Mantis (DC Comics)

Mantis
Mantis as depicted in New Gods #2 (1971). Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceForever People #2 (June 1971)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoUnknown
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

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

Publication history

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

Fictional character biography

Mantis is the leader of a colony of humanoid insects who 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, becoming a founding member of the Secret Society of Super-Villains. Like many of the denizens of Apokolips, has occasionally risen up against his master.[3]

Mantis is featured in the limited series Death of the New Gods, where he allies with Darkseid's son Kalibak to battle Superman and Himon. 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.[4] Mantis returns following The New 52 relaunch, which rebooted the continuity of the DC Comics universe.[5]

Powers and abilities

Mantis is an energy vampire who can project tremendous blasts of energy and absorb virtually any form of energy or power source.[6][7] Mantis can also teleport and generate boom tubes which enable him to teleport others.[8] Mantis can also sense and detect energy, enabling him to sense opponents who are invisible and strike those who are intangible.[7]

Mantis possesses a "thermal touch" which enables him to generate heat and he can create "frigi-blocks" which trap opponents in ice.[9] 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.[10]

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

Mantis appears in the crossover miniseries DC X Sonic the Hedgehog.[14]

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. ^ Starlin, Jim (w), Starlin, Jim (p), Banning, Matt; Thibert, Art (i), Cox, Jeromy (col). "Mistakes" Death of the New Gods, no. 5 (March 2008). DC Comics.
  5. ^ DiDio, Dan; Giffen, Keith (w), Giffen, Keith (p), Koblish, Scott (i), Hi-Fi Design (col). "Planet of the Humans" Infinity Man and the Forever People, no. 1 (August 2014). DC Comics.
  6. ^ Kupperberg, Paul (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Theakston, Greg (i), Orlando, Joe (col). "Darkseid of the Moon" Super Powers, vol. 2, no. 6 (February 1986). DC Comics.
  7. ^ a b Kupperberg, Paul (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Theakston, Greg (i), Theakston, Greg (col). "Time Upon Time Upon Time" Super Powers, vol. 2, no. 3 (November 1985). DC Comics.
  8. ^ Faerber, Jay (w), Kitson, Barry (p), Faber, Rich; Kryssing, Ray; Pascoe, James (i), Wright, Gregory; Heroic Age (col). "Hidden Agenda" Titans, vol. 1, no. 40 (June 2002). DC Comics.
  9. ^ Kirby, Jack (w), Kirby, Jack; Plastino, Al (p), Colletta, Vince (i). "Super War!" Forever People, vol. 1, no. 2 (May 1971). DC Comics.
  10. ^ Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #14 (April 1986)
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Mantis Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 17, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  12. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Michael, Jon; Veness, John (November 2, 2018). "Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Scullion, Chris (March 13, 2025). "DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Here's the first art and plot details from Sega and DC's crossover comic". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
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