- "You're the guy from the sub."
- "That's right. But now I have Atlantean steel. Call me "Black Manta"."
- —Aquaman and Black Manta[src]
The Black Manta Suit was a specialized diving suit outfitted with Atlantean technology, used by David Kane.[1]
History[]
First Suit[]
Creation[]
- "You were defeated the last time because your surface weapons failed you. Ours will not."
- ―Orm Marius to David Kane[src]
David making the first suit.
David Kane, a former pirate seeking revenge against the Aquaman for the death of his father, allied with King Orm, who was preparing his war plans against the surface. The Atlantean monarch informed David that human weaponry was useless against Atlanteans, thus he provided the oceanic mercenary with a prototype battle suit for Atlantean infantry and a powerful hydro-pulse rifle that converted water into beams of plasma.
David, a skilled engineer, retrofitted the equipment for his own use, repainting the armor black and installing the plasma cannon into a helmet, allowing him to fire plasma bursts from the helmet's "eyes". He also outfitted his suit with thruster packs, allowing him limited flight capability. David's first helmet design proved to be too small to contain the plasma beams, so he made it bigger. David also installed a miniature harpoon launcher with a grappling line that could also be charged with plasma energy.
Once the suit was completed, David dubbed himself "Black Manta" in honor of his grandfather, who was nicknamed "Manta" while serving as a U.S. Navy frogman during World War II.
Attack on Sicily[]
- "Call me "Black Manta"."
- ―Black Manta to Arthur Curry[src]
David, now as Black Manta as he has put on his suit, confronts Arthur Curry.
Black Manta ambushed Arthur and Mera while they were searching for clues to the Trident of Atlan in Sicily, Italy. The armor's enhanced strength and weaponry allowed Black Manta to overpower Aquaman, using the optical lasers to blast away his enemy. Before Black Manta could finish off Aquaman, however, the suit was damaged by Mera, after which Aquaman threw a pair of chained stone balls directly into the helmet right as Manta was about to fire another plasma blast, causing an explosion that threw Manta off a cliff and heavily damaged the suit.
Damaged[]
The Black Manta suit, now badly damaged.
- "This is Atlantean technology, isn't it? Can you tell me how you got this?"
- ―Stephen Shin to David Kane[src]
Sometime later, Dr. Stephen Shin found David stranded on the ocean and took the chance to study the suit, which he identified as Atlantean technology. While most of the suit was broken, the optical lasers were still functional.
Second Suit[]
Reconstruction[]
To be added
Equipment and Capabilities[]
Original Armor[]
- Rebreather Helmet: Black Manta used a specialized rebreather helmet that allowed him to easily transition between different pressurized environments while operating in the seas.
- Wrist Blade/Retractable Blade Gauntlet: In his left bracer, Black Manta used a retractable steel blade for close-range combat. He attempted to use this against Aquaman.
Upgraded Armor[]
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- Self-Contained Life Support /Environmental Protection: The suit is completely sealed for operations underwater, providing its life support.[1]
- Superhuman Strength: Because David modified his diving equipment with the Atlantean armor pieces, it gave him augmented strength to match Aquaman's strength in hand-to-hand combat.
- Superhuman Speed: The suit allowed David to fly due to the built-in thrusters that David modified from the Plasma Cannon.
- Superhuman Durability: The suit was able to protect David from punches thrown by Aquaman. It's able to withstand immense water pressure due to it being made out of Atlantean steel.
- Helmet: The suit has a modified helmet similar to the ones worn by scuba divers. This is to give his head a certain degree of protection, along with hiding his identity.
Manta's helmet beams
- Manta Rays: The suit initially came with a hydro-pulse rifle that had enough firepower to blow apart a small reef, by converting water into ionized plasma. David modified it to fit into the eyes of the suit's helmet, now capable of projecting thick beams of fiery red energy. The sheer power of the lasers required the helmet to be made bigger to prevent it from being melted by the lasers.[1]
- Aquatic Respiration: The helmet allows Black Manta to survive underwater for an undefined amount of time.[1]
- Flight: The suit possesses a jetpack and numerous thrusters throughout the suit that allow Black Manta to propel himself at high speeds in water, jump immense vertical distances as well as allow him to fly or hover in place.[1]
- Grappling Anchor: On the right gauntlet, the suit possesses a grappling line that can anchor and tether the user to the surface fired at.[1]
- Atlantean Steel Blades: Able to harm even Atlantean Royals, the left gauntlet holds a retractable blade that can be detached and used as a dagger. Another is kept in its sheath for later use.[1]
- Cable Hook: The left wrist gauntlet came equipped with a linear fiber cable attached to an Atlantean-tipped spearhead. Manta had modified this weapon by incorporating an energy conduit through the cable, allowing him to electrify both the mini-lance and its harpoon thread when latched into a target.[1]
- Electrified Harpoon Cable: A high-velocity harpoon capable of generating enough electricity to stun Aquaman. Black Manta used this to stun Aquaman during their second encounter.[1]
Rebuilt Armour[]
- Life Support and Environmental Protection: Much like his battle armor, his new suit was capable of withstanding the enormous pressure of the ocean depths such as during the Orichalcum Heist. Granting him life support when fighting underwater.
- Helmet: His new helmet resembles the old, albeit larger with more pronounced features and a pair of twin tubes running down into his jetpack. It conceals his identity as well as acts as extra protection against combatants.
- Manta Rays: His new suit offers a more potent form of plasma beams, capable of severely burning Atlantean flesh. When used on conventional targets it is capable of creating explosions on impact.
- Flight: His jetpack is capable of both flight on land and propulsion within the ocean's depths, allowing him to swiftly escape from an enraged Aquaman.
- Cable Hook: He used a harpoon laden cable to escape onto his Submarine, this is fired from his gauntlet.
- Electrified Harpoon Cable: He used this to incapacitate Stephen Shin after his betrayal.
- Sheathe: His new suit contains a sheathe from which he stores the two halves of the Black Trident when not in use.
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