Manta (Shi'ar Imperial Guard)

MANTA

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race of origin unrevealed)

Occupation: Member of Shi'ar Imperial Guard

Group Membership: Shi'ar Imperial Guard (Arc, Astra, Binder, Black Light, Blackthorn, Blimp, Commando, Cosmo, Earthquake, Electron, Fader, Fantastic Four, Fang, Flashfire/Tempest, Gladiator, Hobgoblin/Shapeshifter, Hussar, Impulse, Kwill, Layla Miller, Monstra, Moondancer, Multiple Man (Jamie Madrox), Neosaurus, Nightside, Oracle, Schism, Scintilla/Midget, Solar Wind, Squorm, Strong Guy (Guido Carosella), Titan, Voltor, Voyager, Warstar, White Noise, Zenith, others)

Affiliations: Asgardians of the Galaxy (Angela, Destroyer/Kid Loki, Executioner (Skurge), Throg, Thunderstrike/Kevin Masterson, Valkyrie/Brunnhilde), Berman, Captain Atlas, Deathbird, Diascar, Doctor Minerva, Gamora, Guardian (James Hudson), Ka'ardum, Kid Gladiator, Kin Crimson, K'tor, K'ythri, Marauders (Aurora/Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, Bishop/Lucas Bishop, Daken/Fang/Akihiro, Cassandra Nova, Kate Pryde, Psylocke/Kwannon, Somnus/Carl Valentino, Tempo/Heather Tucker), Nova Corps, a Sentinel, Sharra, Spaceknights (Rom, Scanner, Seeker, Trapper), Starjammers (Ch'od, Raza), S.W.O.R.D., Vulcan, Warbird (Ava'Dara Naganandini), Warden Daak;
formerly Lilandra, Magic/Magique, Mentor, Neutron/Quasar, Plutonia, Praetorians (Pn'zo, Strontian (Xenith), Symbiote, Uncreated), Smasher (Vril Rokk), Smasher (Salac Tuur), Starbolt

Enemies: Annihilus, Asgardians (Cul Borson, Fandral, Heimdall, Hildegarde, Hogun, Sif), Binary, Black Bolt, Blastaar, Blast Rockers Empire, Cannonball (Sam Guthrie), Captain Atlas, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Cerise, Chlorites, Darkstar, Deathbird, Destroyer, Gambit (Remy LeBeau), Guardians of the Galaxy (Angela, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord), Her, Hodinn, Ikaris, Inhumans (Black Bolt, Crystal, Gorgon, Karnak, Lockjaw, Medusa, Triton), Izumbard, Kree, Liberator, Lethal Legion (Death Grip, Electric Head, Half-Bot, Mr. Eloquent, Orbis Extrimis), Lobo (DC), Lockjaw, Mutant Force (Burner, Lifter, Peeper, Slither), Naglfar Armada, Nebula, New Mutants (Chamber, Cypher/Warlock, Karma, Magik, Mirage, Mondo, Sunspot, Wolfsbane), Cassandra Nova, Nova Corps (Josh, Malik Tarcel, Suki Yumiko, others), Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), the Reckoning (Rapture, Reject, Wrath), Rogue (Anna LeBeau), Ronan the Accuser, Scy'ar Tal, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Starfox, Starjammers (Binary, Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Havok, Hepzibah, Korvus, Marvel Girl/Rachel Grey, Lilandra Neramani, Polaris, Raza), Thanos, Thor (Jane Foster), Vanguard, Xandra, X-Men (Angel/Warren Worthington III, Beast/Henry McCoy, Colossus, Cyclops, Darwin, Havok, Marvel Girl/Rachel Grey, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, Phoenix/Jean Grey, Polaris, Storm, Warpath, Wolverine), X-Men (xenoform), X-Men (Angel (teen), Beast (teen), Cyclops (teen), Jean Grey (teen), Iceman (teen), Shadowcat, X-23);
formerly Ka'ardum, Vulcan

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile throughout Shi'ar Empire

First Appearance: X-Men I#137 (September, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: By opening her cape, Manta releases a blinding flash of blue-white light, brighter than the stars, to dazzle and blind all within its influence. This light is apparently connected to her life force, and disruptions of it cause harm to Manta. When Manta rekindles the light, she restrains the darkness within herself. Manta can fly, either under her own power or by using a Shi'ar anti-gravity device. It is unknown if her abilities are possessed by her entire race or solely her. The full extent of her abilities are likely unknown.

Height: 5'6"
Weight: 125 lbs.

History:

(New X-Men I#125 (fb) - BTS) - Ten years before Lilandra was possessed by Cassandra Nova (Xavier), Manta participated in a mission on the planet Chaturanga where a global war raged. There she saw a Mummudrai.

