Some thoughts about Black Manta #1

What is Black Manta's legacy?

In one of his typical hunts for treasure, Manta can't help but think about his future and just in time when a mysterious group connected to his line of work starts rising and causing chaos everywhere.

Okay, this is something that doesn't happen that often. I mean, Black Manta has gotten a couple of one-shots focusing on himself in the past but never a miniseries solely dedicated to him, especially one that consists of 6 issues. Chuck Brown is the one responsible of such an unusual idea and the real question is if the writer understands the character and can even expand his own universe.

Weeeeell, the universe is getting expanded I guess but I'm not really sure about the other point.

First of all, there's an emphasis on pirate life and how different groups implement this type of career in their own way which is an adequate direction for a book featuring one of the most famous villains from the seven seas. Plus, there's also a supernatural angle that continually increases over the course of the chapter and concludes in the appearance of a powerful being. There's a decent enough concept going on here.

However, I don't think the writer quite gets the character of Black Manta sadly. I'm not even asking that the Brown follows the premise that Geoff Johns created at the beginning of the New 52 with Manta being motivated by the death of his father (Lord knows I don't want that) but what I really want is that the core aspects of the villain are respected. Manta is known as probably one of the most evil creatures in the DCU, a man so vile that is willing to kill children, even his own son for his own benefit and he would do it in the most brutal ways possible. Here on the other hand, we have a man contemplating about his own legacy (Constantly by the way) while also tolerating that one of his employees hit him while in any other instance he would have cut her head off. This Manta sadly doesn't have as much personality as in the past.

The art is pretty great though. Valentine DeLandro has a pretty unique and detailed style that captures every scene and expression perfectly.

Aside from that, a bit of a mixed bag. Not sure if worth the investment.