Mantis (DC Comics)

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

Mantis
Mantis as depicted in New Gods #2 (1971). Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Forever People #2 (June 1971)
Created by	Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	Unknown
Species	New Gods
Place of origin	Apokolips
Team affiliations	Darkseid'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 (June 1971) and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.^[2]

Fictional character biography

Mantis is the leader of a colony of humanoid insects from New Genesis before defecting to Apokolips, whose leader Darkseid gives him immense power.^[3]

Mantis assists Darkseid in founding the first Secret Society of Super-Villains. He is killed by Infinity-Man in Death of the New Gods before being resurrected in The New 52 continuity reboot.^[4][5]

Powers and abilities

As a New God, Mantis is nigh-immortal and possesses superhuman physical abilities.^[6][7] He can absorb and manipulate energy, teleport, and generate ice and antimatter.^[8]

In other media

Television

• Mantis appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by an uncredited J.K. Simmons.^{[citation needed]}
• Mantis appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Wade Williams.^{[citation needed]}
• Mantis appears in Young Justice, voiced by Andrew Kishino.^[9] This version possesses a more insectoid appearance.

Film

• An alternative universe variant of Mantis appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters.^[9]
• Mantis makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Injustice.^[9]

Video games

• Mantis appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[10]
• Mantis appears as a boss and playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Lex Lang.^[11]

Other appearances

• Mantis appears in the crossover miniseries DC X Sonic the Hedgehog^[12] In the second issue, Mantis is among the Apokoliptians aiding Darkseid on his search for the Chaos Emeralds, until he is fought against and defeated by Green Lantern and Silver the Hedgehog.