I have just watched Marvel Studio’s Ant-Man and the Wasp:
Quantumania and naturally, instead of a review, my mind leapt at the notion
of discussing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s adaption of Cassandra ‘Cassie’
Lang, particularly as I feel many of these influences can be linked to her
counterpart in the MC2. Spoilers ahead, though only mild ones, I
promise!
I am sure by now readers already know that Hope Pym was
lifted directly from the pages of the MC2’s A-Next #7
when the first Ant-Man film adapted her into Hope Van Dyne,
complete with matching
hairstyle and something of chip on her shoulder. Of course, instead of a
villainous role, the Marvel Cinematic Universe made Hope a
heroine as the present-day Wasp rather than the Red
Queen. This on-screen version in turn was adapted back into the comics
in the form of Nadia Van Dyne/Pym, the daughter of Hank
Pym and Maria Strovaya, introduced as the Main
Marvel Universe's answer to Hope Pym from the MC2 after
the release of the first Ant-Man movie (Free Comic Book Day
2016 Civil War II). What a tangle, but regardless, we have touched on Hope
quite enough for now. Let us instead look at the Cassie Lang.
Many years ago, I mentioned that it was too early to tell
where the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Cassie would be headed
in terms of influences; would she be closely modelled on the Young Avengers
iteration known as Stature or take cues from the MC2’s Stinger?
Well, as it turns out, it is a bit of both, with the usual adaptational
differences of all MCU characters.
Let’s talk visuals: Kathryn Newton’s Cassie has
longer hair which recalls the Main Marvel Universe’s Stature.
However, Cassie’s apparently self-designed suit is very much inspired by
her Stinger identity with it’s purple colour scheme. I have mentioned
before that even the Main Marvel Universe Cassie now uses
both the codename and costume of Stinger as of Astonishing Ant-Man #6.
An obvious case of brand synergy, sure, but the costume and codename Stinger
all originates in the MC2 with A-Next #1 by Tom Defalco
and Ron Frenz.
Speaking of Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz,
both gentlemen received a ‘With Special Thanks To’ in the end credits
for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which is consist with the
previous two films in the trilogy. Quite right, too. Presumably this time it is
not only for Hope but also the as-yet-without-a-codename Cassie
clad in purple. I wonder if they got a cheque in the mail?
Another MC2 influence, and one I think is quite
important, is Cassie Lang’s great intelligence, demonstrated in
the film by her development of a device which can make contact with the Quantum
Realm. Unless I am mistaken, the Main Marvel Universe Cassie has not
demonstrated any scientific skill or interest. Meanwhile the MC2’s Cassie
is an established scientist with at least one doctorate who runs a think tank
at Lang Labs, improved on the original Ant-Man and Wasp
designs with her father Scott Lang including implanting wings in herself
and was working on a cure for diabetes using insect DNA (A-Next
#1-#2, #7).
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Cassie
Lang also demonstrates a passion for social activism, defending the
homeless and has a strong desire to help those around her, inspired by her
father, Scott Lang aka Ant-Man. While it is not a 1:1 parallel, I
think MC2 Cassie’s scientific efforts show a similar passion for selflessly
helping others. Furthermore, Scott and Cassie first teamed up as
superheroes in A-Next #7, much as they do on the big screen. Still, I must
concede that Quantumania does not give Cassie her wings and does
show her growing to giant-size, which is most certainly more akin to the Young
Avenger’s Stature.
I look forward to seeing Cassie Lang develop into her
own unique hero in future film (and possibly television) appearances. It seems
almost inevitable that some form of the Young Avengers is coming in the years
to come, but it would be a mistake to ignore the MCU Cassie’s
ties to the MC2. I have not found any official merchandise that gives Cassie
a codename, Stinger, Stature, or something else entirely, but I
am sure they will acknowledge her MC2 roots eventually.
Until I find Marvel merchandise calls Cassie Lang ‘Stinger’
and feel validated, I remain
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