Manta (comics)
| Manta | |
|---|---|
| File:Mantawiki.jpg Manta, by Dave Cockrum | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #137 (Sep 1980) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont and John Byrne |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | Imperial Guard |
| Abilities | Flight, infrared vision, generates flashes of blinding light |
Manta is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.
Publication history
Manta first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #137 (September 1980), and was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
The character subsequently appears in Phoenix: The Untold Story #1 (April 1984), Rom Annual #4 (December 1985), Classic X-Men #43 (January 1990), X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers #2 (June 1990), Quasar #32-33 (March-April 1992), Starblast #2 (February 1994), Quasar #55 (February 1994), New X-Men #124-126 (May-July 2002), Marvel Universe: The End #5-6 (August-September 2003), JLA/Avengers #1 (September 2003), and Uncanny X-Men #477 (October 2006), and #480 (January 2007), and X-Men: Emperor Vulcan #2-5 (December 2007-March 2008).
Manta appeared as part of the "Imperial Guard" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #6.
Fictional character biography
Manta is a member of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. She was one of the survivors of the battle with Vulcan.[volume & issue needed]
Powers and abilities
Manta possesses the power of flight. Manta's eyes only perceive heat (as in infrared radiation), allowing her to see in the dark. She can generate blinding flashes of white or blue light. Whether these flashes come from her costume or her body (possibly her life-force) is unknown. Her species experiences memory in a manner different from that of most other species.
Inspiration
Several of the members of the Imperial Guard are at least partly based on members of the DC Comics' team Legion of Super-Heroes. Manta is based on LSH member Lightning Lass.[1]
Other versions
At least two alternate versions of Manta have been seen in Exiles. The first was during an approximation of the Dark Phoenix Saga, and the second was in a reality where an evil Silver Surfer had killed everyone in the Imperial Guard save Manta while trying to kill that reality's Galactus.
In other media
In the X-Men Animated Series, Manta appeared, alongside the rest of the Imperial Guard, in The Phoenix Saga and The Dark Phoenix Saga.
References
- ^ Moreels, Eric J. "Manta," Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Accessed Apr. 22, 2009.