Can Johns elevate Black Manta to A-list villainy like he did with Sinestro?

[FirestormTheNuclearMan]

Alot of fans, including myself, are speculating that it's Scavenger as the "obscure" villain Johns has been teasing(who might show up looking for the trident in "Other League").

I would like to see him modernize/re-invent: Human Flying Fish, Marine Marauder, Fisherman, and Deep Six.

Not in any rush to see Manta and Siren return anytime soon; there are many more characters to be developed. They had a great showing in Brightest Day and should be kept on the back burner for awhile. Ocean Master is more deserving of reaching A-list status as he's always making cameos in huge events(Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis).

I think Fisherman already got a revamp so he wouldn't be a joke anymore.

[FirestormTheNuclearMan]

i cant believe im excited to see Black Manta. Johns did some amazing things with The Flash's and GL's rogues. cant wait for his revamp of Manta. i would shrink that helmet a bit kinda like they did in Young Justice. or maybe even a whole new design.

Hell NO to a whole new design. To change the costume just because Superman , Wonder Woman,etc also get new designs to their costumes is lame.
I would not have a problem with new design costumes for the execrable super villains SignalMan, Calender Man, etc.

[FirestormTheNuclearMan]

^Probably not. He said that he's going to use three Aquaman villains, and then make a bunch of new ones. Black Manta and Ocean Master were the obvious choices, but he's hinted that the third villain was Scavenger. And he is a Silver Age Fanboy after all.

I'm getting a Star Wars vibe off of the Black Manta stuff.

Black Manta being an evil guy who has a good son with great potential and power. Being mentored by his old enemy. Aqualad not knowing that Black Manta was his father, while being raised by a couple out of the way. He also said that he sees Black Manta as a bounty hunter. So... Bobba Fett and Darth Vader? Although, I'm pretty sure someone else already said that.

I always felt that there was a connection between Black Manta, Darth Vader, and the Legion of Doom headquarters.

Interesting analogy.

[paulski]

Can Johns elevate Black Manta to A-list villainy like he did with Sinestro?

IMO, Black Manta's been A-list for a long, long time.

He's Aquaman's Luthor or Joker.

[Mr Prince]

If any Aqua-character should be the "next Sinestro", it's Ocean Master. Because he's Arthur's brother. And like Sinestro, we should understand his motives ... hell we should even like the guy ... because he's scene-chewing, and deliciously evil.

I never was all that in love with Ocean Master, but that might be that I'm just over the evil sibling-style storylines. I'd like to see a new Marine Marauder and I'm liking The Others. Other than that, I'm open to a whole new array of Aqua-villains. He's never had a strong list of rogues so I hope to see that turn around. Black Manta is gigantic step in the right direction.

[Zembo]

Can he do it? Yes. Will he be able to do it? I don't know. The Aqua-hate is a pretty big hill to climb, and I don't know if even Johns can revamp certain characters and make them interesting without losing their core (though what that is for the Fisherman I don't know). I hope he can, but I'm realistic enough to have my doubts.

[Professor Moriarty]

yes.

yes he can.

he has that special black magic.

[Comet Man]

Can he do it? Yes. Will he be able to do it? I don't know. The Aqua-hate is a pretty big hill to climb, and I don't know if even Johns can revamp certain characters and make them interesting without losing their core (though what that is for the Fisherman I don't know). I hope he can, but I'm realistic enough to have my doubts.

Aqua hate? Where?

Aquaman is one of the top selling books in comicdom. The only Aqua hate there is is from jealous fans of other books that aren't selling as well.

As far as Johns elevating Black Manta to A list villainy - I feel he's already done that. I think it's a done deal.

[FirestormTheNuclearMan]

Can he do it? Yes. Will he be able to do it? I don't know. The Aqua-hate is a pretty big hill to climb, and I don't know if even Johns can revamp certain characters and make them interesting without losing their core (though what that is for the Fisherman I don't know). I hope he can, but I'm realistic enough to have my doubts.

Aquaman has had the problem of being thought of as a joke.

[Shadey10]

Bumping this thread to say how much I loved his and his now evil son's showing in the latest YJ episode and his showings in the current aquaman arc.s

[Mr. Holmes]

Speaking of which, does anyone think we probably won't see Jackson Hyde now (unless he's revealed to be a double agent)?

[Shadey10]

Speaking of which, does anyone think we probably won't see Jackson Hyde now (unless he's revealed to be a double agent)?

If you're talking about the book then Johns did say that he will be showing back up in the book down the line

[MB99]

Speaking of which, does anyone think we probably won't see Jackson Hyde now (unless he's revealed to be a double agent)?

What happens on the show has zero influence on what happens in the comics. I don't think Geoff Johns even cares what the show does with the characters, especially since Geoff Johns Aqualad is a completely different character than young justice Aqualad.

[Mr. Holmes]

True, but the whole point of the character was to build some lose sense of synergy with other media.

[ascended]

From what I understand, Johns really liked the show's Aqualad character and essentially stole him for Brightest Day.

And word is he plans on bringing the new Aqualad into this series at some point. I hear that Lobdell wanted him for Titans but was turned down due to those plans.

Anyway, I too am getting a Star Wars vibe from Manta. Totally Darth Vader in the cartoon, though only a bit of Boba Fett in the comics. Still, pretty cool. I never thought I would give a damn about Manta, and yet here I am, enjoying the hell out of him.

I do wish they would redesign the costume in the comics though. Ivan Reis is amazing and manages to make Manta look cool, but how much more badass would it be if the costume was tweaked up to the hardcore levels of Young Justice?

And Johns! Bring Aqualad into it already. I rather enjoyed him in Brightest Day and want to see more. Especially the Manta connection.