Girl Superhero Project Prompt 3: The Praying Mantis

Girl Superhero Project Prompt 3: The Praying Mantis
When I think of kick ass women in nature, I think of The Praying Mantis. Create a super hero or super villain around this idea. What superpowers would she have? If you don't particularly like the praying mantis, pick a different insect that does something that could turn into a super hero/villain power.

Being that the impetus for this project was children’s storybooks about superheroes, I tried my darndest to keep this one PG13-rated. So, so difficult.  Nature is totally rated R. 

Enjoy,

LLH

Character Overview

Name: The Praying Mantis (Penelope Moore)

Alignment: Villain/Totally Evil

Superpowers:  Using razor-sharp talons embedded in her arms, the Praying Mantis leaps on her prey, capturing them with her hooks, and then devouring them with her sharp teeth and massive jaw.  While the mantis will capture and eat anything, she prefers to eat men

Modus operandi: Naturally greedy, and a thief, the Mantis steals whatever she can. She began her life of crime with smaller jobs like strip mall boutiques and jewelry stores, then moved up to more elaborate robbery schemes, including major banks and high-stakes casinos.  To keep from being caught or identified, the Praying Mantis is known to kill her associates, right in the middle of the robbery.

Costume: A modified nun’s habit

Motivation:  Pride, avarice, rage, revenge, glory-seeking, daddy-issues

Goal:  To rob even bigger targets, killing even bigger prey

Backstory: It began when Penelope Moore was ten, and her daddy stole her ice cream cone. That bastard! She WANTED that ice cream cone. In a fit of rage, Penelope murdered him.  No one was ever going to take anything from her, ever again! 

Over the years, Penelope found her ruthlessness meant she could take whatever she wanted, and she became an expert thief. When a close associate threatened to turn her in, she killed him, earning Penelope the moniker The Praying Mantis. Like any good super villain, Penelope decided to go with it. 

Through a series of surgeries and body modifications, the Praying Mantis had razor-sharp talons embedded in her forearms. Hidden from view, these talons can latch onto and stab anyone she lays hands on. More razors replaced her teeth, and then another surgery allowed her jaw to come unhinge, expanding large enough for her to bite right through a human neck. 

While the Praying Mantis won’t actually devour people, she has been known to leave a bloody mess in her wake. 

Quotes:  “Hello, boys. It’s time to say your prayers.” 

“You wouldn’t want to betray me, Ralph. I ate the last guy who tried to turn me in.” 

“Don’t lose your head.” 

“Pardon me while I take a bite out of crime.”

“Does this clown taste funny to you?”