] type='image/vnd.microsoft.icon'/>

Friday, July 17, 2009

Black Manta Color Model Sheet by Alex Toth

sg
After yesterday's video, I thought we'd spend a little more time on Black Manta this week, with this colored model sheet for the Challenge of the Super Friends version of Black Manta, which was sent to me by F.O.A.M.er Tommy Brookshire of the Bat-Blog. Thanks Tommy!

It's amazing to think, that its pretty much just from Manta's one season on the Super Friends show that he is as well known as he is in the wider culture (I think if you asked 100 random people who is Aquaman's #1 foe, at least some of them would be able to name Manta, while not a one would mention Ocean Master).

Part of it had to be that voice--that genius combo of voice actor and the reverb/echo effect was just so unusual, so memorable.

Plus, how does he get his head in there like that?

3 comments:

Dixon said...

There's no doubt about it, Black Manta was the most frightening, menacing supervillain depicted on Superfriends. And, as far as I'm concerned, that says an awful lot about Aquaman himself. After all, a hero is measured by his enemies.

Richard Duncan said...

I may be one of the few here who wasn't a SuperFriends fan. I remember being freaked out by Black Manta's look and voice from the filmation cartoons.

Earth 2 Chris said...

Manta radiated cool. On the Super Friends he always seemed the first to over a counterpoint to Luthor's plan of the week. Him and Grodd (with his slurping, labored speech) were definitely the scariest villains of the bunch.

As for the helmet thing...who cares? It's a great visual, and attempts to make it "work" make him look like a bobble head (see below).

Chris