.gif)
Mantis (DC Comics)
Encyclopedia
Mantis is a fictional character
that appears in comic books published by DC Comics
. The character first appeared in Forever People
#2 (vol. 1, June 1971), and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby
.
, in return for his fealty Darkseid
gifted him with 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.
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.
). He can even absorb magic, and can turn any energy against an opponent. Mantis can also teleport and open up his own boom tube
s and he can charge matter with energy. Mantis' energy powers enables him the ability to sense and detect energy, enabling him to even sense an opponent who is invisible. He can even strike beings who are intangible with his energy blasts.
Mantis possesses a "thermal touch" which enables him to generate heat and he can create "frigi-blocks" which traps opponents in ice. Mantis' most dangerous power is his ability to generate antimatter
. He can destroy anything he touches by creating anti-matter in the object that he touched. Mantis can generate and build large amounts of cosmic energy through his power pod, which he keeps underground and heavily guarded. If he uses too much energy up in a battle or becomes heavily injured he will flee to his power pod to recharge.
Alongside his vast energy manipulating abilities Mantis also possesses vast super strength, durability and stamina. He also possesses super human speed, agility and reflexes and can fly. Like all members of the Fourth World Mantis is immortal.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that appears in comic books published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. The character first appeared in Forever People
Forever People
The Forever People are a fictional group of extraterrestrial superheroes published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Forever People #1 , and were created by Jack Kirby as part of his "Fourth World" epic.-Fictional history:...
#2 (vol. 1, June 1971), and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
Fictional character biography
Mantis is the leader of a colony of humanoid insects that migrated from New GenesisNew Genesis
New Genesis is a fictional planet in the . This planet, along with Apokolips, is speculated to be near the constellation Orion...
, in return for his fealty Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
gifted him with 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
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
. Mantis has at times served as Darkseid's lackey and, like many of the denizens of Apokolips, has occasionally risen up against his master.
Mantis is featured in issue #5 of the limited series Death of the New Gods
Death of the New Gods
Death of the New Gods was an eight-issue comic book limited series published in 2007 and 2008 by DC Comics. It was written and pencilled by Jim Starlin.The series follows the final days of the New Gods as they are stalked by a mysterious killer....
. He partners with Darkseid's son Kalibak
Kalibak
Kalibak is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in New Gods #1 .- Fictional character biography :...
after the murders of many 'Fourth age' gods. While in 'Supertown', the duo battles Superman, Himon
Himon
Himon is a fictional character. Created by Jack Kirby, the character is one of the New Gods, a fictional race of gods in publications from DC Comics...
and the New Gods military leader 'The General'. During the battle, the Infinity-Man
Infinity-Man
Infinity-Man is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial superhero published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Forever People #1, .-Fictional character biography:...
, acting as an agent for the Source Wall
Source Wall
The Source Wall is a fictional structure in the . The wall lies on the edge of the known universe, in the Promethean Galaxy. Beyond the wall lies what is known as the Source, a cosmic essence or being that is the "source" of all that exists. The wall is theoretically passable. However, all those...
, 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. Mantis is an energy vampire who can project tremendous blasts of energy and absorb any form of energy or any power source, including a power ring or even the powers of a super being (as he did against the Martian ManhunterMartian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
). He can even absorb magic, and can turn any energy against an opponent. Mantis can also teleport and open up his own boom tube
Boom tube
A boom tube is a slang expression for a fictional extra-dimensional point-to-point travel portal opened by a Mother Box used primarily by residents of New Genesis and Apokolips in DC Comics...
s and he can charge matter with energy. Mantis' energy powers enables him the ability to sense and detect energy, enabling him to even sense an opponent who is invisible. He can even strike beings who are intangible with his energy blasts.
Mantis possesses a "thermal touch" which enables him to generate heat and he can create "frigi-blocks" which traps opponents in ice. Mantis' most dangerous power is his ability to generate antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
. He can destroy anything he touches by creating anti-matter in the object that he touched. Mantis can generate and build large amounts of cosmic energy through his power pod, which he keeps underground and heavily guarded. If he uses too much energy up in a battle or becomes heavily injured he will flee to his power pod to recharge.
Alongside his vast energy manipulating abilities Mantis also possesses vast super strength, durability and stamina. He also possesses super human speed, agility and reflexes and can fly. Like all members of the Fourth World Mantis is immortal.
Television
- Mantis appears in the Justice League UnlimitedJustice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
animated series in the episode "Question Authority" voiced by an uncredited J.K. SimmonsJ. K. SimmonsJonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons is an American actor. He is best known for his roles on television as Dr. Emil Skoda in NBC's Law & Order , Assistant Police Chief Will Pope in TNT's The Closer, neo-Nazi Vernon Schillinger in the HBO prison drama Oz, on film as J...
. He battles SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and Captain AtomCaptain AtomCaptain Atom is a fictional comic book superhero that has existed in three basic incarnations. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Space Adventures #33 . Captain Atom was created for Charlton Comics but was later acquired by DC Comics and revised for...
before being returned to Apokolips. He 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 Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode teaser "Cry Freedom Fighters!" voiced by Wade WilliamsWade WilliamsWade Andrew Williams is an American actor who is best known for his starring role as Brad Bellick on Fox's television series Prison Break.-Personal life:...
. He attacks a cul-de-sacCul-de-sacA cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
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.
External links
- Spider-Bob's Comic Book Encyclopedia
- Mantis at the DC Database