in the last few issues of the last Aquaman series and Rebirth #1, this newest Aquaman title features Dan Abnett giving us a Sea King and Queen who are playing host--both to the Surface Dwellers who are visiting Spindrift Station for the first time and any potential new readers who are giving a Aquaman comic a try for the first time.

Aquaman's #1 foe, Black Manta is on hand again. But instead of just trying to kill the Sea King, he has a more long game plan in mind--destroying Aquaman's image to the world, just as he is trying to rebuild it after the events in "Throne of Atlantis." The Surface World has always been iffy on Aquaman (shown here, from multiple POVs), so Manta figures he'll let that distrust do the work for him. After so many failed attempts at killing his arch foe, I'm happy to see Manta trying something new!

I think I've said it every month since its introduction, but I really like the addition of Spindrift Station. It helps cement Aquaman in one location, something his fellow JLAers have taken advantage of for decades. It doesn't mean Arthur has to be stuck to it, but I think it's an ideal way to set up stories, add in supporting characters, and give Aquaman and Mera a consistent place to engage in superheroics without being bogged down with Atlantean politics (those damn Plankton Farmers!). I was happy to see this whole issue taking place there, though I think they need to work on their internal security a bit more.

Art wise, I thought Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessey made a solid team (assisted on the colors by Gabe Eltaeb). Walker's Aquaman is a bit leaner than some previous Aquamen, almost Aparo-esque, fitting for someone who swims as much as he does (Aquaman, not Aparo). Mera is, of course, stunningly beautiful, but they stay away from the Lady Death-esque proportions that I think got out of hand in the last couple issues of the previous series. With Aquaman shipping twice a month, it will be interesting to see how the book holds up visually, from issue to issue, with the different art teams. Walker is pretty good at giving his characters distinct facial reactions, something other than the gritted teeth thing that is most superheroes' stock in trade. 

Overall, I liked this new Aquaman #1 very much. Abnett isn't trying to reinvent the wheel here (thank Neptune), but from his other comic work we all know he is quite capable of finding new and interesting ways of using the toys the DC and Marvel superhero universes offer, and I fully expect that combo of realizing what worked before/finding new things to do to continue.

Now let's see if we can get this Aquaman series to issue #76!

Aquaman #1 is on sale now.

Imaginext DC Super Heroes & Villains

It started out humbly, but over the years Fisher Price's Imaginext line has really grown into something remarkable, when it comes to translating some of the more fun parts of the DCU into plastic form.

Case in point, this set, which could easily be called "Brave and the Bold"--Batman and Aquaman teaming-up against two of their most fearsome foes, Killer Croc and Black Manta, complete with mechanical shark!

DC may have given up the ghost when it comes to the Super Friends brand, but Fisher Price just keeps chugging along.

The Amazing Adventures of Superman!: Bubble Trouble!

There's a new series of chapter books starring The Man of Steel called The Amazing Adventures of Superman!, produced by Picture Window Books, a division of Capstone Publishing. As many of you know, Capstone has been responsible for a great many books featuring DC heroes, including Aquaman!

As you can see above, this installment of the series features the Sea King in team-up action with Superman. The story starts in Metropolis, when mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent spots giant bubbles floating over the city! Changing into Superman to investigate, he learns this yet another nefarious plot by the villainous Black Manta.

Manta's bubbles are even picking up various creatures of the sea, so when Superman gets involved, he sees that his old pal Aquaman is already on the case! Together, they team-up to defeat Manta, with everything returned to normal.

"Bubble Trouble!" is written by Benjamin Bird, with art by Tim Levins, whose clean style is perfect for this book, reminiscent of the classic JLU "Timm-verse."

There are a number of books in this series, many of them featuring guest appearances by other members of the DCU. Capstone more than most licensors seem to be devoted to giving Aquaman a spotlight, making them very popular here on the Shrine! If you have kids (or heck, even if you don't), make sure you pick this book up!



Post Script: Yes, the Shrine is still officially on vacation. But since Capstone was nice enough to send me a copy of this (and a few other books), I thought the least I could do was read and review it in a timely manner. Thanks Capstone!

Common as Black Manta?

The Hollywood Reporter has run a story staying that singer/actor/Oscar winner Common has joined the cast of WB's Suicide Squad movie, playing an as yet unspecified role.

Considering that Black Manta is part of the current Suicide Squad book, and that Common is an avowed Aquaman fan (something the Shrine mentioned way back in 2009!), it doesn't take a huge leap of faith to suggest he's playing the Sea King's number one foe, which of course might also mean he's being set up to appear in 2018's Aquaman solo film.

Outrageous!

Aquaman Episode 23 - The Devil Fish

Aquaman Episode 23 - "The Devil Fish" by ?

Aquaman and Aqualad get a message about some trouble, which is arriving via dolphin courier. Aquaman heads out, and uses a flashlight to signal he is there. Waiting for him is test pilot Mark Bartholomew, piloting an experimental seacraft known as The Devil Fish. The Navy has asked Aquaman to watch out while the ship does its test trials.

