The Blackest Aquaman Franchise: An Interview with Chuck Brown

Black Nerd Problems had the opportunity to chop it up with Chuck Brown, writer for DC’s Black Manta book, about some of his inspirations, and the future of the character in the ever-expanding Aquaman franchise. Black Nerd Problems: This Black Manta book is so good. What is it like putting your own stamp of style on such a storied character? Chuck Brown: It feels unreal at times. I grew up with this character, and now I’m writing the comic. Black Manta has never had his own series before. The book was a great opportunity to give the character some depth.  BNP: With Aquaman: The Becoming, and your Black Manta book, this is without a doubt the Blackest the Aquaman franchise and Atlantis has ever been. How does it feel to know you’re a part of expanding a world that has been so traditionally white? And what goes into your process in widening that scope? CB: First, I just want to say I love this question! Well, it feels fantastic! Brandon Thomas is killing it on Aquaman: The Becoming. When I started developing the Black Manta project, I just stayed true to myself and the stories I like to tell.  I must admit at times I was worried if white fans would reject the stories I’m trying to tell. But I had to put that out of my mind and just tell the story. With any comic I write, I draw experiences from my own life, and Black Manta was no different.  BNP: Three issues in, it’s looking more and more likely that Black Manta is a descendent of ancient Atlanteans. Despite tha…