Who Is Mantis? Origin, Powers and Key Facts

Mantis is a Marvel comic book character, with over 459 comic issue appearances. From Avenger to cosmic traveler to the legendary Celestial Madonna, Mantis is perhaps one of the most well-traveled characters in the Marvel Universe.

Who is Mantis?

Origin The German/Vietnamese child of Gustav and Lau Brandt, the girl who would become Mantis was given up to the alien Priests of Pama , a sect of the Kree who believed in the "Celestial Madonna", a legendary being who would give birth to the Celestial Messiah, deemed to be "the most important being in the universe." Excelling in her martial arts studies with the Priests, gaining a heightened control over her physiology in the process, Mantis has her memories erased when she becomes an adult and sent back to earth in order to gain life experience. Becoming a barmaid/prostitute in a Vietnamese bar, she meets the Swordsman , Jacques Duquesne, and accompanies him back to the United States after helping him regain his self-respect. Joining the Avengers alongside him, Mantis soon became involved in many of the team's adventures, motivated partially by her growing sexual interest in the Vision . As it was, Mantis was unaware of the Swordsman's love for her, and only realized (and reciprocated) it during his deathbed confession after being mortally wounded by Kang the Conquerer in his own quest for the Madonna. Shortly thereafter, Mantis discovers that she is, as was suspected, the Celes.

Key facts

Mantis is of human origin and first appeared in "The Lion God Lives!". The character is published by Marvel. With 459 recorded issue appearances, Mantis ranks among the most featured characters in comics.