Do you think Ego ever abused mantis bc ...... possible, also, heartbreaking,
@theartofheroism
abuse tw.
I absolutely do think Ego and Mantis’ relationship was abusive. While I’m not certain that it was physical abuse, it was most certainly emotional, verbal, and mental. When the guardians meet Mantis she describes herself as a ‘flea with a purpose’. Mantis was basically a slave to Ego, used to aid Ego’s sleep. When Ego is showing Peter the mold of of just how many people he made children with. we see a member of Mantis’ species. While I do not hold the opinion that Mantis is Ego’s child as some do, I think he murdered his child before realizing just how useful their species was. Mantis was taken when he realized the benefits of what their species could do and raised to do just that. If you notice in the movie, I don’t believe Ego says more than a word to her and she is treated as if they are nothing.
I do not doubt that Mantis was threatened into submission growing up, and was intentionally isolated from people. That’s why she appears so innocent and doesn’t know much of about social interaction. What Ego was doing scared her, but Ego was the only thing she knew. He raised her and kept her alive. I doubt she was allowed much contact with Ego’s children when she was younger and even as she rose to adulthood, but Peter had his friends that someone had to entertain. Ego intentionally raised her as a tool and used psychological manipulation and threats to get her to do what he wanted. Mantis felt his emotions and she knew what he was doing, but he manipulated her into believing that he was the most powerful person in the world / that he was unstoppable and that if she even thought about stopping him he would kill her like he did all his children.