– Black Manta’s real name and origin have been changed several times over the years. In his first appearance in Aquaman #35 (1967), he was simply a nameless pirate who wanted to conquer Atlantis for its advanced technology. Later, in Adventure Comics #452 (1977), he revealed that he was a young African American boy from Baltimore, Maryland, who was kidnapped and forced to work on a ship, where he was abused by his captors. He tried to signal Aquaman for help, but the hero ignored him, thinking he was playing a game. This sparked his hatred for Aquaman and his desire for revenge. In the 1990s, his origin was retconned again, and he was given the name David Hyde. He was now a mercenary who suffered from autism and was experimented on by a scientist who tried to cure him with a serum that gave him enhanced strength and endurance, but also made him more violent and unstable. In the New 52 reboot, his origin was simplified and he was once again a nameless boy who was kidnapped by pirates and trained to be an assassin. He adopted the name Black Manta after killing his first target, an Atlantean.
– Black Manta’s costume and equipment are also very distinctive and have evolved over time. His helmet is shaped like a manta ray’s head and has red eyes that can shoot powerful laser beams. His suit is black and has tubes that allow him to breathe underwater and regulate his body temperature. He also carries various weapons, such as harpoons, knives, grenades, and a trident. In some versions, his suit also has jetpacks that enable him to fly or swim faster.
Some of the most notable events in his history include:

– Killing Aquaman’s infant son, Arthur Jr., by suffocating him in an air bubble.
– Joining the Secret Society of Super-Villains and fighting the Justice League.
– Discovering that he was actually the biological father of Aqualad, Aquaman’s sidekick and protégé.
– Temporarily gaining enhanced strength and telepathy after being mutated by alien technology.
– Becoming the king of Xebel, a rebel colony of Atlanteans, after marrying their princess, Mera’s sister.
– Betraying Xebel and attempting to destroy Atlantis with a doomsday weapon.
– Losing his eye and his son in a battle with Aquaman and Mera.
– Joining Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom and obtaining the Tear of Extinction, a powerful artifact that can kill anything.

Some of the lesser known facts about Black Manta are:

– He was originally created as a one-off villain for an Aquaman comic in 1967, but he proved to be so popular that he was brought back several times.
– He was one of the first black supervillains in mainstream comics, and one of the few who did not have any racial or ethnic stereotypes in his characterization.
– He was inspired by the Creature from the Black Lagoon, a classic horror movie monster.
– He has appeared in various media adaptations, such as cartoons, video games, and movies. He was most recently portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in the 2018 Aquaman film.
– He has a cult-like fan base among some Atlanteans who admire his strength and ambition.

[1] https://www.dccomics.com/characters/black-manta
[2] https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Black_Manta_(Prime_Earth)
[3] https://screenrant.com/black-manta-facts-trivia-aquaman-dc-comics/