(Tarot#4) - Members of the Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Manta, and Smasher/Vril-Rokk) were briefly pulled by the Nameless One into another dimension for a chaotic battle.

(X-Men I#137) - Lilandra sent the Imperial Guard against the X-Men (Angel (Warren Worthington), Beast (Henry McCoy), Colossus, Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm, Wolverine) on the moon to give the Shi'ar rights to slay the Phoenix. If the X-Men won, the Shi'ar would leave the Phoenix to them. A massive battle broke out and the Imperial Guard soon won. Guard members in this mission: Earthquake, Gladiator, Hussar, Manta, Oracle, Smasher, Starbolt, and Warstar. During the battle, Manta, after evading a blast from Phoenix, used her infra-red vision to see Nightcrawler in the shadows and blasted him unconscious.

(Rom Annual#4) - In far space, Guard members Binder, Chakar, Kwill, and Voltor were killed by the maddened Spaceknight Pulsar. Former Shi'ar ally Dr. Tyreseus donned Pulsar's armor and, calling himself Liberator, began slaying Shi'ar ships. Members of the Guard were sent to investigate, and battled other Spaceknights, Rom, Scanner, Seeker, and Trapper. During the battle, Manta blinded Rom after Gladiator had been ineffective against him. Rom hit Manta with his neutralizer, though, causing her to cry out, “No! My light! My life!” Gladiator ended up aiding the Spaceknights in destroying the Liberator. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Gladiator, Magic, Manta, Oracle, Tempest, and Warstar.

(X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2) - Members of the Imperial Guard participated in an initial assault on the Starjammers (Binary, Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza) at Deathbird's orders. When Binary blew a hole through the ship's wall, they briefly tried to save the Shi'ar on board, Manta using her light to aid B'nee in attempting to fix the ship, but Deathbird ordered them to teleport away, leaving the soldiers to their fate. They battled with the Starjammers and Zenith was killed during the battle. Guard members who participated in the initial assault: Hussar, Manta, Quasar, Warstar, and Zenith.

(Quasar#32) - Impulse, Magique, and Manta were sent to a moon of Saturn to retrieve the Nega-Bands from Captain Marvel's corpse, but found Atlas, Minerva, Quasar, and Starfox there. Magique cast an illusion that the entire Imperial Guard were attacking, distracting the foes. Manta blinded Quasar, but was then hit by Starfox, who stimulated the pleasure centers of her brain, rendering her incapable of fighting. The other two were also defeated.

(Quasar#33) - Members of the Imperial Guard attacked Quasar and Her when the heroes neared the Guard ship. He boarded their ship and the Guard agreed to release Atlas to him so as not to damage the ship. Quasar quickly departed before they could pursue him. Guard members in this mission: Electron, Hobgoblin, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Starbolt, Tempest, and Warstar.

(Starblast#2) - Gladiator ordered the humans aboard the battle-cruiser (Binary, Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Darkstar, Ikaris, Lockjaw, Perun, Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Vanguard) to leave, but they refused. After some brief explanations by Gladiator, more of the Imperial Guard teleported aboard to investigate. After a deadly battle, during which Neutron traded blows with Perun, the humans agreed to surrender the ship if the Shi'ar would help the humans pursue the Black Fleet. Guard members in this mission included: Gladiator, Manta, Moondanacer, Neutron, Nightside, Smasher, Solar Wind, Starbolt, and Voyager.

(Quasar#55 - BTS) - The Guard helped Earth's heroes to get to the Stranger's Lab World where the Starblasters resided.

(X-Men Legends I#2) - The Imperial Guard was summoned to the Blue Area of the Moon by Corsair and the Starjammers, and they helped return X-Treme (Adam-X) to Chandilar for judgment.

(New X-Men I#124) - Lilandra, influenced by Cassandra Nova, sent several of the Guard to contain the X-Men on Earth. They flew over the grounds and Manta used her powers to detect the mutant's infrared heat sources. They fought against the X-Men, Manta and Squorm flying down to attack Beast and Phoenix after Fader and Monstra were defeated. Manta barely evaded Beast's claws, but was then knocked out by a series of blows from Phoenix. Guard members in this mission included: Arc, Blimp, Fader, Gladiator, Manta, Monstra, Neosaurus, Oracle, Plutonia, Schism and Squorm.

(New X-Men I#125-126) - Joined by Smasher, the conscious Guard attacked Cassandra Nova, who easily defeated them.

(Marvel Universe: The End#5-6) - Members of the Imperial Guard were briefly summoned alongside dozens of Earth heroes to battle the powerful Thanos. Members of the Guard included: Gladiator, Manta, and Starbolt.

