Black Manta’s New Quest Sets the World on Fire in Stunning Cover Art

Warning: contains preview pages for Black Manta #4!

In recent months, Black Manta has walked a thin line between good and evil, in pursuit of a mysterious metal that kills anyone with Atlantean DNA, and in a special variant cover for Black Manta #4, on sale in print and digital December 14, Manta is about to set the world on fire in his pursuit of this deadly substance.

Since his first appearance in 1967’s Aquaman #35, Black Manta has been one of Aquaman’s greatest foes, even going as far as killing the Sea King’s infant son. A ruthless mercenary with an array of high-tech gadgets that allow him to function underwater, Black Manta is also the father of Jackson Hyde, AKA Aqualad. Earlier this year, as part of the celebration of Aquaman’s 80th anniversary, Black Manta received his first-ever series, one that has seen Manta flirt with being a hero. Black Manta and his new sidekick, Gallous Goat, are tracking an elusive new underwater villain calling himself Devil Ray. Both Black Manta and Devil Ray are seeking a mysterious element called Orichalcum, which can kill a person with just a sliver of Atlantean DNA. When Manta was exposed to the metal, he was shocked to see it affected him, meaning he has Atlantean heritage. In a desperate search for both Devil Ray and the key to his past, Manta has met the mysterious Torrid, who, in a preview for Black Manta #4, points the villain to a mysterious sorcerer who may be able to help; Manta is not hopeful at the prospect of the wizard cooperating and is prepared for battle. The issue is written by Chuck Brown with art by Valentine De Landro and Matthew Dow Smith.

DC Comics provided AIPT with preview pages for the issue, shared below, as well as a look at the issue’s two covers. In a variant cover, by artist Sanford Greene, Black Manta is coming straight at the reader, both guns in the air, ready for battle. Behind him are flaming ruins—clearly Manta has been cleaning house.

The revelation that he has Atlantean DNA shocked Black Manta to his core, sending him on a quest through time and space to discover the truth. Along the way, Black Manta has taken on a sidekick—something the villain would never have done in the past. It might seem Black Manta is turning into a good guy, but at the end of the preview, he is fully ready to attack, and hurt, the Atlantean wizard if the wizard does not cooperate—hardly the act of a hero. No one, not Goat, Torrid or Devil Ray, is going to stop Manta from unlocking the secrets of not only his past, but also the Orichalcum metal, and Sanford Greene’s variant captures Manta’s drive and resolve perfectly.

The past few months have upended everything Black Manta thought he knew about himself, leading the villain on a quest through time, space and self and this special variant cover for Black Manta #4 shows the lengths he will go to find the answers he seeks.

Source: AIPT

About The Author

Shaun Corley
(1387 Articles Published)

Shaun Corley is a pop culture enthusiast living in the Pacific Northwest. After stints in both customer service and academia, he’s turned his attention to writing about comic books–his lifelong passion. He is a graduate of Radford University, with a degree in English. When not reading comics, he enjoys spending time with his fiance and their dog.

More From Shaun Corley