Mantis eventually left the FBI and became a freelance psychic spy, offering his services to the highest bidder. During his travels throughout the world, he read thousands of peoples thoughts, and became disgusted with humanity for, as he called it, their "selfish and atavistic lust to pass on one's seed." He was eventually enlisted by his old ally Liquid to join FOXHOUND, becoming the unit's psychic expert and its psychological warfare specialist. At some point, Mantis received barcode tattoos on each of his shoulders and on the right side of his head, along with a large scar across his head.