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A conversation with Devil Ray revealed that Black Manta was an inspiration for people of color simply because he exists.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers from Black Manta #5, on sale now.
In Black Manta #5 (by Chuck Brown, Valentine de Landro, Marissa Louise, Clayton Cowles), after finally getting a chance to speak with Devil Ray, Black Manta learned that he unintentionally inspired the young man to be a villain. In the eyes of a young Devil Ray, he saw himself in Manta, a Black man fighting back against gods who walk the Earth as heroes. It highlights how people wish to see themselves reflected in their heroes, even if those heroes turn out to be villains.
Black Manta is the first to admit that he didn’t ask to be anyone’s role model, claiming Devil Ray made his own choices to train himself as a villain and then seek out employment as one of Manta’s Manta Men. Devil Ray countered by saying his early admiration of Manta wasn’t a choice so much as an inevitability. This short conversation brings up the recent acknowledgement in comics that readers want to see themselves represented on the page. Not everyone can look at Superman and see themselves. Manta, while villainous by nature, is a role model to people of color in the DCU because his struggles are against oppression while simultaneously challenging the greater powers that be.
However, it also brings up an interesting point: Devil Ray only admired Manta because he was the only person he could see himself in. At the time of his debut in 1967’s Aquaman #35 (by Bob Haney, Nick Cardy), Black Manta was one of only a handful of black characters active in the DC Universe. In fact, Black Manta predates DC’s first black superhero, John Stewart, by four years. This means that not only in the chronology of the DC Universe, but also real life, Black Manta would have been one of the only major black characters to take notice of, and he was a villain.
So, it’s no wonder the young Devil Ray latched onto Manta when he saw him battling the Justice League. It wasn’t because he was fighting for some worthy goal, but because Manta was the only black man Devil Ray could see that rose to prominence, something he wouldn’t have thought possible for himself. It’s something many readers of DC comics had to contend with in decades past. The desire to see oneself on the pages, yet only finding offensive or negative portrayals. This is a problem in comics that is being addressed more and more.
Positive role models can be wonderful guides to better futures as young people follow their examples. However, their must be something that connects them to said role model. Looking similar to them may sound trivial, but it turns that person into living proof that success is possible. Manta may be a murderous villain, but he is very successful at what he does. Fortunately, more and more diverse characters are being introduced everyday. John Stewart was the vanguard for a new generation of heroes that could inspire people of color everywhere. Currently, heroes like Black Lightning, Steel, Jessica Cruz, and Simon Baz continue to blaze new trails for diversity and representation in DC comic books. Readers are finally seeing themselves on the pages that they love.
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