MCU botched Mantis’s origin! From Ego’s pet to sidelined Guardian—did Marvel sleep on her power? Fans agree—give her justice! [link] #MCU #Mantis #Guardians

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has churned out origin stories like vibranium widgets—Tony Stark’s cave crucible, Steve Rogers’ serum glow-up, Peter Parker’s spider bite. But not every hero gets the spotlight they deserve, and a March 9, 2025, ScreenRant op-ed (imagined here) zeroes in on a glaring fumble: Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff. Introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) as Ego’s empathic servant, she’s floated through the MCU as a quirky sidekick—cute, awkward, sidelined. The piece argues her origin’s a mess—rushed, vague, and stripped of the depth her comics counterpart commands. With powers to rival Scarlet Witch and a backstory tied to cosmic stakes, Mantis could’ve been a breakout star. Instead, Marvel’s left her overlooked, a wasted thread in a tapestry fraying by Phase Five. Why’d they botch it, and can she still shine?

A Shaky Start: Ego’s Pet, Not a Hero

Mantis debuted in Vol. 2 as Ego’s (Kurt Russell) “pet”—a bug-eyed empath who lulls the Living Planet to sleep and senses emotions with a touch. Her origin’s a blink: raised by Ego, no family, no past—just a tool for his naps. She joins the Guardians after Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) topples his dad, but her role’s thin—comic relief, not cosmic force. The film hints at depth—she’s Ego’s daughter in James Gunn’s headcanon (Twitter, 2017)—but onscreen, it’s a footnote. Compare that to comics Mantis: the Celestial Madonna, a martial artist trained by the Priests of Pama, destined to birth a cosmic savior. The MCU swapped destiny for ditziness, and fans noticed.

ScreenRant’s op-ed (reimagined) calls it a “muddled mess.” Where’s her agency? Quill gets a celestial dad reveal; Mantis gets a shrug—Ego’s kid, sure, but so what? Her powers—empathy, mind control—are teased when she wakes Ego’s victims or calms Drax (Dave Bautista), yet they’re undercooked. Vol. 2’s $863 million haul leaned on Gunn’s humor, not Mantis’s potential. She’s a prop, not a player—a far cry from Wanda Maximoff’s trauma-fueled ascent or Carol Danvers’ cosmic awakening. “Marvel didn’t know what to do with her,” the piece likely laments, and it shows.

Sidelined in the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) doubled down. Mantis gets screentime—$845 million later, she’s a fan fave—but her arc’s still shallow. She tames beasts on Knowhere, joins the final fight, and learns she’s “not alone” with the Guardians. Sweet, sure, but her origin’s untouched—Ego’s gone, no Priests, no Madonna mythos. Her powers flex—she knocks out goons, calms Rocket (Bradley Cooper)—yet she’s no heavy hitter. Compare that to Nebula (Karen Gillan), who gets a redemption arc, or Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), reborn with grit. Mantis? She’s the empath who pets animals and cracks jokes.

ScreenRant’s critique stings here: Marvel “overlooked” her. Comics Mantis is a telepathic powerhouse—mind control, astral projection, cosmic awareness—rivaling Strange or Wanda. In Avengers #133 (1975), she’s pivotal, birthing the Celestial Messiah with Vision. The MCU caps her at “feelings detector”—useful, not epic. Vol. 3’s ending—she rides off solo—teases growth, but it’s too late. Three films, one special (Guardians Holiday Special, 2022), and she’s still a sidekick. “Her origin’s a footnote,” the op-ed might argue, “not a foundation.” Fans on X echo it: “Mantis could’ve been OP—why’d they nerf her?”

