Just in time for the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel has released a new collection of Scott Lang-centric Ant-Man comics for both new and longtime fans to enjoy, titled Ant-Man: The Saga of Scott Lang. This trade features five of Scott Lang’s most recent storylines and includes some of the other supporting characters you see in the Ant-Man films.
The first story is Ant-Man and The Wasp: Living Legends, by Ralph Macchio, and art by Andrea Di Vito. This story is a team-up with Scott Lang and the first Wasp, Janet Van Dyne. The two pair up to defeat the Living Eraser, an obscure villain from the Tales to Astonish days of Ant-Man and The Wasp. Macchio makes this feel like you are reading one of those old comics with ease, but unfortunately, this means it does a tiny disservice to Janet Van Dyne. Di Vito’s art also captures that classic feel, down to the looks of the titular characters and main villain. If anything, this story is enjoyable simply because it has Janet and Scott together, which is a duo we don’t see nearly enough of.
The next story is Guardians Team-Up #7, written by Nick Giovannetti and Paul Scheer, with art by Shawn Crystal. This story pairs Scott Lang with Drax of the Guardians of the Galaxy. As a concept, these two already make a compelling pairing, as they are polar opposites in more ways than one. Giovannetti and Scheer do a great job capturing the feel of a Scott Lang Ant-Man story in terms of tone and setting, as well as making Scott and Drax’s voices feel authentic to the way they have been written in the modern era. Crystal’s art is zany and dynamic, with excellent facial expressions and cartoony vibes. While this may not be an expected team-up, their undercover mission makes for an entertaining read.
Ant-Man and The Wasp Vol. 1 #1-5 is the next storyline that is featured in this collection, and it is written by Mark Waid and art by Javier Garron. It features Scott Lang teaming up with Nadia Van Dyne, who is Hope Van Dyne’s comic counterpart, on an adventure to the Microverse. This storyline is the most similar to what is happening in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, which will be a treat for people picking up the collection after seeing the film. Scott and Nadia’s dynamic is similar to Hope and Scott’s from the films as well, minus the romantic attraction. Their interactions are very entertaining, and the way their relationship evolves is satisfying. Garron’s art style captures the high sci-fi design of the Microverse incredibly well, and it truely feels like he has created an entirely new section of a relatively unexplored area in the Marvel universe.
The next storyline is Giant-Man Vol. 1 #1-3, by Leah Williams with art by Marco Castello. In this story, Scott Lang teams up with Raz Malhotra, Erik Josten, and Tom Foster, who go undercover as Frost Giants as it is a War of the Realms event tie-in series. The plot is a very creative way to utilize these characters’ powerset, while also tying it into an existing event without their involvement feeling unnecessary or forced. The inclusion of Moonstone is also a treat, as she is a character who is criminally underutilized. Williams also does a great job balancing this cast of characters, with each feeling like themselves through and through. Castello’s art is very detailed, and his designs for the team of heroes when they disguised are very well done. He also captures Moonstone’s attitude perfectly with her body language.
The final storyline is Ant-Man Vol. 3 #1-5, written by Zeb Wells with art by Dylan Burnett. Like the rest of these storylines, this is has Scott teaming up with another hero, and this time it’s his daughter Cassie Lang, aka Stinger. This story sees the father-daughter duo work together to fight Swarm, who is a villain that is a nearly perfect foe for a pair of bug-themed heroes. Characters like Spider-Man and Black Cat also guest star, and their interactions with Cassie and Scott are delightful. The best part of this storyline is how it shows Cassie and Scott learning how to work together as a superhero partnership, as opposed to just being family, which is another plotline that ties into the upcoming film. Burnett’s style works perfectly for series, as his creature design is truly unique and eye-catching.
Ant-Man: The Saga of Scott Lang is a perfect taste of what Scott Lang has been up to in the modern comics era, and serves as a great entry point for new fans of the character. My only complaint is that I feel a story featuring him and Hank Pym should’ve been included, as Hank is one of the most important people in Scott’s life.
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