DC Animated Universe
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"You'll have to be more specific, lady. I've killed a lotta people."[1]

Sound

Devil Ray was a supervillain recruited by Grodd into his Legion of Doom. He was a resilient fighter and ruthless killer, who took great pleasure and pride in his heinous work.

History[]

The Viking Prince[]

Devil Ray was sent to retrieve the corpse of the Viking Prince from a melting glacier. When he and his teammates were intercepted by Wonder Woman, Devil Ray shot her with a poison dart, and if not for King Faraday, he would have killed her. When the Viking ship was thawed out, Devil Ray towed it with a submersible, and was followed by Wonder Woman. He engaged the Amazon in an underwater battle, and even though Devil Ray was in his "natural" environment, Wonder Woman defeated him by cracking his helmet and leaving him adrift. Devil Ray was put away,[2] but he soon escaped to rejoin the Legion.

Nanda Parbat[]

He was then sent on another mission ― stealing the Heart of Nanda Parbat. Devil Ray would not allow anyone to stand in his way, so he cold-heartedly disposed of the monastery's Master, Deadman's mentor, without thinking twice.

Devil Ray's death

Devil Ray's death.

Later on, when the Legion assailed Gorilla City, Deadman possessed Wonder Woman's body to take revenge against Devil Ray and beat him badly. After the Legion was defeated, Devil Ray attempted to kill Wonder Woman, whereupon Deadman lunged into Batman and shot him, plunging Devil Ray into a panel and electrocuting him to death.[1]

Powers and abilities[]

Devil Ray wore a suit that allowed him to breathe underwater and withstand deep-sea pressures. It was also equipped with rocket boosters that enabled him to fly and navigate underwater and two wrist-mounted guns. After Lex Luthor augmented his abilities, Devil Ray acquired super strength, stamina and durability, which is sufficient enough to challenge Wonder Woman and survive. He also received an array of venomous and explosive, trident-shaped stingers.

Background information[]

  • Devil Ray was intended to be Black Manta, Aquaman's archnemesis from DC Comics, but his name had to be changed for this show due to an embargo at the time.
  • Black Manta debuted in Aquaman #35 (September 1967) and was created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy. He was an unidentified African American who donned a suit equipped with laser beams in his bug-eyed helmet that also allowed him to breathe underwater and swim swiftly. Black Manta was primarily a treasure hunter who clashed with Aquaman on numerous times. A version of Black Manta has appeared in the DCAU tie-in comics Justice League Adventures and Justice League Unlimited.
  • Devil Ray's voice actor, Michael Beach, appears in the 2018 live-action film Aquaman as Jesse Kane, the father of David Kane who eventually becomes Black Manta.
  • Devil Ray was brought into the main DC Comics universe in Black Manta #1 (November 2021). Here, Devil Ray idolized Black Manta and modelled himself on Black Manta, studying and training to reach the peak of his potential. He eventually began working for him, but gradually came to realize that Black Manta was not a visionary or a revolutionary, he was just another supervillain concerned only with his own enrichment and his feud with Aquaman.

Appearances[]

Justice League Unlimited

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 McDuffie, Dwayne (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (February 18, 2006). "Dead Reckoning". Justice League Unlimited. Season 2. Episode 6 (airdate). Episode 32 (production). Cartoon Network.
  2. McDuffie, Dwayne (writer) & Riba, Dan (director) (September 24, 2005). "To Another Shore". Justice League Unlimited. Season 2. Episode 4 (airdate). Episode 30 (production). Cartoon Network.


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