Mantis

Mantis made her explosive debut in The Avengers #112 (1973), introduced by writer Steve Englehart as one of the most enigmatic and layered characters in Marvel's Bronze Age roster. Born into mystery and trained to near-perfection by the Priests of Pama — a pacifist sect of the Kree — she arrived on the scene alongside the Swordsman and quickly proved herself far more than a sidekick. Her martial arts mastery, combined with a burgeoning suite of psychic and empathic abilities, made her an immediate standout among Earth's Mightiest Heroes. For collectors, Avengers #112 is the key book, and demand for high-grade copies has only grown as her pop culture profile has risen.

The defining arc of Mantis's early history is the landmark "Celestial Madonna" saga, which unfolded across The Avengers and Giant-Size Avengers issues in 1974 and 1975. This sprawling cosmic epic revealed that Mantis was destined to become the mother of a being of immeasurable universal importance — the Celestial Messiah. The storyline wove together time travel, the Kang the Conqueror mythology, and Avengers lore in ways that still resonate today. Giant-Size Avengers #4, which features her marriage to the Elder of the Universe known as the Cotati-possessed Swordsman, is a prized back-issue for anyone chasing complete runs from this era.

Mantis's story didn't stop with the Avengers. She resurfaced in key cosmic Marvel storylines and eventually found a new generation of fans when Brian Michael Bendis and later writers folded her into the Guardians of the Galaxy mythos. Her appearances in Annihilation-era cosmic books and subsequent Guardians of the Galaxy series introduced her empathic, plant-controlling powerhouse persona to an entirely new readership. Her connections to teams like the Avengers West Coast, the Fantastic Four, and the Knowhere Corps speak to her remarkable versatility across Marvel's publishing history.

For collectors, Mantis represents a true Bronze Age treasure with modern-day relevance. Her MCU appearances in the Guardians films dramatically boosted interest in her back issues, making already scarce early Avengers runs even harder to find in top condition. Whether you're hunting that first-appearance copy of Avengers #112, completing the Celestial Madonna arc, or chasing her cosmic-era Guardians appearances, Mantis books reward patient, dedicated collectors. She is proof that some of Marvel's most compelling characters were hiding in plain sight for decades — and the market has finally caught up.