M.A.N.T.I.S.

I was a fan of M.A.N.T.I.S. for it's short run on Fox. Was it a great show? Was it life altering? Was it a deep and thorough examination of the human condition? No! I liked it more for what it was not rather than what it was. I got to see it because of its time slot just before the X-Files. Like the X-Files this was a show out of the ordinary. It wasn't about a bunch of gritty cops on the verge of divorce, nor was it about a bunch or evil back stabbing/wonderful gifted doctors/lawyers (take your pick). I don't even care about the sub text of the once brawny man overcoming his disability through the use of his mind. I just wanted something fun to watch on a Friday night waiting for the X-Files and this show filled the gap. I hope it comes out as a complete DVD Box like Firefly. Shows like this could help get a new section going at the store for failed TV shows with huge fan bases.

Now I have for the longest time had trouble understanding some people who have watched shows like this and come a way with a bad taste in their mouth. I just don't understand them. Carl Lumberly played the part excellently, and the storyline had an almost perfect premise, with almost unlimited possibilities for advancement. Like the Batman and The Shadow, MANTIS would have been a show you could count on for awesome gadgets, super heroics and knockout action, all with complicated and interesting story lines to boot. But, sadly, the show was cancelled, and some people say it was a good thing. I say, "You're crazy!" this show could have been great. Just like so many others, it was shut down before it had a chance. GO MANTIS GO

Scientist Dr. Miles Hawkins is shot in the spine by a police sniper during a riot and dedicates himself to vigilante vengeance by creating and donning an exoskeleton suit that not only allows him to walk again, but fight crime. Created by the duo Sam Raimi and Sam Hamm, this was one of Raimi's first superhero flick (unless you count the unreleased Darkman) long before Spider-man and Dr. Strange got their turns. An absolutely terrible (read "terrific"?) series, M. A. N. T. I. S. starts with a feature length pilot film with an attempt at a very grounded, gritty, realistic super hero serial but over the course of its only 22 episodes quickly divulges into Raimi and Hamm's means to spin their own takes on super hero / sci-fi tropes of the time: time travel, other dimensions, the men-in-black, x-men, aliens, etc. The episodes get more and more bizarre of its run (and frankly more enjoyable to watch), but in the end its really a mess of a show that makes total sense why it was cancelled so quickly. Unfortunately this is a series hard to come by, both physically and online, which isn't an issue for most, but I would recommend as an ideal candidate for a fun drinking game or thing to watch while very not sober. I laughed more during this than most comedies, and for that alone I would recommend.

I don't know what they were thinking when they completely shifted the focus, tone, purpose and even the opening credit from eps 1&2 being compelling and interesting to... whatever the rest of the show was. Talk about a fail. I remember liking it as a kid but never finishing the season. Now I know why, because the rest was awful and boring. Glad I rewatched the first 2 eps though. It'd be cool to see netflix give this the daredevil treatment and actually do a good job with it start to finish. With marvel in a tailspin at the moment (for years now?) and DC flip flopping between masterpiecea and trash it'd be cool to get some lesser known, grounded heros in the mix. Mantis, static shock, maybe try again with iron fist and the punisher. Anyway, if you don't mind the whole 90s vibe, poor special effects etc. Try the first 2 episodes of M. A. N. T. I. S. even adult me enjoyed those ones.

"A paralyzed African-American scientist builds a powerful exo-skeleton in order to walk again, and uses his new abilities to fight crime." OK, for starters; this intro rocks!

I loved that dreamy concept. Can you see the brilliant metaphor here? That paralyzed man is just you and me in front of many ugly crimes in our worlds. And now, this show just gives him, and us, the opportunity to get up, leave the chair, and be the hero who saves the city from its evils.

It managed to be peculiar. From the main character as paralyzed, to being an African-American, all wasn't familiar. For a disabled superhero, I can't remember but (Dare Devil). And for a black superhero, in the American TV, I can't remember any!

Further, unlike other shows, and naturally after the generation's hit; (The X-Files), this show was stylish and dark. It differs than many of the action shows where usual is all the style you can get. And it had such a dark sense that lead actor (Carl Lumbly)'s sullen performance got matched with perfectly.

(Lumbly), as Dr. (Miles Hawkins), owned the screen. He was charismatic and unforgettable. I thought he saw the character as someone who has great pain and bitterness, yet conceals that whenever he's the staid Dr. (Hawkins), but when he gets to be the hero, that inner suppressed rage comes out. So sorry that he couldn't be a lead of an action show again, just a supporting role in (Alias) years later.

I won't forget the moment in which the title character answers the question of "Who are you?" for the first time. He said in the most macho, cool and serious way ever: "You can call me.. The Mantis." WAW. It's real inspiring, because when I wrote my own superhero comic series, back in 2012; I put in the very first episode a similar line, but it went like this: "You can call me.. Bakir 1.".

At one of the 1990s years, I don't remember which, I used to watch it everyday at 8: PM, on the second channel of our national TV. Then one day, it vanished from the screen, and I didn't get to watch it again. Well, sure it got canceled pretty early. I don't know the reason yet (they didn't like its title?!). But I do feel rage when, at the same year, another show begin to never stop.. entitled (Friends). You can guess who were the persons that I wished for the mantis to destroy for years and years later!

Anyhow, you have to love (M.A.N.T.I.S.), and be sad for it too. It is one of 1994 most ambitious, entertaining, and unfortunate TV shows.