Mantis, portrayed by Pom Klementieff, first appears in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) as an alien empath living in service to the Celestial Ego. Raised in isolation on Ego’s planet, she is socially awkward and curious, having “not really met a lot of other people” before the Guardians arrive. Initially, Mantis is shy and eager to please Ego, using her touch-based powers to help him sleep and calm his moods. Over the course of Vol. 2, she befriends the Guardians – especially Drax – and faces a moral conflict upon learning Ego’s villainous plan. In the film’s climax, despite her self-doubt, Mantis musters the courage to employ her ability to induce sleep and subdue the powerful Ego, buying time for the heroes to attack his core. Drax’s encouragement (“You don’t have to believe in yourself. Because I believe in you!”) helps her overcome her fear. By the end of Vol. 2, Ego is defeated and Mantis is welcomed as a new member of the Guardians family. This marks a turning point for her – she’s no longer a sheltered attendant but a hero in her own right.
Mantis continues to grow through Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Endgame (2019). In Infinity War, she joins the fight against Thanos, showcasing her value to the team. On the planet Titan, Mantis uses her empathic trance to help nearly incapacitate Thanos – bravely perching on the Titan’s shoulders to lull him into a semi-conscious state while other heroes attempt to pry off the Infinity Gauntlet. This pivotal moment nearly succeeds, highlighting how Mantis’s unusual power can neutralize even a cosmic threat. Although Thanos ultimately breaks free (and Mantis becomes a victim of the Blip, disintegrating along with half the universe), she is resurrected in Endgame. In the final battle of Endgame, Mantis participates alongside all the gathered heroes – even teaming up in the famous all-female charge – though her role is brief. By this time, she is a fully accepted member of the Guardians, fighting confidently by their side.
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), Mantis’s character arc reaches an emotional maturity. Between films, it’s revealed that she is actually Peter Quill’s half-sister, a secret she finally shares in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) after quietly carrying it for years. This familial connection “means a lot to Mantis,” who had always been “craving for a family.” Going into Vol. 3, the stakes feel higher for her with Peter now confirmed as her brother. In Vol. 3, Mantis plays a key part in the Guardians’ mission to save Rocket, using her empathy in inventive ways – from pacifying a captured monster to briefly manipulating foes’ emotions in combat. By this point she has shed much of her old timidity. She even stands up to the harsher Nebula, asserting the importance of kindness, and she uses her insight to emphasize Drax’s underrated qualities (such as his gentle heart with children). After defeating the High Evolutionary and saving Rocket, Mantis makes a poignant decision: she chooses to leave the Guardians to discover her own path in life. She realizes that her entire life has been following others’ plans – “doing whatever Ego wanted, and then what the Guardians wanted” – and that now she needs to learn what she truly wants. It’s a bittersweet but empowering conclusion to her journey, as the once submissive aide finds the confidence to pursue her independent identity.
From Comics to Screen: Mantis vs. Mantis
Mantis’s portrayal in the MCU differs significantly from her original Marvel Comics character in backstory, powers, and personality. In the comics, Mantis was born on Earth (half-Vietnamese, half-German) as the daughter of Libra, and raised by a Kree cult of monks who believed she was the prophesied Celestial Madonna. She was trained from youth to become an expert martial artist – formidable enough to spar with the likes of Captain America and Thor. Comic Mantis also developed a complex suite of powers over time, including telepathy, precognition, astral projection, and even energy manipulation (after a cosmic union with a plant-like alien species). She fought alongside the Avengers in the 1970s and eventually fulfilled her prophecy by giving birth to the “Celestial Messiah,” a highly convoluted cosmic storyline. In short, the comics version was assertive, physically deadly, and central to epic cosmic events.
By contrast, the MCU’s Mantis has an almost entirely new origin and toned-down abilities. James Gunn’s film reimagines her as an alien “Celestial hybrid” empath taken in by Ego. She does not display the martial prowess or myriad psychic powers of her comic counterpart; instead, her abilities are focused on empathy – sensing emotions and inducing sleep or emotional influence via touch. Physically, MCU Mantis is more vulnerable and innocent – a gentle soul rather than a trained fighter (though by Vol. 3 she does show surprising agility and clever uses of her power in combat). Even her appearance diverges: in comics, Mantis originally looked human (later depicted with green skin in some storylines), whereas the MCU version has distinct antennae, large dark eyes, and an overall insectoid alien look.
