Black Manta #3 is an issue of the series Black Manta (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2022. It was published on November 9, 2021.
Synopsis for "Assassin of the Sea, Part Three"
It is revealed that the exploding water duplicates, including the one in the Boston prison cell, were created by Blue, now calling himself "Devil Ray", from his hideout using his Orichalcum. He senses Black Manta also trying to access the Orichalcum and decides to step up his plans to destroy the older villain, despite Red and Orange's concerns for the strain he is putting himself under.
Manta and Gallous force Gentleman Ghost to use the Orichalcum to project Manta's consciousness into the distant past to see Atlantis just before the Great Deluge. In a vision, Manta witnesses a tribe of Black Atlanteans lead by Elder Roe abandon the city and flee to their home continent of Africa just before Atlan returns to take revenge on Orin.
On Themyscira, the woman with the Orichalcum necklace sets off for the mainland. Rather than be left behind, the creature from the Underworld that followed her out painfully grows wings to allow it to carry her. Nubia believes that the two are bonded but the woman replies that he is simply transport.
Manta and Gallous fly to Africa to investigate the lost tribe of Atlantis. Along the way they discuss Devil Ray and if he may be trying to supplant Manta. The mysterious woman's necklace leads her to the plane and she and her demon attack them. Manta and Gallous jump out of the plane; Gallous knocks the woman unconscious while Manta forces the demon to crashland in the ocean. Recognising the Orichalcum making up her necklace, he orders Gallous to get the woman to shore while he continues to fight the demon.
In Atlantis, the council meet to discuss the recent bombings and the potential threat of Devil Ray. However, it soon becomes clear that none of the members actually called the meeting and they begin to choke and collapse, poisoned by something in the water. The poison is being released by a seemingly anonomyous soldier and Murk attacks him, damaging a holographic projector on the man's hip. The hologram fails to reveal Devil Ray, wearing an armoured suit similar to Black Manta's.
Appearing in "Assassin of the Sea, Part Three"
Featured Characters:
- Black Manta (Also as a spirit)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Amazons of Themyscira
- Atlanteans
- Deserters (In a vision)
- Elder Roe (First appearance) (In a vision)
- Aqualad (Jackson Hyde) (Mentioned only)
- King Atlan (Mentioned only)
- Captain Demo (Mentioned only)
- Felix Faust (Mentioned only)
- Gods of Olympus (Mentioned only)
- Manta Men (Mentioned only)
- Sam (Real name revealed) (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Shin (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Multiverse
- Devil Ray's Lair/Unnamed Pocket Dimension (First appearance as Devil Ray's Lair)
- Earth 0
- Prehistoric Era
- 21st Century
- Atlantis
- Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa
- Themyscira
- The Shores of Themyscira
- United States of America
- Sphere of the Gods
- Underworld (Mentioned only)
- Hades (Mentioned only)
- Underworld (Mentioned only)
Items:
- Orichalcum
- Trident of Neptune (Mentioned only)
Vehicles:
- Black Manta's Jet
Concepts:
Notes
- Black Manta mentions that he once claimed he wanted to take Atlantis for Black people. This is a reference to the pre-Flashpoint storyline Aquaman: Death of a Prince.
- It is very possible the events of that story, or a close equivalent, are now part of the history of the current universe following the "unknotting" of the timeline and the rebirth of the Multiverse.
See Also