Black Manta #1

Writer: Chuck Brown Artist: Valentine De Landro Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: September 8, 2021 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 13 User Reviews: 18
7.2Critic Rating
6.9User Rating

Following his appearance in the Aquaman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular, the scourge of the seas now gets his own series. Black Manta is chasing a rare metal with incredible powers, and he’s not the only one who wants to get his hands on it, friend and foe alike! Torrid is a former ally who has escaped hell (literally!) to answer the call of the metal, but can Manta trust her? Hopefully so because he might need her help to fend off Devil Ray, a new competitor for the role of the biggest villain underwater. INTRODUCING NEW HERO TORRID AND VILLAIN DEVIL RAY!

  • 9.2
    The Super Powered Fancast - Timala Elliott Sep 7, 2021

    Brown has created a compelling introductory chapter for a very promising new series. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comics: The Gathering - Carlos R. Sep 8, 2021

    This was a fantastic opening issue and I’m looking forward to delving further into Black Manta’s character and seeing all the unrelenting action that’s bound to unfold. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    AIPT - Ronnie Gorham Sep 8, 2021

    Black Manta #1 is a great first entry into what's shaping up to be an awesome addition to the mythos of Black Manta. There are a lot of characters coming, both old and new, and I can't wait to see where this series is headed. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    COMICON - Scott Redmond Sep 14, 2021

    Aquaman's arch-enemy gains his own series that throws readers into the deep end while hoping they can stay afloat to see what is next. It's a series that has a dark and sharp edge to it, much like the character that is its main star. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield Sep 7, 2021

    There is a lot going on here, and much of it is completely original stuff Brown is adding to the character's mythology. Valentine De Landro's gritty art is a highlight, and the story is a little scattered but more than compelling enough for me to want to see where the heck Brown is going with this. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    But Why Tho? - William Tucker Sep 7, 2021

    Black Manta #1 is a powerful first issue. Brown embraces the main character for who he is, letting the readers get comfortable with the villain that they know. This is a comic filled with water and piracy, where the assassin feels at home. Yet the story seeks to send him and the audience into uncharted territory. The lack of real information encourages us to read more. Without Aquaman, it will be interesting to see if Black Mata can carry a series on his own. The art team is fantastic for the character and for the dark world this book takes place in. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Black Nerd Problems - Morgan Hampton Sep 8, 2021

    Val Del Andro is doing the damn thing on the art in this debut issue. This promises to be a gritty book, and I think he captures a lot of what that feels like in Manta's design. His hardened face with a scar running down the right side tells the story of a man who you don't want to mess with. Equally, Marissa Louise on the colors has captured lots of muted greens and blues that give off an unsettling feeling. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Multiversity Comics - Gregory Ellner Sep 10, 2021

    Interesting for incoming readers, but perhaps a bit odd on artwork at times, "Black Manta" #1 is worth checking out. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Sep 11, 2021

    This first issue does a good job in setting up what the series is likely going to be. I think we get a good handle on Black Manta and his personality and style. Some of the story and plot elements feel a bit out of place, but I've no doubt they will all make sense as we move forward. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Sep 7, 2021

    Theres a decent subplot here, but Black Mantas debut issue doesnt do enough to sell him or this mini-series as a cant miss read. Read Full Review

  • 5.5
    Weird Science - Jim Werner Sep 7, 2021

    Black Manta #1 is a quick read that sets up a mystery, but a lot of that has to do with a lack of information from Chuck Brown.  I am a dummy, but I usually have a bit of a grasp of what I just read after putting it down.  However, this one had me stumped.  Time will tell whether that is good or bad, but this story might be one to wait on a bit. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    BGCP - Michael Lennox Sep 10, 2021

    I am not sure how some of the sloppy writing and poor artwork got through the supposed rigorous editing that DC is known for (ahem) but this looks like it was scripted and drawn very hastily. It's an OK read but I would have expected more for one of Aquaman's main villains. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    ComicBook.com - Nicole Drum Sep 8, 2021

    While Black Manta #1 possesses some intriguing ideas and an interesting overall premise, the first issue has many moving parts that never offer readers quite enough context to warm up to the mystery this story is establishing. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Toonstrack Sep 8, 2021

    So to start this off I'm dispelling some lies told about this book.

    Black manta is literlly still a villain in this. He isnt fighting oppression, He raids the ship because they stole an artifact from him. He leaves the hostages there to fend for themselves.

    The other three villains building wespons here are also black, as is the new enemy from the end of the issue.


    Our local misanthrope Merlyn literally just made up things to complain about in this review. Like this stuff is objectively false, but thats what happens when you skim a book and just look at the pretty without actually reading it. Its beyond obvious he has some issues when there's mostly black people in a mainline DC book which isn't conne more

    + LikeComments (48)
  • 7.5
    Fracadactyl Sep 7, 2021

    This could become something very interesting. Black Manta's trying to define himself as something other than his rivalry with Aquaman and Jackson. I'm not exactly sure where this is all going to fit in with apparently people including himself tied to some rock, but his piracy business is opening up a bit. The new characters even seem to bounce off of him a bit, so this looks like it could lead to somewhere.

  • 7.0
    Psycamorean Sep 27, 2021

    This wasn't great. It feels like a lot of the mid-tier DC books that DC used to put out before Batman made up half the line. I'm sure some Black Manta fans are very happy, but I'm not a huge fan of this. There is a kernel of a good idea here. I really like the sequence where he kills those human traffickers/slavers and then just leaves the slaves to die. It's a cool inversion of what you'd expect, given the tone and the ongoing narration.

  • 5.5
    daspidaboy Sep 7, 2021

    It's was just ehhhh. I didn't really enjoy this book that much. Call me crazy but I was hoping the art would be great. I am not really that interested in this story to be honest. you dont need to read this.

  • 5.0
    egonnn244 Oct 7, 2021

    "Your children will know only power, not oppression"

    ...ok.

    I have no idea what the hell happened in this issue. Did I miss some preview? Is Black Manta now on a path to replace Aquaman alongside Jackson? I am really confused.

    And when something finally starts making sense, the issue abruptly ends.

    + LikeComments (2)
  • 4.5
    Raging Rainbow Sep 14, 2021

    We have here the first issue of the new Black Manta series that no one, to my mind, asked to see. I'm not against him having a series, but I have to question how this will play out based on what I've seen from this introduction. In case you're wondering: no he does not fight Aquaman in this issue.

    https://youtu.be/TwOfvO6-HV0

  • 4.0
    Merlyn Sep 7, 2021

    Ok so this is clearly a Milestone book since all of the action revolves around black people (the only white people are the villains, of course) and DC should label it as such. I've seen this in the Aquaman anniversary, all of a sudden Black Manta grows a conscience and starts to fight for the people because of course the ruthless mass murderer is now a man of the people since he's black. Race-baiting comic by race-baiting writer, nothing to see here. And of course this review will make me racist from the usual crowd since thought-process isn't something they engage in.

    + LikeComments (4)
  • 10
    JLD Nov 18, 2021

  • 8.0
    Radar Sep 7, 2021

  • 8.0
    tonpas1989 Sep 7, 2021

  • 7.5
    samizrozami Nov 4, 2024

  • 7.5
    KittyNone Sep 11, 2021

  • 7.5
    Adsun22 Sep 8, 2021

  • 7.0
    pizzamain Jan 2, 2022

  • 7.0
    Jason The Dude Sep 13, 2021

  • 6.5
    Joresti Sep 9, 2021

  • 6.0
    Crimson Knight Sep 7, 2021

  • 5.0
    Shy Sep 18, 2021

Reviews for the Week of...

November

October

More