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Manchester Black is a character in American comic books published by DC Comics, in particular those featuring Superman. He was created by Joe Kelly and Doug Mahnke in Action Comics #775 (March 2001). Introduced as an antihero, the character later becomes a supervillain.
David Ajala portrays Manchester Black in Supergirl.
Black first appears as the leader of the Elite, who gain worldwide popularity for viciously killing their enemies. During a battle on Io. Black uses his powers to give Superman a stroke, and his teammates (Coldcast, Menagerie, and Hat) apparently kill Superman in an explosion. Superman survives, seemingly kills all of the Elite's members except Black, and disables Black's powers by removing a growth inside his brain that was the source of his powers.
Black is taken into custody, and his mental powers are restored over the next several months. In his next appearance during the Our Worlds at War storyline, Black is hired to lead a new Suicide Squad, consisting of Chemo, Plasmus, Shrapnel, Mongul, and Steel, to combat Imperiex. The Adventures of Superman #593 (August 2001) In the 2002 storyline Ending Battle, Black sends dozens of supervillains to attack Superman after learning his secret identity. Superman manages to hold the villains back, but learns that Black has apparently killed Lois Lane. Superman considers killing Black, but resists and decides to imprison him instead. Distraught at the thought that he has become a supervillain, Black commits suicide. Action Comics #796 (December 2002)
In 2016, DC Comics implemented a relaunch of its books called DC Rebirth, which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to The New 52. Black is restored to his original look and powers, though his hair is black rather than purple. Black takes Jon Kent, the young Superboy, hostage and removes his powers, forcing him to watch images of his parents fighting off his creatures and suffering. Superman (vol. 4) #24 (August 2017) Before Black can attack the Kents further, Jon's friend Kathy Branden uses her powers to create telepathic feedback, trapping Black's consciousness in the body of a cow. Superman (vol. 4) #25 (August 2017)
Some time later, a restored Black is cornered by the authorities for various crimes likely stemming from improper use of his powers at his flat in South London. Black nearly escapes through use of his telepathy before he is shot in the back by a sniper and taken into custody by Superman. Awakening in the Fortress of Solitude, Black finds himself in a strange device healing his wounds and restoring his mobility as Superman asks for his help in saving the world. While Black initially rejects this request, he decides to put aside his combative past with Superman and help him reform the Authority to save the world before it is too late. Superman and the Authority #1 (September 2021)
Following the liberation of Warworld, Black is revealed to have been an informant for Lex Luthor, though his adventures with Superman ultimately changed his allegiances. Black taunts Luthor, claiming that while Luthor is obsessed with Superman, Superman rarely thought of or mentioned Luthor while on Warworld. Angered, Luthor tortures Black and uses his abilities to wipe the knowledge of Superman's identity from most of Earth's population, killing him in the process. Action Comics #1050 (February 2023)
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