Neither Aquaman or Bartholomew realize that they are being spied upon by one of Black Manta's Manta Men, who takes this news back to his boss.

Black Manta takes one look at the Devil Fish and declares he must have it. While one of its runs, the ship is caught by Black Manta's paralysis ray. Bartholomew calls for help, and Aquaman and Aqualad are attacked by a horse of Manta Men!

Bartholomew tries to help out by chasing after Manta's ship into a whirlpool, despite Aquaman telling him not to. Bartholomew is knocked out, and the ship is dragged to a dock where Black Manta tries to kidnap him. Aquaman and Aqualad follow, dealing with the Manta Men by being faster and smarter:

Bartholomew wakes up and pilots the Devil Fish into one of the dock's stone pillars, causing it to collapse. He then takes off on Aquaman's orders, who commands some whales to knock a giant boulder into the entrance of Manta's hideout. Bartholomew and the Devil Fish are now safe, Black Manta has been stopped, which means we've reached...The End!

There's a lot of fun stuff here, from Aquaman's first meeting with Bartholomew (which takes place at night, a nice touch), to all the different ways Aquaman and Aqualad take care of the Manta Men. They are a generally hapless bunch, but as presented here Black Manta is barely more competent. Visually they're a blast to watch in action, because they're just so creepy looking.

For some reason, this episode features no writing credit and I couldn't find it anywhere online. Let's just say this was the work of Bob Haney and call it a day!

Challenge of the Super Friends Storyboards by Alex Toth

Check out these super-cool storyboards for episode 9 of Challenge of the Super Friends, "Revenge on Gorilla City" by the master, Alex Toth. Toth's little thumbnails were so beautiful, so full of life, that sometimes I think you could just print them all and release them as comic books, full stop.

I love how much energy and character Toth managed to put into the faces of Giganta and Grodd, and how simply rendered Black Manta's chrome dome is. They are a pure pleasure to look at.

Aquaman Episode 1: Menace of the Black Manta

Aquaman Episode 1: "Menace of the Black Manta" by Bob Haney

Welcome to our new Sunday feature, Saturday Morning Sundays, where we will take a look back the Aquaman animated series by Filmation, which ran from 1968-1969, as part of the Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure!

This first episode kicks off with Aquaman's (then, and arguably still) #1 foe, Black Manta, skimming the bottom of the seas in his fearsome Manta Ship:

Manta spies on our heroes, Aquaman, Aqualad, Mera, and Tusky the Walrus, as plans his attack. Having attached an antenna to a nearby whale, Manta emits a transmission, causing the whale to go wild! Aquaman's finny friends try to warn him of danger, and they go an investigate.

Aquaman tries to calm the whale down, to no effect. After Mera is knocked off her steed into the mouth of a giant clam, Aquaman orders a hammerhead shark to smash the antenna on Manta's ship, breaking the transmission and calming the whale down. Next, Manta sends out a small band of his really creepy-looking Manta Men.

Aquaman and Aqualad fight them off, but Manta keeps attacking: using various powerful beams of energy, Manta has different sea creatures grow out of control in size and become deadly. They free themselves, only to see that Manta has spun a large net of coral with which to trap nearby ships. Aquaman again uses his telepathic powers to have some swordfish cut the net loose.

Aquaman and Aqualad then use the coral to trap the Manta Men. Black Manta follows our heroes into a canyon, where his ship gets caught between to cliffs. Now it's time for Aquaman and Black Manta to fight mano-a-mano:

After a brief fight, Manta falls into a nearby whirlpool. Aqualad thinks he's gone forever, but Aquaman is none too sure. After freeing the still-trapped Mera, who has to play catch up, we have reached...The End!

This first episode of the series--written by then-Aquaman scribe Bob Haney--establishes the necessary template that Filmation would follow for the remaining episodes. At only seven minutes each, there's virtually no time for set-up or characterization (not that there would have been even if there had been time): a villain appears, attacks Aquaman, there's some initial setbacks, and then the heroes triumph in the end. Filmation's visual imagination is on full display here, with the really cool Manta Men and bright, dazzling colors. 

This show aired in tandem with Super Friends way back in the early 1970s, and it was my first true introduction to the character. And what an introduction! Aquaman (voiced by Marvin Miller) is the epitome of a can-do hero: never flustered, brave, powerful, and kind to his sidekick Aqualad, steed Storm, and partner/wife Mera (though here on the show she seems more of an equal to Aqualad, and no relationship between the two is ever suggested). Aquaman the series is essentially the Haney/Cardy era of the Aquaman comic book brought to life.

For some reason, despite the Shrine being eight years old, I never did quite get around to covering the show in detail. So when Adventure Sundays started winding down and I wanted something equally fun and light-hearted to replace it, I realized than an episode-by-episode look at the show that kicked off my Aqua-Fandom would fit the bill. I hope you all enjoy and let the Shrine know what you thought of the show!

 

Suicide Squad #1 - Sept. 2014

Comics Weekend "Pure Insanity" by Sean Ryan, Jeremy Roberts, and Blond.

