Instead readers would have to wait a full 36 years to hear the autistic origin of Black Manta when, in issue 8 of the mainline 2003 Aquaman run (in the story, titled ‘ Paint it Black!’), it was revealed that, before Black Manta was Black Manta: ruthless treasure hunter and mercenary, he was David Hyde: an autistic orphan who had been sent to Arkham’s Asylum for the Criminally Insane – due to a low understanding of autism in the 80s. Dressed in a full black diving suit, an oversized silver helmet with large white eyes and commanding a team of… ‘Manta-Men’, there wasn’t much to be gauged from Black Manta’s initial introduction, other than that the villain despised Aquaman and he was going to use his superhuman strength and the heat-beams from his helmet to create chaos in Atlantis.Īt this point in history, autism was far from the public’s consciousness, so it’s little wonder why, when the villain was initially revealed, there was no mention of his experience of the condition. When Black Manta first appeared in 1967s Aquaman issue 35 (an issue which opens with the line ‘Holy Haddock!’), little was known about the manta ray-themed menace.
The Bizarre Autistic Origin of Black Manta: However, while Black Manta’s monstrous acts will be hard to forget by comic aficionados worldwide, it’s his legacy within the autistic community that demonstrates the true danger this dastardly diver can cause as, yes, Black Manta is Aquaman’s ongoing sparring partner but, also, Black Manta is autistic – or was autistic (let me explain). As the archnemesis of Aquaman since the late 60s, this bug-eyed bad guy has left quite a mark on the King of Atlantis over the years. Black Manta is a character who, more than likely, needs A LOT of introduction.
0 kommentar(er)
