A conclusion of sorts occurs in the final chapter, one that may seem more a pause in hostilities, but which has a novel solution to seemingly unsolvable problems. He compensates with intricate detail, and both artists have a way with a stunning pin-up image.Īlthough episodic, Black Manta Rising is the second part of a lengthy epic begun in The Drowning, and the entirety of it is very enjoyable, balancing the essence of good superhero material by providing action, puzzles, characterisation and surprises against a credible background. It’s a great influx of credibility to someone so often considered Aquaman’s greatest enemy because the choice is hardly overwhelming.īrad Walker illustrates one episode very nicely, but otherwise the art duties are split between Philippe Briones and Scot Eaton (sample page), both of them very good, although there’s sometimes a stiffness to the way Briones has his characters stand. He’s taken control of an organisation with a world-altering agenda, and one that’s remained secret for a long time, and while his doing so may have been a little too easy, once in charge his effect is horrific. The graphic novel’s title features Black Manta because he has a large part to play. For all the nice touches that feed into the series, however, under Abnett Aquaman is first and foremost a cracking superhero story. This being comics, and superhero comics having a poor track record with such matters, the hope is that it’s not just a set-up for a shock ‘death’ somewhere along the line. Mera plays an almost equal part in the series, and Abnett creates a very convincing loving relationship. We have Mera’s enforced spiritual tutoring, the continuing attention of the Justice League (although some just stand and pose), the adept and credible escalation of political tensions, and the involvement of superstitious belief. The concealment of a menace to Atlantis to provide a surprise revelation in the early stages is just the start. Once again, so much is good about this collection. This isn’t a secret dragged on and on, with the people responsible revealed early, and having very much taken issue with US security protocols, Abnett now reveals that there are equally questionable aspects to the protections of Atlantis. The Drowning established that someone has an agenda to instigate war between Atlantis and the surface world. Whether a villain-based movie can be sold to audiences is still debatable (the success of Venom notwithstanding), but there's no question that Manta's awesome appearance, Abdul-Mateen II's energetic turn in the role and the character's long history in the comics have made him a favorite with moviegoers - even if, as some critics have noted, his appearance in the movie could be considered superfluous to the main plot.Dan Abnett’s opening shot on Aquaman was very good, and Black Manta Rising is slightly better. Johns, in fact, is so enamored with the way Manta turned out that he wants to take the villain to the next level: "There should be a Black Manta movie. It’s like saying Joker without the smile!" Some people were like, you can’t do the big helmet. Once Manta was firmly established to stay in the movie, co-writer David Leslie said that Wan was "very specific about making his look very faithful to the comic." Johns added that portraying Manta without his headgear would be "impossible.It’s like doing a Batman movie without the Batmobile. To further his cause, Manta teams up with Orm and gets outfitted with some snazzy Atlantean weaponry in the process, including his signature helmet. In the film, Black Manta seeks revenge on Aquaman ( Jason Momoa) for the death of Manta's father during a battle with the Atlantean superhero aboard a submarine hijacked by Manta and his band of pirates. I just went to his office and I said, ‘Black Manta has to be in the movie.’ He was like, ‘I know!!!’" Black Manta is one of Aquamans greatest villains. Johns explained, "There was a moment when the script was really going and (director James Wan) texted me or emailed me, and said Black Manta’s story may be too big for this movie. In an interview with Geeks Of Color, DC Comics mainstay and Aquaman co-screenwriter Geoff Johns revealed that Aquaman's helmeted nemesis, played in the film by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, was almost excised during the scriptwriting phase in order to keep the focus on the story's central villain, Aquaman's half-brother Orm ( Patrick Wilson). One of the biggest breakout characters from the new Aquaman movie almost didn't make the final cut.
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