Mr. Lantz is the teacher of Dave Warren and a minor character in the sixth story of Still More Tales to Give You Goosebumps, Awesome Ants and it's accompanying television adaptation.
History[]
Story[]
In the story, Mr. Lantz is the science teacher for Dave Warren, who is working on a science project revolving around his currently growing Ants. The ants knock Dave out and he awakens alongside his teacher in ant farm, where ants are watching down on them. Mr. Lantz tells Dave that they better start tunneling and building rooms as it'll be a good learning expirence.
Episode[]
In the television adaptation, Mr. Lantz is an exterminator who first appears to kill the ant infestation at the ice-cream parlor that Dave and his friend Ben are eating at. His giant ant mascot decoration lands on Warren as he hurriedly drives his car into the parking lot, to which he helps get it off and places it back on his truck before introducing himself to the two.
Mr. Lant manages to get rid of the ants by killing the queen, which grosses Ben enough to leave though Dave stays and is warned by Mr. Lantz of the pest issue caused by the ants and recommend Awsome Ants to him. Dave feeds and manages to grow the ants he ordered from Awsome Ants to 3 inches, so he presents it to his class as his science project, which catches the eye of Mr. Lantz. He calls out Dave's ants as being fake due to their unnatural 3-inch size and warns him that if they really were 3-inches large, they would be the dominant species.
Later, when Dave's family and seemingly everyone in the town disappeared, Dave runs to Mr. Lantz building for help but doesn't find him. He is captured and surrounded by larger ants before he wakes up and finds out it was only a very life-like dream. Dave goes outside to bucket up pellets and sees Mr. Lantz, who in the real world seems more composed, and tells him of the dream he had where humans ruled over ants. Dave tells Mr. Lantz that in the dream it was his job to exterminate them, to which he jokingly tells him to not let the dominant ants above hear before suggesting he'd get some of the pellets in the neighborhood.
General information[]
Personality[]
In the story, Mr. Lantz appears to be unbothered by his life being under control by the ants watching above and seems more excited at the prospect of him and Dave digging out tunnels and rooms as a learning experience. In the episode, Mr. Lantz is a much rather jumpy and overzealous exterminator, who seems to know much about ants and getting rid of them. His odd behavior causes those around him, such as Ben, to be more concerned of him.
Mr. Lantz also warns Dave twice in the story of the possible threat of the ants as the dominating species. As this was a dream, the real Mr. Lantz appears to be more of a calmer and less erratic man than what was seen in Dave's dream.
Physical appearance[]
Mr. Lantz is an older man, who's balding with grey hair and often wearing glasses.
Appearances[]
| Title | Role | Year | Series | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awesome Ants | Supporting character | 1996 | Tales to Give You Goosebumps | Short story |
| "Awesome Ants" | 1998 | Goosebumps (television series) | Episode |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- While Mr. Lantz is an exterminator in the episode rather than a teacher in the original story, it seems as though he actually was Dave's teacher in the episode. This is inferred because when Dave finds him, they still know each other and Mr. Lantz seems more respectful and calmer, as well as the fact he was wearing a standard suit and tie.