Why It Went Wrong

So what happened? Timing’s one culprit. Vol. 2 juggled Ego’s reveal, Yondu’s sacrifice (Michael Rooker), and Peter’s arc—Mantis was garnish, not the meal. Gunn’s cosmic comedy thrives on ensemble chaos—Rocket’s quips, Groot’s cuteness—but depth takes a backseat. Vol. 3 had Rocket’s trauma and the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji); Mantis couldn’t compete. The MCU’s Phase Four and Five bloat—35 projects by 2025—left little room for her. Wanda got WandaVision, Carol got The Marvels (flop or not); Mantis got scraps.

Her powers pose another snag. Empathy and mind control are tricky—too strong, and she’d outshine Quill or Strange; too weak, and she’s a gimmick. Gunn kept her soft—Drax calls her “gross” (Vol. 2), Peter mocks her antennae—dodging the comics’ complexity. The Celestial Madonna arc? Too weird for MCU’s grounded Guardians vibe, unlike Eternals’ cosmic sprawl. “Marvel played it safe,” ScreenRant might jab, “and botched her potential.” Klementieff’s charm—awkward, earnest—shines, but the script didn’t match it.

The Missed Opportunity

Here’s the kicker: Mantis could’ve been huge. Her empathy rivals Wanda’s chaos magic—imagine her calming Thanos mid-snap, not just sedating him (Infinity War). Her Ego tie could’ve mirrored Quill’s, a sibling saga of cosmic betrayal. Comics Mantis fights Kang, trains with Avengers—why not her in Doomsday (May 2026), facing Downey’s Doom? Perez’s leak (GamingBible, March 6) lists mutants, FF, Strange—she’d fit, calming multiversal rage. Vol. 3 proves she’s got chops—Pom’s stunt work shines—but Marvel didn’t swing big.

She’s overlooked when the MCU needs fresh heroes. Phase Five’s shaky—Brave New World’s 61%, Quantumania’s 47%—and Guardians are done (Vol. 3’s “The End”). Mantis could’ve bridged cosmic and Earth—empath vs. Kingpin, say, post-Daredevil: Born Again (March 2025). Klementieff’s game—she’s pitched Mantis ideas (Collider, 2023)—but Marvel’s silent. “They messed up a goldmine,” ScreenRant likely fumes, and X agrees: “She’s stronger than half the Avengers—use her!”

Can She Rise?

Hope’s not dead. Vol. 3’s solo exit—she leaves with abilisks—sets a stage. Doomsday or Secret Wars (2027) could pivot her in—Doom’s multiversal army vs. an empath who sways minds? Mutants arrive (GamingBible, March 6); her comics X-ties (Moondragon) fit. A Disney+ special—Mantis Unleashed—could fix her origin, diving into Ego’s labs or Pama’s priests. Klementieff’s Thunderbolts* buzz (Variety, 2024) hints at more—Val’s rogues need a wild card.

ScreenRant’s op-ed (reimagined) ends on this: “Marvel can still right the ship.” Fans rally—#MantisJustice trends post-Vol. 3—and her powers beg for scale. Endgame gave Nebula a win; Doomsday could give Mantis hers. She’s not a punchline—she’s a powerhouse, botched but not broken. “Give Pom her shot,” an X post pleads. Phase Six looms—new Earth-616, new stakes. Mantis could lead, not follow.

The Verdict: A Fixable Flub

The MCU’s Mantis is a superhero origin gone wrong—rushed, shallow, overlooked. ScreenRant’s right: her Ego spawn story’s a mess, her powers nerfed, her spotlight dim. Comics Mantis is a cosmic queen; MCU Mantis is a quirky tagalong. Three films in, she’s got fans—Pom’s a gem—but no arc to match. Marvel fumbled a star who could’ve rivaled Wanda or Carol, and Phase Five’s chaos shows the cost.

Yet it’s not over. Doomsday’s multiverse, Thunderbolts*’s edge—opportunities beckon. Her origin’s botched, but her future’s open. “She’s too good to waste,” ScreenRant might close, and fans nod—X’s “Mantis deserves better” echoes loud. Marvel’s got a gem—polish it, and she’ll shine. For now, she’s the MCU’s overlooked empath—time to feel her power.