These changes were so drastic that Mantis’s co-creator, writer Steve Englehart, famously remarked that the film character “has nothing to do with Mantis” as he conceived her. Englehart enjoyed Guardians 2 as a movie but admitted he had to “turn [his] brain off to the fact that that’s not Mantis up there.” He questioned why the filmmakers would take such a distinctive comic character and “do a completely different character and still call her Mantis.” Indeed, the MCU Mantis is essentially an original creation sharing only the name and empathic aspect of the comic version. Some comic fans initially lamented that the fierce, complex Mantis of the page had been simplified into a gentler, less powerful figure on screen. However, this reinvention allowed the MCU to explore a “different… more awkward” kind of hero. Klementieff and Gunn embraced Mantis’s comedic innocence as a strength, trading the comic Mantis’s badass warrior vibe for a refreshingly empathetic approach. This divergence has ultimately been appreciated for broadening the types of personalities represented in the superhero genre.
Personality and Relationships
One of Mantis’s defining traits in the MCU is her guileless, empathetic personality. Having grown up lonely on Ego’s planet, she approaches the world with a childlike wonder and honesty. Pom Klementieff deliberately played Mantis as “like a kid” discovering life – curious, awkward, and prone to social blunders. This wide-eyed sincerity is often endearing: she doesn’t hide her feelings behind a tough façade. In fact, “emotions are Mantis’ biggest strength” in a team known for sarcasm and bravado. Her genuine compassion repeatedly saves the day (such as sensing pain in others or calming agitated beasts) and also provides moments of gentle humor. Notably, Mantis is not portrayed as overtly sexual or confident like many heroines; the character remains innocently sweet. Klementieff has compared Mantis’s mindset to that of a non-sexual child, firmly shutting down any notion of a romantic subplot with Drax. This makes Mantis stand out in a universe full of sleek, self-assured superheroes. As Klementieff explained, she loved offering “another take on a female character” that leans into comedy and awkwardness rather than the typical “badass” archetype – “this is different, and this is interesting. We need diversity, y’know.” Her presence broadens the emotional palette of the Guardians films, adding heart and “opening the door for different personalities” to thrive in a superhero story.
Mantis’s most memorable relationship is with Drax the Destroyer, and their bond provides both comedic highlights and genuine warmth. The two are an odd pairing: Drax’s literal, abrasive nature contrasts with Mantis’s gentle demeanor. In Vol. 2, Drax’s blunt comments – like repeatedly calling Mantis ugly – create humorous exchanges, yet Mantis takes it in stride once she realizes his intent isn’t truly hurtful. Off-screen, Klementieff and actor Dave Bautista developed a sibling-like chemistry that translates to their characters. “He’s so strong but he’s just the sweetest,” Klementieff says of Bautista, noting that working with him was “amazing.” She recalls it was hard not to break into laughter when Drax delivers outrageous lines (such as his deadpan “you are horrifying to look at” quips). Throughout the films, Drax and Mantis share a number of sweet moments – for example, when Mantis empathetically feels Drax’s deep pain over losing his family, she is moved to tears. Drax, who normally buries his sorrow in humor, allows this vulnerable connection. By Vol. 3, the duo act like mischievous best friends, whether bickering or teaming up for silly schemes. Mantis often defends Drax’s value to the team, reminding others that his heart and loyalty make him special. In turn, Drax becomes fiercely protective of Mantis. Their relationship remains platonic and familial – a source of comic relief but also genuine care. Many fans grew to “love the Drax/Mantis dynamic as much as the fans do,” and Klementieff herself finds their buddy pairing adorable. It’s a friendship built on mutual acceptance of each other’s quirks, highlighting Mantis’s ability to bring out the soft side of a hardened warrior.
Beyond Drax, Mantis forms meaningful connections with Peter Quill and the wider Guardians. She greatly admires Peter and is sympathetic to his emotions – so much so that in the Holiday Special she goes to extreme lengths (kidnapping Kevin Bacon!) to try to cheer him up. The reveal that Ego was Mantis’s father (and thus Peter’s father as well) adds a touching new layer to their bond. Mantis hesitated to tell Peter at first, fearing his reaction, but ultimately he is overjoyed to have a sister. In Vol. 3, knowing Peter is her brother gives Mantis a stronger voice in the group; she stands up for him and shares in his grief and concerns. Although Vol. 3 doesn’t dwell heavily on the sibling angle, there’s an implicit closeness – for instance, when Peter faces leaving the team, Mantis’ encouragement for him to reconcile with his Earth family shows her supportive nature. With the Guardians as a whole, Mantis is the empathetic glue. She gets along with everyone due to her kindness (even the gruff Nebula eventually appreciates Mantis’s positive outlook). In tense moments, Mantis often diffuses arguments by literally soothing tempers – a unique role among a band of hot-headed misfits. Her growth is evident in how she eventually calls out teammates when they’re being unkind. By the end of their adventures, all the Guardians respect and love Mantis as one of their own. Star-Lord himself acknowledges that Mantis has saved them on multiple occasions, despite her self-effacing tendency to underestimate herself. In short, Mantis evolves from a timid outsider to the emotional heart of the Guardians family, forging bonds that enrich the team’s dynamic.
