Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Arkham Redemption

This Robot Chicken parody of The Shawshank Redemption is actually pretty funny and has its own surprising twist ending. Poor Batman. "Buffalo wings, do your thing."

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Till Doom Do Us Part

In 2005, Duck Dodgers returned to the world of DC (after the brilliant Green Loontern in 2003), this time paying homage to the Legion of Doom. Dodgers himself dreamed of himself donning a Superman-esque costume reminiscent of that worn years decades earlier in the Looney Tunes episode Stupor Duck - only the 'S' had been upgraded to a 'D.' 

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Invasion of the Fearians

I always loved this one as a kid. I loved how the Legion of Doom was able to trick the Super Friends into using their own powers to destroy the Earth. And I still love it.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Animal Man: Beach

This has to be my favorite Animal Man short so far. Not only did it include Black Manta, one of my all time favorite DC villains, but it was also very funny as it depicted AM's devastation at having failed to save a sand castle for a crab. Buddy Baker's fish style entrance was also classic. It may have only run for 30 seconds, but this was another flawless effort.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Water Beast

So, apparently Black Manta did appear on Super Friends prior to his induction into the Legion of Doom. I have no idea why he was just Manta, or why he opted for olive green garb, yet I must admit in any color I like the swagger in his step.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Silver Sphere

The episode opened with the Lizardmen and Tortoides fighting over a shiny sphere that can magically split rocks. If I were Aquaman (not only would I have the lovely Mera on my arm but), I would take this opportunity to conquer both species under threat of squid attack since that worked so well to settle conflict just a couple episodes back.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Menace of the Black Manta

Not bad. There were a lot of things to like here. First of all, I enjoyed Aquaman's supporting cast. Not only do you get the main hero, but a sidekick with Aqualad (who Aquaman creepily calls "Tadpole"), a superpet with Tusky the Walrus, rideable seahorses Storm and Imp (and Mera's pink horse), and of course the undersea redhead bombshell Mera who even provided a Botticelli Birth of Venus homage as she emerged from giant sea clam. [/wolf whistle] Maybe I just have a thing for fish. Aquaman on the other hand didn't seem to appreciate her very much as he just rode of at the end leaving her behind. Not very chivalrous. I think she could do better (wink wink).

Smallville is Doomed When a Certain Legion Comes to Town

Thanks to Kryptonsite for this nice screen capture from the final two episodes of Smallville. The picture shows members of the Legion of Doom plotting around a table including Solomon Grundy, Dark Archer, Roulette, Black Manta, Captain Cold, and Metallo. Its awesome to see Black Manta in particular in live action. The dude deserves his own spin-off. Oh, and of course thats Toyman on the monitor.

Onscreen History of Black Manta

Although Aquaman's level of street cred has fluctuated over the years, his nemesis, Black Manta has remained a menacing force for evil. Black Manta first appeared onscreen in 1967, the same year as his comic book debut, as a regular foe in the Filmation animated Superman / Aquaman Hour of Adventure series.

El Mantador would next appear as one of the goons in Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom during the Challenge of the Super Friends run in 1978.


It would be over 25 years before the diabolical diver would return. In fact, because of an odd embargo against Aquaman related characters appearing outside of an in development live action Aquaman show titled Mercy Reef, Black Manta's appearances in 2005 during Justice League Unlimited remain unofficial. The character formerly known as Black Manta took the stage name Devil Ray, though the it was pretty obvious who he really was. It really is a shame though that Mercy Reef never got the greenlight as a live action Manta, or as I call him "Sea Vader" could be pretty amazing.


Black Manta officially returned in 2008's Evil Under the Sea! adventure of Batman: The Brave and the Bold. He would make a few follow up appearances including a musical appearance in the acclaimed Music Meister episode.


His parallel Earth, though unnamed counterpart (Orange Manta) also appeared in the Brave and the Bold episode Deep Cover for Batman!


Black Manta appeared in a couple of cameos during animated films. His head floated by in 2008's Justice League: The New Frontier.



And he made a full body appearance in 2009's Superman / Batman: Public Enemies.

Most recently, Black Manta surfaced in Young Justice's Downtime, complete with war machine like shoulder mounted rocket launcher, where he attempted to free Starro from underwater imprisonment. The extent of his nefarious involvement with evil organization The Light remains to be seen.

UPDATE: Before all was said and done, Black Manta made a quick cameo as member of the Legion of Doom in Smallville's penultimate episode, Prophecy