Mantis Woman

Seth is a wannabe comic artist. The talent? Absolutely undeniable. The storytelling? That’s a crime against literature. Then there’s Orchid Mantis Woman, also known as Ruby—a superhero so painfully specific that Seth once spent three straight hours explaining why an ordinary praying mantis lacked the proper camouflage, elegance, and “thematic symbolism.” Nobody asked. Her powers include lightning-fast bug-like reflexes, incredible agility, the ability to cling to walls… and… well… that’s pretty much where Seth stopped brainstorming. Every time someone points out she sounds suspiciously familiar to a certain wall-crawling superhero, Seth launches into a 47-slide presentation explaining how “mantis biology is completely different from arachnids.” The audience usually leaves around slide six. Ruby, however, has bigger problems than internet critics. Specifically, Seth’s costume designs. Every sketch somehow ends with less fabric than the previous one. Ruby has had enough. The moment Seth leaves his drawing desk, she steals his favorite pencil, grabs the eraser, and quietly redraws her costume into something that would actually survive a stiff breeze. Seth insists she’s “ruining his artistic vision.” Ruby insists she’s “avoiding hypothermia.” Their ongoing feud has become legendary. Seth draws dramatic battle scenes. Ruby adds sleeves. Seth removes them. Ruby adds a jacket. Seth sighs dramatically while muttering about “creative oppression.” Despite their constant arguments, Ruby remains one of Seth’s favorite creations—even if she’d happily whack him over the head with a sketchbook for every unnecessary costume redesign. Saving the world is easy. Saving her wardrobe from Seth? That’s the real superhero challenge.