(JLA/Avengers#1) - The Imperial Guard fought Lobo. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Fang, Electron, Flashfire, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar.

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 4: Exodus) - The Imperial Guard allied with the Diascar race, and pursued Chlorite refugees to Earth, with the intent of killing them. The X-Men (Professor X, Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Kitty Pryde, Lockheed) stood against the Guard (Smasher (Vrill Rokk), Manta, Blackthorn, N'rill'iree, Flashfire, Magique, Nightside). During the fight, Manta engulfed Wolverine in burning light, and later hit Jean Grey. Blackthorn animated corn to fight for him until Lockheed set him on fire, and Astra, who had been holding Shadowcat phased, had to rescue him. Magique used illusions to defeat Cyclops. Nightside engulfed some of the mutants in Darkforce until Wolverine slashed at her, pulling his blows. Smasher defeated Kitty before Nightcrawler stole his specs and Lockheed hit him with fire, but he managed to punch Rogue down. Before the fight could escalate further, Dr. Valerie Cooper arrived to break up the fight, having talked about the threat of the Chlorites with the Diascar, and the Imperial Guard and X-Men stood down.

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 8: Exclosure) - The Diascar placed a forcefield over a mutant community in Brazil. When the X-Men investigated, the Imperial Guard attacked, making sure to keep the X-Men out of the enclosure. Smasher burst into the ship, throwing devices to contain some of the team. When Kitty Pryde tried phasing into a team member to hide, Astra unphased her and Blackthorn poisoned her with a thorn. Smasher realized that all those under the dome would be dead within days.

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 14: Exposure (Northern): In British Columbia, Manta pursued a Chlorite alongside a Sentinel, Wolverine, and Guardian. Seeking to catalogue all mutants, they battled and defeated Mutant Force (Burner, Lifter, Peeper, Slither).

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 17: Extraterritorial) - The Imperial Guard helped the Sentinels secure Madripoor.

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 21: Extermination) - The Imperial Guard (Smasher, Manta, N'rill'iree, Flashfire) worked with the Diascar and Sentinels to take down the X-Men when they learned they were harboring a Chlorite refugee. When the Sentinels began using lethal force against mutants, the Imperial Guard was furious and joined the mutants in protecting their students until all of the Sentinels were defeated.

(X-Men: Watchers on the Walls: Chapter 23: Exeunt Omnes - BTS) - The X-Men found a way to send all Chlorites into a different dimension where they could survive. The Imperial Guard and the Diascar left peacefully.

(Uncanny X-Men I#477 - BTS) - The Imperial Guard was dispatched to defeat Vulcan, who'd been destroying ships in Shi'ar space.

(Uncanny X-Men I#480) - The Guard finally defeated Vulcan (keeping him alive at the orders of K'tor) after a deadly battle which left some Guard members, including Cosmo, Impulse, Smasher, and Titan, seemingly slain. Guard members in this mission: Astra, Cosmo, Electron, Gladiator, Hobgoblin, Impulse, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Smasher, Starbolt, and Titan.

(Uncanny X-Men I#485 - BTS) - Members of the Guard stood guard at the wedding of Deathbird to Vulcan, D'ken acting as new emperor having ordered it. The X-Men (Darwin, Havok, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Polaris, Warpath), Starjammers (Ch'od, Corsair, Cr+eee, Hepzibah, Raza), Korvus, Lilandra, and the armies of General Ka'ardum attacked, and the Guard fought against them. Magique briefly fought Hepzibah. Vulcan then assassinated D'ken.

(Uncanny X-Men I#486) - Vulcan murdered Corsair and proclaimed himself emperor. Deathbird ordered the Guard to follow Vulcan's orders, and they were soon ordered to retreat. Guard members in this mission (and last): Earthquake, Electron, Gladiator, Magique, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Starbolt, and Warstar.

(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#2) - The Scy'ar Tal waged war on the Shi'ar and destroyed the planet Feather's Edge. Vulcan, with Deathbird and the Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Manta, Nightside, Oracle, Starbolt, Titan, Warstar) teleported aboard the Starjammers' ship.

(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#4) - During the war of the Shi'ar with the Scy'ar Tal, Electron led a force of the Imperial Guard (Manta, Plutonia, Flashfire) against the Starjammers (Ch'od, Korvus, Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey), Polaris, Raza).

(X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#5) - Electron's group attacked the Starjammers and Manta blinded Marvel Girl. Polaris ordered Marvel Girl and Korvus on another mission as she wrapped Manta and Electron in metal coverings. The Starjammers managed to defeat Electron and his allies, but Deathbird lead the rest of the Imperial Guard and defeated the Starjammers, then teleported back to save Vulcan from Havok. Days later, the Imperial Guard (Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Titan, Warstar) stood by Deathbird, Araki, and Ka'ardum as the Shi'ar cheered on Vulcan. The Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Polaris, Raza) lay captive.

