Same. It’s interesting to see how she’s progressed and become more of her own person. Her being able to laugh and snapping back at Drax “I wasn’t done talking!” makes it so nice to see.
I feel like we aren't talking about Mantis enough.
The fact that she is Ego's daughter makes it all the more fucked up when you realise she used to call him "master" Ego, literally only let Mantis live, just to make her his slave.
When we see her in Vol 2, she's always nervous and anxious, let's people degrade her because that's probably all she ever know, again calling back to how she refers to herself as a "flea with a purpose"
She's a victim of abuse.
I seen a lot of people say that she's just as bad as Ego, because she was complacent in his scheme — but let me tell you as someone who as has been in an abusive relationship before... IT IS NOT THAT EASY!
It is very difficult to break out of an abusive situation, the abuser has a way to break you down to your very core. The fact that Mantis was finally able to find the courage to break out of that is admirable enough.
Mantis in Vol 2 and Mantis in the holiday special are two competely different people, she's confident, ready to take charge of the situation and in an better headspace altogether. She's thriving under Guardians and finally living up her potential, because she's surrounded by people who love her.