I'll admit up front: a book where the villains are the protagonists generally holds no interest for me (never has, really), but I was curious enough about Suicide Squad #1 because of Black Manta's ongoing presence that I thought the Shrine should give at least the first issue a look.

#1 opens with two government agents discussing this whole new Suicide Squad initiative (one of them being Vic Sage, aka The Question), which they call Task Force XL. They seem positively giddy about how effective his team might be, as opposed to 25% Amanda Waller, who declares "This is going to be a disaster."

At first blush, it feels like Waller is right, for when we join the Squad in Moscow, and they're not quite getting along:

Later, Sage and Waller discuss the new team, calmly, almost blandly, while the Squad itself goes on an orgy of violence that makes one long for the Comics Code (somebody call Chuck Dixon!). Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Joker's Daughter, and Black Manta hack and slash their way through an office building, home to a company called M.A.R.S. Systems:

Suddenly, there's gunfire aimed at the Suicide Squad, fired by three giant armed Russians, who tell the bad guys to stand down or "You will be obliterated." To be contnued!


Not a whole lot to this first issue--it's basically just a two-hander, toggling back and forth between Waller/Sage and the Squad brutally murdering people left and right. I guess, with this line-up of characters, one can't be surprised that that's what happens, and Black Manta goes get a few moments here and there to be more than just a guy who eviscerates people. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to continue with the title, but it's another indication how big the Aquaman Family of characters has become, that even one of his villains now has a regular berth in the New 52.

Black Manta @ The 2014 NYCC

Black Manta was spotted at the New York Comic Con Special Edition last weekend! Someone head over to the Hudson River and alert Aquaman!

Aquaman Across The DCU

Aquaman and Black Manta are all over the DCU lately; this week they appear in Justice League #30 and Forever Evil #7, respectively. They don't get to do too much in either, but the Shrine still thought it was worth a quick look. This one passage involving Manta we thought was particularly interesting:

 

Ancient Doguu or Black Manta?

Was/is Black Manta real? Check out this alarming evidence involving undersea rock formations, possible alien visitors, and an ancient statue that just happens to bear a striking resemblance to a certain helmeted bad guy!

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Abel Padilla)

Total Heroes Black Manta

Here are some pics of a brand-new Black Manta figure, part of the DC/Mattel Total Heroes line which previewed at the 2013 NYCC, set for release next year. Not sure what other figures are part of this line, but mostly I'm distracted by Manta's extra, super-angry head.

(h/t: F.O.A.M.er Curtis Myer and Toyark)

Aquaman (Vol.8) #23.1 - Nov. 2013

"Sea Change" by Geoff Johns, Tony Bedard, and Claude St. Aubin.

Aquaman gets the month off (sort of), giving Black Manta his first-ever shot at solo-star status. The book opens in Belle Reve prison:

50% Amanda Waller doesn't believe that killing Aquaman is all Manta really wants to do, and is prepared to offer him a special deal. But just then, a series of explosions go off--Belle Reve is under attack!

Waller leaves, with two armed guards in charge. But they aren't much match for the being who is looking for Black Manta:

Both Manta and Ocean Master escape, with many of the bad guys grouped together to be introduced to their new masters, the Crime Syndicate, who boast to have killed the Justice League!

Manta, now in possession of Aquaman's trident, storms off, diving into the sea:

Manta surfaces in Massachusetts, to visit his father's grave. With news of Aquaman being dead, Manta tearfully says "It's over."

Just at that moment, however, Ultraman--not the brains of the team--decides to move the moon in front of the sun, which of course causes massive tidal waves, so much so that Manta's father's grave is flooded, causing the body to float away (as well as killing many innocent people). Manta, enraged all over again, has a new place to aim his hate: at the Crime Syndicate!

...to be continued in Forever Evil!


My first thought after reading this issue, is that I enjoyed the hallowed tradition of making Ultraman the lunkhead of the Crime Syndicate. His cruelty and carelessness reaches epic proportions here, and I'd enjoy seeing Black Manta jam Aquaman's trident where the too-bright-sun don't shine.

This issue features an inadvertent spoiler, in that it clearly takes place after the events of Aquaman #23, where Scavenger's future seemed uncertain. But here he is, hanging out with the other bad guys. Not that it's a surprise that he did survive, or that I'm anything but glad about that!

Imaginext: Black Manta

F.O.A.M.er Eric Stettmeier caught this little item over on Target.com, so presumably it's also on sale in stores as well: an Imaginext Black Manta set!

You may not remember, but it was due to the grassroots efforts spearheaded by F.O.A.M.er Brent Almond that got Fisher Price to make an Imaginext Aquaman in the first place, after imporing them to on their website The fact that they've now made a villain to go along with him must mean that Imaginext Aquaman was a pretty big hit! Brent take a bow!

Great catch Eric, thanks, and congrats Brent!

Aquaman Art Gallery: C.J. Duke

Time for another visit to The Aquaman Art Gallery! This piece is by C.J. Duke, which features Black Manta in what looks like an alt, Hanna Barbera-produced version Apocalypse Now.

I imagine Manta is the kind of guy who thinks napalm smells like victory, assuming he can smell anything in that giant dome of his.