(X-Men: Kingbreaker#1) - Gladiator, Manta and Titan aided in the conquest of the Z'Nox.

(X-Men: Kingbreaker#3) – Vulcan ordered the Imperial Guard to intervene in a battle between the Starjammers (Ch'od, Havok, Lilandra, Marvel Girl, Korvus, Polaris, Raza) and new Guard members Hodinn, Pn'zo, Strontian, the Symbiote, and the Uncreated. Guard members present: Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Mentor, Nightside, Oracle, Plutonia, Scintilla, Starbolt, Titan, and Warstar.

(X-Men: Kingbreaker#4) – Joined by Smasher (Salac Tuur), the Guard fought off the Starjammers, who eventually escaped after putting Deathbird into a coma. During the battle, the Hodinn and Pn'zo were killed. Later, Vulcan authorized the Imperial Guard to join the military in expanding the Shi'ar empire.

(War of Kings#1) - Vulcan surveyed, with Gladiator, the assembled Imperial Guard, taking special notice of Neutron, Plutonia, Manta, the new Smasher, Squorm, and Starbolt. Mentor reported they were all battle ready and Vulcan announced his intentions to attack the Kree. They soon engaged in a massive battle with the Inhumans and Starjammers, successfully capturing Lilandra before retreating. During the battle, Electron, Black Light, Manta, and Warstar led a charge against the Kree and Inhuman soldiers. Members of the Guard in this mission: Astra, Black Light, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator, Hussar, Impulse, Magique, Manta, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Schism, Scintilla, Shapeshifter, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Titan, Voyager, Warstar, and White Noise.

(Nova IV#24) - The Imperial Guard (Earthquake, Electron, Flashfire, Gladiator, Impulse, Manta, Warstar) attacked a faction of the Nova Corps on a Shi'ar fringeworld, killing many. The Nova Prime, Malik Tarcel, battled Gladiator directly until the rest, including Suki Yumiko and Josh, surrendered. Strontian and the Praetorians came to take over, then, killing all but Tarcel, who was taken in for interrogation.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#1) - When the planet of Izumbard refused to create more warships for the Shi'ar, the Imperial Guard (Earthquake, Electron, Flashfire, Neutron, Plutonia, Titan, Voltar, Warstar) were sent to quell the riots, though Voltar was soon killed in battle. Another branch of the Guard (Commando, Fang, Hussar, Manta, Starbolt) were sent to stop the Izumbard from launching attack ships at the Shi'ar. After getting permission to destroy the launching warbirds, Manta blinded several pilots with her light. They were all shocked when Gladiator stepped in and finished the battle himself. Later, at their barracks, they proposed a toast, and Manta recognized the loss of Voltar. When a fight broke out, Manta temporarily blinded Fang to stop him from entering the battle. Soon Mentor, Smasher, and Oracle interrupted the fight. Mentor told them that they'd just volunteered for a special strike force mission due to their bad behavior. The next day, they learned they'd be going for recon into the Fault, the rip in time and space, alongside Ch'od and Raza of the Starjammers.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#2) - After being briefed by Gladiator, the Imperial Guard (Fang, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Oracle, Plutonia, Smasher, Starbolt, Warstar) were sent into the Fault to investigate, with Ch'od and Raza among them. The ship was soon under attack by energy leeches and the crew struggled to stay in the air. When one breached the ship, Mentor ordered Warstar not to fire on it, but to instead trap it in a force field, in which the creature fed upon itself. Mentor recommended the ship run on silent so as not to attract more leeches, and Ch'od reluctantly agreed. Within minutes, a giant ship approached, and they prepared the Starjammer for battle. The ship, bio-organic in nature, fired on them, and then caught them in a tractor beam, pulling it inside. As they battled off biological monsters, Oracle surmised they were aboard a rotting corpse that was seeking to use its enzymes to kill them.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#3) - Over the following six hours, as the dead ship grew around the Starjammer, the Guard worked to repair their ship. Oracle soon discovered the ship had been killed while running from something else. Fang, Hussar, and Manta bantered about Gladiator's right to be Majestor, and Hussar claimed she and Kallark had spent a night together once. As enzymes attacked them, Manta fained due to excessive power drain. They realized they need to rush away before they were digested, and they narrowly escaped. They soon came across a massive field of debris. They followed an energy signature, hoping to find Vulcan, when Warstar and Neutron were hit by a massive energy burst. When the air cleared, they saw Quasar (Wendell Vaughn) there, with a massive biological entity pursuing him.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#4) - Oracle managed to send a telepathic call for help through Quasar's quantum powers into the M'Kraan Crystal, reaching Gladiator. The Guard hid themselves in the debris zone and worked to lay mines on the surrounding debris. Many of the members shared a final toast before the alien beings arrived aboard their massive ship and began moving through the mines. On the ship, Ch'od realized someone had sabotaged their ship, and Mentor realized it must be the new Smasher, who was soon revealed as Talon of the Fraternity of Raptors. Talon had retrieved two amulets of power from the Fault and claimed he could use them to give the team greater firepower for the coming battle. Outside the xenoform beings attacked in the form of the X-Men and Starbolt was quickly killed in battle. Gladiator then arrived to aid them.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#5 (fb)) - Gladiator had more of the Guard (Arc, Black Light, Commando, Electron, G- Type, Moondancer, Titan, Voyager, White Noise) assembled at his order, to rescue the stranded team (Fang, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Mentor, Neutron, Oracle, Plutonia, Warstar), with Ch'od, Raza, Talon (previously thought to be Smasher), and Quasar, from within the Fault. Voyager, with great strain, opened a gateway to within the Fault, then stayed behind while Moondancer used her powers to guide them through the debris and to the ship, which was surrounded by bizarre and deadly xenoform beings patterned after the X-Men.

(Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#5) - The two sides of the Guard savagely attacked the aliens, killing them swiftly and decisively. Mentor soon reported to Gladiator that "an abominable universe of reciprocal otherness" was upon them from the other side of the Fault, full of cancerous aggression and new physical laws. Talon then ensured them that using his amulets would allow them to create two more Raptor beings, and Mentor and Plutonia volunteered, becoming Strel and Kyte respectively. During the battle, Black Light and Neutron were killed. The combined Guard narrowly escaped a savage telepathic attack when Ch'od and Raza launched the Symbiote (formerly of the Praetorians) at the Xavier being the attack had originated from. After they successfully escaped, Gladiator reported their success to the Inhumans, and announced the pending war with the Fault universe. While honoring their newly dead (joining the ranks of thousands of others) on the mausoleum world of Elysialla VII, the Guard stood with newly appointed members in the roles of Mentor, Neutron, Plutonia, Smasher, and Starbolt. Fang recited the Guard's oath. "I will not falter, and I will not swerve. From the rising of the suns to the setting of the stars. With Sharra and K'ythri to guide me, I will serve out the term of my duty with courage and conviction for it is the greatest honor any being of any species can know to be allowed to guard the Imperium of the Shi'ar and stand, each of us, as a light in the darkness. So I make my oath of allegiance."

(All-New X-Men I#23) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Oracle, Titan, Impulse, Manta, Smasher, Electron, Plutonia, Mentor, Hussar, Flashfire, Scintilla, Warstar) and the Shi'ar Death Commandos (Krait, Flaw, Devo, Offset, Sega, Colony, Hypernova, Warshot) were ordered by Gladiator to stand by while they put the young teenage Jean Grey on trial for crimes she would commit in the future as the Phoenix.

(Guardians of the Galaxy III#12) - The Imperial Guard (Manta, Electron, Titan, Flashfire, Warstar, Smasher, Plutonia, Oracle) trained on Chandilar, then prepared to stand guard at the trial of Jean Grey.

(All-New X-Men I#24) - The Imperial Guard (Oracle, Warstar, Impulse, Mentor, Manta, Hussar, Flashfire, Plutonia, Smasher, Astra, Electron, Titan, Scintilla) stood by at the trial, debating among themselves the guilt of Jean Grey, who pushed her powers to the limits and briefly defeated the entire team. When the X-Men, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Starjammers arrived, they fought the Guard.

(Guardians of the Galaxy III#13) - The Imperial Guard (Plutonia, Oracle, Flashfire, Gladiator, Manta, Smasher, Warstar, Titan, Impluse, Mentor, Electron) and Krait of the Death Commandos faced against the Starjammers, the X-Men, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, but the Guard was stopped nearly single-handedly by Jean Grey, who manifested a new power source. Oracle ordered the Guard to retreat, and Gladiator reluctantly agreed.

(Thanos: The Infinity Relativity#1) - On Chandilar, the Imperial Guard, notified by Mentor, noticed a new energy source on New Kral and investigated. Gladiator, Manta, and Neutron did battle with the forces of Annihilus, who was Hulk-powered and could send waves of fear out into others. Annihilus defeated Gladiator in single combat. Thanos sent him back to marshall the forces of the Shi'ar.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Thanos II#2) – The Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Starbolt, Fang, Impulse) showed up on the Shi’ar planet, Nulla, to arrest Thanos.

