Talk:Mantis (Marvel Comics)

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This was one of the best characters ever introduced and certainly a huge change from others we'd seen before (at least up until the 70s at this point). Mantis' pasttime as a prostitute,though never actually stated in the original run (I think Englehart said she was a "barmaid") doesnt make sense, considering all the time and energy the priests of Pama put into her training. I mean, seriously- would you devote that kind of work into someone and then let them go off and become a man's plaything? In fact, is this an occupation she would even have taken?? Given her obvious intelligence, supreme martial arts skills, etc. life as a "barmaid" just wouldnt ever have been a reality for her.

But wasn't that part of the original quasi-religious concept? She's a Mary Magdalene archetype; from humble beginnings, the Celestial Madonna is born. She's a symbol for the joined virgin/whore dichotomy, and she gets to have both aspects and still be respected, revered, etc. That's what I always thought Englehart was saying with the character.--Erikacornia 18:46, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Iconic image?

Surely we can find a better depiction of Mantis for the info box than that horrid illustration of a character that wasn't even her from heroes reborn, can't we? Cockrum did some lovely illustrations of her. I don't know enough to edit that part well, but here's asking.--Erikacornia 18:49, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trans"plant"ataion

It just occurred to me that Mantis's later ability to shift her consciousness across the universe, from one world's vegetation to another, is exactly like the Swamp Thing's ability. Not suggesting it's a swipe or anything either way, but it may be worthwhile to mention it in the article. Korvac 16:24, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Willow, Lorelei

They get listed as aliases in the box, but the history (understandably) skips over her non-Marvel history. Maybe this should be mentioned in a "Trivia" section or something? Daibhid C 10:01, 3 October 2006 (UTC)

I asked Steve Englehart where I might find a decent account of the character's journey through Marvel, DC, Eclipse, and back to Marvel. He comments on it in the relevant points at his website [http:steveenglehart.com], but a complete account has yet to be published. He said he "very much enjoyed moving her from company" and thinks an article about the trip along the way would be fun. Doczilla 04:46, 19 October 2006 (UTC)