Behind the Scenes: Casting, Portrayal and Reception
Pom Klementieff’s journey to becoming Mantis and her approach to the character provide additional insight into why this role resonated. Klementieff, a French-Korean actress relatively unknown in Hollywood at the time, auditioned multiple times for Guardians Vol. 2. She went through a rigorous casting process – a first audition, a callback with James Gunn present, and then a full screen test in Atlanta. When she won the part, Klementieff knew Mantis had a long comic history, but James Gunn actually advised her not to read the comics backstory. The MCU was inventing a fresh take on Mantis, and Gunn didn’t want the comic lore to influence Klementieff’s performance. In fact, upon glancing at the comic version’s images, Klementieff was shocked – comic Mantis appeared as a sexy, confident martial-artist type, which was not what Gunn had in mind. Klementieff “cried” at the thought that the character might be changed to that, passionately insisting that Gunn’s vision of a more innocent, peculiar Mantis be preserved. “I don’t want the character to be, like, sexual…usually [female characters] are always like that,” she recalled, grateful that Mantis would instead be portrayed as “different.” This deliberate choice allowed Klementieff to craft Mantis without the burden of trope expectations. She leaned into physical comedy and earnest emotion, creating the wide-eyed demeanor (augmented by those CGI antennae) that fans came to adore.
Critics and audiences quickly took notice of Klementieff’s scene-stealing performance. Despite joining an established ensemble in Vol. 2, she made Mantis stand out as a lovable new Guardian. One reviewer even called Klementieff “insanely good in this role… a real, real highlight” and praised how “she is so incredibly funny, and works perfectly with Drax throughout the film.” Many fans echoed these sentiments, charmed by Mantis’s mix of humor and heart. The character’s naïveté and quirky one-liners (like mistakenly saying “kick names, take ass” in Infinity War) endeared her to viewers. Of course, there was some debate and critique. Early on, a few commentators felt that Vol. 2 sometimes treated Mantis as a bit of a punchline or “punching bag” – noting how often she’s the butt of Drax’s jokes or gets knocked in the head for laughs. However, others argued that this was part of the film’s subversion: unlike the typical invincible heroine, Mantis’s meekness itself highlights her quiet inner strength. By Vol. 3, observers agreed that Mantis had “moved past” the mean-spirited gags and become far more confident, fully accepted as a valued team member. Klementieff’s own take is that Mantis’s uniqueness is a virtue. She loved that Mantis brought “more comedy, more awkwardness” to the franchise, providing a type of female hero we hadn’t seen before. This fresh approach has been well-received; fans grew deeply attached to Mantis, something even the filmmakers didn’t predict at first. As one analysis noted, by the time of the Holiday Special most viewers “fully realized just how much they’d come to care for her.” Mantis went from an obscure comics figure to a breakout favorite in the MCU, thanks to Klementieff’s heartfelt portrayal.
Conclusion
Mantis’s evolution in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a testament to how a supportive, empathetic character can thrive amid a roster of sarcastic anti-heroes and warriors. Across her appearances from Guardians Vol. 2 to Vol. 3, Mantis grows from a timid, isolated aide into a courageous Guardian who finds her own voice. Her journey is defined not by an increase in physical power – though she does become more adept with her abilities – but by personal growth, loyalty, and emotional intelligence. In a saga filled with brash personalities, Mantis proved to be “a breath of fresh air,” wearing her heart on her sleeve and connecting with others in a uniquely sincere way. Pom Klementieff’s performance, blending innocence with comic timing and genuine warmth, has been widely praised for bringing this unusual hero to life. Moreover, the MCU’s reinvention of Mantis, while divergent from the comics, opened the door for greater diversity in character types, showing that not all heroines need to fit the same mold. Through her friendships (especially with Drax) and her newfound family ties, Mantis became the emotional core of the Guardians team – the one who believes in others and, ultimately, herself. As the Guardians’ story comes to a close (for now), Mantis’s arc ends on an empowering note of self-discovery. Looking back, audiences may not have expected this odd, antennaed character to leave such a strong impression, but Mantis has solidified her place in the MCU as a source of empathy, humor, and heart – truly “something different” and unforgettable.
