Black Manta is arguably AquaChuck's greatest foe, rivaled only by Ocean Master. While Black Manta's real name remains a mystery, what is known is that he has spent most of his adult life as a pirate and plunderer of sunken vessels throughout the world. Virtually nothing is known of this supervillain inside his advanced wetsuit. On the outside however, Black Manta's suit contains a miniature oxygen regulator and propulsion pack, allowing him to survive the crushing pressures of the ocean deep for extended periods of time. He is wanted by many nations for his piracy and is not above sinking ships to claim the contents of their holds. His illegal salvaging and complete lack of respect for the sea have made him a constant target for Aquaman. Black Manta's greatest triumph was in fact the Sea King's greatest tragedy. It was Black Manta who was directly involved in the death of AquaChuck's son, Arthur Jr. This earned him AC's eternal vengeance. Black Manta generally serves as Lex Luthor's lieutenant, and the Legion of Doom recognizes him as their second-in-command. Black Manta's real secret was not revealed until AC's foe the Shark usurped the Sea King's throne and enlisted several of Aquaman's old adversaries to discredit him in the eyes of his people. It was during AC's next encounter with his foe, that the Black Manta removed his helmet revealing that he was a black man. Although his intentions were honorable, his methodology was not. Black Manta's ideal was that the black man would never gain equality on land, but he was willing to make him supreme beneath the sea by any means necessary. He forced ACto battle his partner Aqualad for the life of his son, and even though the two heroes managed to escape the arena that imprisoned them, the Sea King's son was killed, his marriage destroyed along with his friendship with Aqualad.