Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Mantis (DC Comics)

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

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
805 w
Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
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 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 gives him great power. Mantis spends much of his time in a power pod recharging his energy, but can also absorb energy manually. 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, he has occasionally risen up against Darkseid.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, 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.67 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, which allows him to destroy anything he touches.10

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Miscellaneous

Mantis appears in DC x Sonic the Hedgehog.14

References

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. 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. "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.
External links