It’s time to honor Janet Van Dyne as it’s her 60th anniversary, and Al Ewing and Kasia Nie launch Wasp #1. It’s in the same vein as Al Ewing’s Ant-Man series, aiming to honor the characters’ histories on this anniversary while lifting up what makes them great. A solo series for Wasp is well deserved, but what approach will Ewing take after the multi-character adventure in Ant-Man featuring characters from different eras? The answer is a little more straight-laced than you might expect.
As the preview shows, this first issue ties the main story to Wasp’s father, who played a significant role in Wasp’s story early on. What better way to dredge for levels than where it all started? After a brief recap of what happened to him, the story shifts to Wasp in the now as she talks with Jarvis about what to name a new superhero hangout spot. She wishes to bring heroes together casually, reminding us of her role as a leader and motivator for other heroes.
This scene is a fun one, playing up the different drinks some heroes might have while establishing a new hub for heroes. It adds a bit of realism to superhero comics when often we forget these heroes need places to unwind and hang out. It’s not all battles with the Brood in deep space.
As the plot progresses, Ewing and Nie bring in Nadia Van Dyne, Janet’s adopted niece. Her role as Wasp is huge in modern comics, and it’s nice to see she’s equally a part of this adventure. The middle chunk of this issue continues to recap events either for Nadia or for how Janet and Hank defeated the monster that killed her father. It slows things down when flashbacks and recaps occur, but it’s all necessary information after seeing the cliffhanger.
In case you didn’t know Nadia’s story, here’s a quick recap.
Credit: Marvel
Much of the rest of this issue is devoted to a fight scene involving Whirlwind. A blast from the past, to be sure, but this four-page fight scene is a bit slow for my tastes. Ewing and Nie highlight the strengths and differences between both Wasp’s while reminding us of Wasp’s history with Whirlwind. Once again, this issue leans into recap and reminiscing, reminding us of Janet and Whirlwind’s history.
For those unaware of Nadia’s backstory or Janet’s fight to avenge her father, this issue does a lot of work to explain things. That’s a plus if you’re unfamiliar with these characters, but for anyone who knows it all, it can feel like the content isn’t for you.
The art is good, with a clean style that’s a bit all-ages due to its slightly cartoony nature. KJ Diaz’s art uses a slightly less vibrant color palette, as if the comic is from an older era. That’s especially the case in flashbacks.
Wasp #1 sets up an interesting plot that ties to Janet Van Dyne’s origins as the Wasp that’s worth checking out. Unfortunately, this first issue also spends a lot of time telling us about past events rather than showing them, making for a slower-paced story without much urgency. That said, as an anniversary series, it feels like a good tribute.
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