(Thanos II#3) – On Nulla, the Imperial Guard (Flashfire, Starbolt, Fang, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Impulse, Neutron, Plutonia, Manta, Hardball, Hobgoblin, Nightside, Oracle, Titan, Gladiator) savagely attacked Thanos, with more members backing them up. Though Thanos fought hard, they soon realized he was bleeding and wounded, and Gladiator delivered the final blow. Thanos was apprehended.

(Thanos II#5) – The Imperial Guard (Impulse, Hardball, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Nightside, Manta, Titan, Fang, Neutron, Hobgoblin) delivered Thanos to a secure Shi’ar prison, where Warden Daak saw his safe imprisonment.

(Mighty Thor II#15) - Gladiator, Kid Gladiator, Warbird, the Shi'ar, and a contingent of the Imperial Guard (Warstar, Smasher/Isabel Kane, Neutron, Manta, Starbolt) went to Asgardia, where they confronted Heimdall before other Asgardians and Thor (Jane Foster) rushed in to face them. The Shi'ar snagged Thor and returned her to Shi'ar space, where Sharra and K'ythri were prepared to face her in M'Kraan Palace. More members of the Guard (Webwing, Hussar, Oracle, Hobgoblin) met them there.

(Mighty Thor II#16) - The Imperial Guard (Smasher/Isabel Kane, Starbolt, Neutron, Manta, Hussar, Hobgoblin, Oracle, Warstar) saw Sharra and K'ythri challenge Thor to a contest. When Gladiator tried standing up for them, they humbled him physically.

(Mighty Thor II#17) - Gladiator (and Kid Gladiator) led the Imperial Guard (Astra, Plutonia, Hobgoblin, Starbolt, Oracle, Manta, Neutron, Fang, Electron, Warstar, Webwing, Hussar, Smasher (Isabel Kane)) against the Asgardians, but the Destroyer was unleashed to fight them back.

(Mighty Thor II#18 - BTS) - Gladiator kept the Imperial Guard off to the side during the battle between gods.

(Guardians of the Galaxy IV#17) - S.W.O.R.D. turned Gamora over to the Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Titan, Manta, Watstar, Oracle, Impulse, Astra) for containment, but she had changed places with Crewman Berman and escaped.

(Mr. and Mrs. X#1) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Warstar) went to the planet Che'ar, where they arrested Cerise and seized the package. Gambit and Rogue attacked and battled the Guard. Rogue escaped by absorbing Astra's powers.

(Mr. and Mrs. X#2) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Warstar) kept Gambit and Cerise captive aboard the mutants' ship, then fired on a ship above planet Che'an, Cerise escaped her shackles and used a teleporter to take all of the Imperial Guard across the galaxy.

(Mr. and Mrs. X#3) - The Imperial Guard members (Astra, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Warstar) reported back to Gladiator and Oracle on Chandilar; Gladiator pretended to punish them while Oracle let Cerise go. Later, the new Nightside stole the egg from the ship and returned it to Chandilar through the Darkforce Dimension.

(Mr. and Mrs. X#4) - The Imperial Guard (Astra, Electron, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Nightside, Pulsar, Titan, Warstar) attacked Rogue, Gambit, Cerise, Xandra (the hatched egg), and the Starjammers on the Artsturd 'Kle moon over Chandilar. Deathbird and her rebel army arrived soon after wounding Gambit, then Rogue and Xandra seemed to explode.

(Mr. and Mrs. X#5) - Oracle joined the Imperial Guard (Astra, Electron, Flashfire, Hussar, Manta, Nightside, Pulsar, Titan, Warstar) in mourning the seemingly lost Xandra. Oracle secretly gave condolences to Cerise, then the Guard departed peacefully.

(Asgardians of the Galaxy#2) - On Chandilar, Gladiator assembled the Imperial Guard (Warstar, Manta, Neutron, Smasher (Izzy Kane), Oracle) to stand against Nebula, who unleashed the Naglfar Armada against them, including an undead Thor.

(Asgardians of the Galaxy#3) - The Imperial Guard were overwhelmed by the Naglfar Armada's powers. Neutron was felled by an undead Odin. The Asgardians of the Galaxy arrived to help end the fight, then the Nova Corps showed up.

(Guardians of the Galaxy V#1) – Gladiator led Flashfire, Manta, Titan and Warstar in quelling a Shi'ar uprising.

(New Mutants IV#7) - Deathbird tried killing Oracle, but Gladiator seized the spear and threw it back. A fight broke out between the New Mutants and the Imperial Guard (Mentor, Hussar, Neutron, Manta), but they soon made peace. Xandra appointed Oracle and Deathbird as her advisors.

