Mantis (DC Comics)

Mantis is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, part of Jack Kirby's New Gods series.[1]

Mantis
Mantis from New Gods #2, artist Jack Kirby
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceForever People #2, (June 1971)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoOmar Bashir
SpeciesNew Gods
Place of originApokolips
Team affiliationsDarkseid's Elite
Abilities
  • Immortality
  • Superhuman strength, durability, speed, and reflexes
  • Energy absorption, manipulation and projection
  • Ability to generate heat, cold and anti-matter
  • Flight
  • Teleportation

Publication history

Mantis first appeared in Forever People #2 (vol. 1, June 1971) and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.[2]

Fictional character biography

Mantis is the leader of a colony of humanoid insects that migrated from New Genesis. In return for his fealty, Darkseid gave him great power. He typically spent time in a power pod recharging his energies but he could also absorb energies sent at him by an opponent such as Green Lantern. Mantis has at times served as Darkseid's lackey and, like many of the denizens of Apokolips, has occasionally risen up against his master.[3]

Mantis assists Darkseid in creating the first Secret Society of Super-Villains.

Mantis is featured in issue #5 of the limited series Death of the New Gods. He partners with Darkseid's son Kalibak after the murders of many "Fourth Age" gods. While in "Supertown", the duo battles Superman, Himon and the New Gods military leader "The General". During the battle, the Infinity-Man, acting as an agent for the Source Wall, attacks. He stuns the group and kills Mantis and Kalibak by removing their hearts.

Powers and abilities

Mantis is the second most powerful being on Apokolips, second to only Darkseid himself.[4] Mantis is an energy vampire who can project tremendous blasts of energy and absorb virtually any form of energy or power source,[4] including a power ring and the powers of a super being (as he did against the Martian Manhunter[5]). He can even absorb magic, and can turn any energy against an opponent.[6] He cannot, however, absorb Captain Atom's powers of radiation.[7] Mantis can also teleport,[8] open up his own boom tubes[9] and he can charge matter with energy.[10] Mantis' energy powers grant him with the ability to sense and detect energy, enabling him to even sense an opponent who is invisible.[6] He can even strike beings who are intangible with his energy blasts.[6]

Mantis possesses a "thermal touch" which enables him to generate heat and he can create "frigi-blocks" which trap opponents in ice.[11] Mantis' most dangerous power is his ability to generate antimatter. He can destroy anything he touches by creating antimatter in the object that he touched.[4] Mantis can generate and build large amounts of cosmic energy through his power pod which he keeps underground and heavily guarded.[4] If he uses up too much energy in a battle or becomes heavily injured, then he will flee to his power pod to recharge.

Alongside his vast energy-manipulating abilities, Mantis also possesses vast super strength, durability and stamina.[11] He also possesses super speed, agility and reflexes, flight, and like all denizens of the Fourth World, Mantis is immortal.[4]

In other media

Television
  • Mantis appears in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Question Authority", voiced by J.K. Simmons who was uncredited for the role.[12] He battles Superman and Captain Atom while fleeing the civil war on Apokolips before being returned to Apokolips. Mantis later appears in a cameo in "Alive" taking part in the civil war on Apokolips and then bowing before the returned Darkseid.
  • Mantis appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode teaser "Cry Freedom Fighters!", voiced by Wade Williams. He attacks a cul-de-sac and ended up fighting Stargirl. She used her staff to create her own Bat-Signal to summon Batman only to end up getting Blue Beetle. It took the combined efforts of Stargirl and Blue Beetle to overload Mantis with their energy attacks. In "Darkseid Descending!", Mantis participates in Darkseid's plans to invade Earth.
  • Mantis appears in the Young Justice: Outsiders episode "Away Mission," voiced by Andrew Kishino. His power set is different from that of his comic incarnation: he has an extra set of arms, is much bulkier, and can roll around like a boulder. While Mantis is a sapient humanoid insect, he is not a New God (although he comes from New Genesis). Mantis is the leader of the Bugs and has an intense hatred for New Gods. When Ma'alefa'ak tries manipulating the Bugs into starting a war with the New Gods, Mantis is gradually consumed in his hatred. As a result, even after the New Gods and their allies from the Team prove that Ma'alefa'ak was the only real enemy, and meaning they can all be trusted, Mantis banishes them and all other Outsiders from his territory, as well as Forager from the hive when he stops him from attacking Wonder Girl and Blue Beetle. In the episode "Terminus," it is shown that he has abandoned his hive to serve the New Gods of Apokolips. In the episode "Into the Breach," Mantis and the Female Furies are defeated by the Outsiders and arrested by the Justice League.

Film

An alternative universe version of Mantis appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters.

Video games

Mantis appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Lex Lang.

References
  1. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  2. Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. The DC Comics Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2004. p. 195. ISBN 0-7566-0592-X.
  4. Who's Who, The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #14 [Vol.1]
  5. Super Powers #6 [Vol.2]
  6. Super Powers #3 [Vol.2]
  7. Secret Society of Super-Villains #4 [Vol.1]
  8. Legion of Super-Heroes #97 [Vol.4]
  9. The Titans #40 [Vol.1]
  10. Superman Confidential #10 [Vol.1]
  11. The DC Comics Encyclopedia
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0618169/
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