 | |
| Mantis | |
| Continuity: | Marvel Universe |
| Notability: | Recurring character |
| Type: | Celestial Madonna |
| Gender: | Female |
| Race: | Altered human |
| Associations: | The Avengers Guardians of the Galaxy |
| Status: | Alive |
| First: | Avengers #112 |
| Actor: | Pom Klementieff |
Mantis is a fictional alien warrior and empath and a recurring character featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in The Avengers #112 in June, 1973. She has been presented as a member of the Avengers superhero team, as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy. A live-action version of Mantis appeared in the 2017 feature film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 where she was played by actress Pom Klementieff.
Biography[]
The woman who would come to be known as Mantis was born as an Earth child to parents Gustav Brandt and Lua Nguyen. She was taken by the Priests of Pama - a sect of the alien Kree race, who believed her to be the Celestial Madonna. She was given telepathic abilities as well empathic control and trained in the use of martial arts.
When Mantis turned eighteen, the Priests of Pama wiped her memory and re-introduced her to human society. She was given the appearance and identity of a Vietnamese woman and began working as a prostitute. It was during this time that she met Jacques Duquesne, aka, the Swordsman. Through the Swordsman, Mantis encountered the Avengers and briefly became associated with the team.
The Avengers villain known as Kang learned that Mantis was the Celestial Madonna and was determined to mate with her. The Avengers and Mantis fought up against him as well as an alternate timeline version of himself named Rama-Tut. When Kang eventually realized that he could not have Mantis for himself, he attempted to kill her. The Swordsman jumped in front of the blast from Kang's ray gun and sacrificed himself for her. It was at this time that Mantis realized that she was in love with Duquesne.
The Priests of Pama were also the caretakers of a sentient alien race of plant-life known as the Cotati. After the Swordsman died in battle, Cotati spores infected his body and used him to become the mate to the Celestial Madonna. The two were married by Immortus, after which they both left Earth, shedding their mortal forms and becoming beings of pure energy.