(X-Men V#8) - The Imperial Guard (Oracle, Manta) summoned Gladiator, who'd been hunting Brood with Kid Gladiator, informing him that a man dressed as a Kree Accuser (King Vulcan) was in Shi'ar space. A fight broke out, with Cannonball hitting Manta after she doused the room in light, Karma taking control of Mentor and Hussar, after she'd wrapped her whip around Cypher's neck, Smasher knocking Oracle out of the air, and Magik, Mondo, Chamber, and Wolfsbane attacked Neutron. In the end, Oracle's crimes were exposed and she was appointed as advisor at Xandra's side along with Deathbird.

(X-Men V#9) - The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Manta, Oracle) and Kid Gladiator battled a new Accuser (actually King Vulcan), who'd apprehended the Starjammers while seeking the weapon, the King Egg. Brood, aboard an Acanti, soon attacked and they crashed on the planet below, where a team of X-Men (Cyclops, Havok, Jean Grey, Vulcan, Broo) had the King Egg. The Brood attacked by the thousands and the Guard, with the X-Men and Starjammers, struggled to hold them off, until Broo consumed the King Egg, finding himself in charge of the entire Brood race.

(X-Men V#17) - The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Hussar, Mentor, Oracle, Manta) worked to keep the peace in Shi'ar space during a time of economic distress. Later, after Xandra had gone missing, Oracle, Mentor, and Smasher worked with Cyclops, Storm, and Marvel Girl of the X-Men to track down the kidnapper, Urr the Stygian.

(S.W.O.R.D. II#9) - A delegation of the Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Titan, Manta, Fang, Neutron) accompanied Xandra, Deathbird, and Cannonball through the Krakoan gateway on Chandilar to the ship, the Keep, above the mutant planet of Arakko. Fang and Gladiator made sure that there were no shapeshifters in the room, but the new Lethal Legion (Death Grip, Electric Head, Half-Bot, Mr. Eloquent, Orbis Extrimis) attacked. Fang was quickly killed by Half-Bot as the Electric Head stripped Gladiator of his confidence, then Mr. Eloquent hit Neutron with his atomic chainsaw and Neutron was lost in the singularity within himself. Titan kicked Orbis Stellaris away, then Death Grip killed Titan with a touch. Storm soon joined the battle and helped turn the tides.

(S.W.O.R.D. II#10) - As the Lethal Legion departed, Manta and Gladitor (still struggling with confidence) regrouped over the corpses of Fang and Titan, with Neutron gone. More Lethal Legions arrived to fight, but Storm swiftly defeated them.

(Fantastic Four VI#40) - The Imperial Guard (Oracle, Manta, Gladiator, Mentor) tried defending the M'Kraan Crystal against the Reckoning, but they were defeated and left unconscious.

(Marauders II#1) - The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Mentor, Manta) advised Xandra on the arrival of the Marauders, but the Kin Crimson, specifically Delphos the Red, dismissed the Guard, declaring it above their paygrades.

(Fantastic Four VI#43) - Gladiator, Oracle, and Manta attended a meeting of intergalactic heroes (alongside the Starjammers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Human Torch, Ego the Living Planet, the Unparalleled, Thor, the Heralds of Galactus, and the Kree/Skrull Alliance) to discuss the threat of the Reckoning.

(X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#95) - The Imperial Guard (Fang, Astra, Manta, Warstar, Electron, Smasher, Gladiator) aided the Fantastic Four, Multiple Man, Layla Miller, and Strong Guy in fighting Blastaar and the Blast Rockers Empire, evil pirate versions of Multiple Man.

(Children of the Vault I#2 (fb) - BTS) - A group of brainwashed backup Superguardians (for Manta, Oracle, Smasher, Warstar, Titan, Scintilla) were mind-controlled by a rogue faction of the Shi'ar (possibly the Kin Crimson) into destroying Earth.

(Children of the Vault I#2 - BTS) - The Superguardians were defeated by the Children of the Vault in Nairobi.

(Infinity Paws Infinity Comic#5) - The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Astra, Manta, Smasher, Warstar) were tending to Xandra when a group of pets from Earth teleported into the room briefly with Lockjaw.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Terry Austin.

Manta is pictured in OHotMU I#5 and has a partial entry in OHotMU Deluxe Edition#6.

