With Hank Pym’s 60th Anniversary just having passed, Janet Van Dyne’s 60th anniversary just around the corner, and the upcoming release of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, now is a great time to be a fan of these classic Marvel heroes. With all this exposure, it may also lead people to want to find an entry point to reading about Ant-Man and The Wasp. Thankfully, Marvel is aware of this, as they have been releasing volumes of this Marvel-Verse series that feature various characters they have recently introduced to the MCU. Now, they have released a new volume that focuses on Ant-Man and the Wasp.
The first comic included in the collection is Avengers Origins: Ant-Man and The Wasp Vol. 1 written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, with art by Stephanie Hans. The story is a more modern retelling of both Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne’s origin story, but also includes new details that were not in the previous versions of the story. In this version, you see more of Hank with his first wife, Maria Trovaya, and how her death affected him. The biggest change in this version of the story is the timing of Janet and Hank’s first meeting and the fact they already had a relationship of sorts, as opposed to just meeting her and her father days before she is set to become the infamous Wasp. This retelling definitely leans into the romantic element of the Ant-Man and Wasp partnership, but it feels like it’s almost to a detriment, as Janet feels like a stereotypical, shallow love interest.
While this isn’t particularly a bad thing, a retelling had the opportunity to add to her character, and it fell flat. The art style is absolutely gorgeous, and it captures the emotions of the characters flawlessly. Hans also designs very stylish outfits for Janet, which is important, as Janet is an in-universe fashion designer. Overall, this is an enjoyable way to learn Janet and Hank’s origin, despite its canonical standing being debatable.
The next story included is Ant-Man: Larger Than Life by writer Will Corona Pilgrim, with art by Andrea Di Vito. This story focuses on the first Ant-Man, Hank Pym. However, it is a comic that is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe line of canon, as opposed to the mainstream comics line of continuity. It takes place at the beginning of Hank’s superhero career, and focuses on him building his relationship with his biggest allies: the ants themselves. Like any good prelude comic, it offers new backstory for the character that wasnt able to be included in the film, while also tying in elements from the film and having the character feel recognizable.
Pilgrim also does a great job giving Hank his own distinct voice in this, while also creating paraells between him and Scott Lang in the film. Di Vito’s art is simplistic but effective, and the way the bugs are drawn make them look menacing and threatening, which is very effective for the storyline. This comic is great for longtime fans of Hank Pym who wanted to see him in his prime as Ant-Man in this universe, while also offering something for new fans as well.
The third storyline that is featured is Marvel Premiere #47-48, written by David Michelinie, and art by John Byrne and Bob Layton. This is one of the most iconic and important storylines in the Ant-Man mythos, as it is the first time Scott Lang suits up as Ant-Man. It also introduces his daughter, Cassie Lang, who would later become a superhero herself by joining the Young Avengers, and Darren Cross, the modern-day Yellowjacket. This storyline is a classic superhero origin story, but it also is unique in the way that Scott Lang was a criminal who only used the Ant-Man suit in an attempt to save his daughter, as opposed a brilliant scientist like the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym. It’s this storyline that cements one of the most vital characteristics of Scott Lang, and that is that he will do anything for his daughter.
We also see the first meeting between Hank Pym and Scott Lang, which would become one of the most important relationships in the Marvel Universe. Byre and Layton’s art has that classic, timeless feel that you expect when you pick-up a Silver Age comic. They also do a brilliant job making Darren Cross look extremely menacing. These two issues truely are a must-read storyline for any Ant-Man fan, and it has stood the test of time.
The final arc included in this collection is Ant-Man and The Wasp: Living Legends, by Ralph Macchio and art by Andrea Di Vito. This storyline features Janet Van Dyne and Scott Lang, teaming up to defeat an old Ant-Man and Wasp foe, the Living Eraser. The story is unique, as it is one of the very few times Janet Van Dyne and Scott Lang have teamed up, and it highlights how their partnership is different than theirs with the other Ant-Man and Wasp they usually work with. The story definitely feels like you are reading an old Tales to Astonish issue, which while charming, does mean there is dialogue that feels outdated and it makes out Janet to be a damsel in distress in the end, when she is clearly the more capable of the two. Di Vito captures Janet and Scott very well, and they pay homage to the early artists in the way of showing the size-chnaging powers, which is nice to see. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Living Legends is a great team-up story that is nostalgic while also offering something new to fans of both these characters.
For new fans looking to get into reading Ant-Man and the Wasp comics after seeing the new film, this is a fine taste of what the comics have to offer. However, the addition of a dubious canon orgin retelling, as well as a MCU canon comic may confuse readers. It is also puzzling why Janet Van Dyne did not get a story that highlights her in a solo light, and Hope Van Dyne’s comic counterpart, Nadia Van Dyne, was not featured at all.
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