The Imperial Guard was a takeoff of DC's Legion of Super-Heroes. Manta is probably based in name only on In name only she could be Lamprey (see the Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes).
--John Holstein

Thanks to Spidermay for adding the New X-Men I#125 flashback.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Manta has no known connections to

any other "Manta" characters

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6, p20, pan1 (main image)
Rom Annual#4, p17, pan3 (2nd)
Quasar#32, p13, pan3 (3rd)
New X-Men I#124, p14, pan1 (4th)

Appearances:
X-Men I#137 (September, 1980) - Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Terry Austin (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Rom Annual#4 (December, 1985) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Steve Ditko (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
X-Men: Spotlight on Starjammers#2 (1990) - Terry Kavanagh (writer), Dave Cockrum (penciler), Jeff Albrecht (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#32 (March, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Greg Capullo (penciler), Harry Candelario (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#33 (April, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rurik Tyler (penciler), Fred Fredericks (inker), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Starblast#2 (February, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Ralph Cabrera (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Quasar#55 (February, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), John Heebink (penciler), Aaron McClellan (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
New X-Men I#124-125 (May-June, 2002) - Grant Morrison (writer), Igor Kordey (artist), Mark Powers (editor)
New X-Men I#126 (July, 2002) - Grant Morrison (writer), Frank Quitely (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Mark Powers (editor)
Marvel Universe: The End#5-6 (August-September, 2003) - Jim Starlin (writer/penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
JLA/Avengers#1 (September, 2003) - Kurt Busiek (writer), George Perez (artist), Tom Brevoort & Dan Raspler (editors)
X-Men: Watchers on the Walls (May, 2006) - Christopher L. Bennett (writer)
Uncanny X-Men I#477 (October, 2006) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#480 (January, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Clayton Henry (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Mike Marts, Nick Lowe (editors)
X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#2 (December, 2007) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men: Emperor Vulcan#4-5 (February-March, 2008) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men: Kingbreaker#1 (February, 2009) - Christopher Yost (writer), Dustin Weaver (penciler), Jaime Mendoza (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men: Kingbreaker#3-4 (April-May, 2009) - Christopher Yost (writer), Paco Diaz Luque & Dustin Weaver (penciler), Vicente Cifuentes & Jaime Mendoza (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
War of Kings#1 (May, 2009) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Paul Pelletier (pencils), Rick Magyar (inks), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Nova IV#24 (June, 2009) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Anrea DiVito (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard#1-5 (January-May, 2010) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Kevin Walker (penciler/inker), Bill Rosemann (editor)
All-New X-Men I#23 (April, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Stuart Immonen (penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy III#12 (April, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Sara Pichelli, Stuart Immonen (pencilers), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), Stephen Wacker (editor)
All-New X-Men I#24 (May, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Stuart Immonen (penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (inker), Nick Lowe (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy III#13 (May, 2014) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Sara Pichelli, David Marquez (artists), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Thanos: The Infinity Relativity I#1 (June, 2015) - (Jim Starlin (writer/artist), Andy Smith (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Thanos II#2-3, 5 (February-March, May, 2017) – Jeff Lamire (writer), Mike Deodato Jr (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Mighty Thor II#15-18 (March-June, 2017) - Jason Aaron (writer), Russell Dauterman (artist), Wil Moss (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy IV#17 (April, 2017) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Valerio Schiti (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Mr. and Mrs. X#1-5 (September, 2018 - January, 2019) - Kelly Thompson (writer), Oscar Bazaldua (artist), Darren Shan (editor)
Asgardians of the Galaxy#2 (December, 2018) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Matteo Lolli (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Asgardians of the Galaxy#3 (January, 2019) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Matteo Lolli, Andre Lima Araujo, JB Thompson, Michael Del Mundo (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy V#1 (March, 2019) – Donny Cates (writer), Geoff Shaw (artist), Darren Shan (editor)
Tarot#4 (March-May, 2020) - Alan Davis (writer), Paul Renaud (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Mutants IV#7 (April, 2020) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Rod Reis (artist), Jordan White (editor)
X-Men V#8 (June, 2020) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (artist), Jordan White (editor)
X-Men V#9 (July, 2020) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (artist), Jordan White (editor)
X-Men V#17 (March 2021) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Brett Booth (penciler), Adelso Corona (inker), Jordan White (editor)
S.W.O.R.D. II#9-10 (December, 2021 - January, 2022) - Al Ewing (writer), Jacopo Camagni (artist), Jordan White (editor)
X-Men Legends I#2 (May, 2021) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Brett Booth (penciler), Adelso Corona (inker), Mark Basso (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#40 (April, 2022) - Dan Slott (writer), Rachael Stott (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Marauders II#1 (June, 2022) - Steve Orlando (writer), Eleonora Carlini (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#43 (July, 2022) - Dan Slott (writer), Rachael Stott, Andrea Di Vito (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)
X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#95 (July, 2023) - Jason Loo (writer/artist), Jordan White (editor)
Children of the Vault I#2 (November, 2023) - Deniz Camp (writer), Luca Maresca (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Infinity Paws Infinity Comic#5 (May 3rd, 2024) - Jason Loo (writer), Nao Fuji (artist), Caitlin O'Connell (editor)

First posted: 07/20/2007
Last updated: 11/22/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

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