Janet Van Dyne in the MC2

 

With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania releasing, I would like to spotlight the MC2’s version of one of it is featured characters. Today, we will be taking a look at the last founding Avenger to be covered on this blog: The Wasp aka Janet Van Dyne in the MC2.

 

Janet Van Dyne first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 as The Wasp, working alongside Hank Pym’s Ant-Man for the first time. In the MC2, Janet Van Dyne was first referenced obliquely in A-Next #2 with a mention of Cassie Lang utilizing Hank Pym’s process to implant bio-synthetic wings on herself. The implantation of such wings was first seen when Janet was transformed into the Wasp by Pym in her aforementioned debut appearance.

 

When the new team of Avengers seek answers for what occurred to the original Avengers, their questions are answered by Edwin Jarvis, who recalls their final mission to an alternate universe. Here we learn that the Avengers became aware of an alternate reality in which Victor Von Doom wielded a Universal Cube which would allow him to travel to other universes via portals to conquer them. With all of reality at risk, the Avengers held an emergency meeting. Many attended this urgent summons including (but not limited to) Captain America, Firebird, Firestar, Giant-Man, Hawkeye, Hercules, Iron Man, Justice, Living Lightning, Scarlet Witch, Tigra, Vision and the Wasp. Janet is wearing a version of her original Wasp costume here in her first MC2 appearance and last mission.

 We learn through Jarvis that this was around a year and a half prior to the Avengers officially disbanding. Sadly, many of the heroes did not return, with only Hawkeye, Hercules, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision and the Wasp re-emerging from the portal. Dr. Pym is among the fallen, leaving Janet Pym distraught (A-Next #7).

 

As I mentioned in the last post, Janet and Hank had twin children at some point prior, Hope and Henry Jr. Hope mentions in A-Next #12 that her mother Janet ‘died of a broken heart’ following Hank’s death. This may be poetic language or her own personal bias, but either way Janet passed away at some point following the Avengers mission leaving her children orphaned (A-Next #12).

 

When Hope Pym learns the new Avengers team has travelled to the alternate universe, we discover she blames the Avengers for the death of her parents, Hank and Janet, and she launches her revenge plot (A-Next #10). As the Red Queen, Hope uses her parents’ old security codes to sneak her team of Revengers into the Avengers Compound. Among the Revengers is her twin brother Henry Pym Jr, who objects to Hope’s change of plan, which involves not just capturing but killing the new Avengers in revenge for her parents’ deaths. Fortunately, Henry intervenes to stop Hope when she attempts to self-destruct the Avengers Compound, telling her their father Hank gave his life protecting the world and their mother Janet never blamed the Avengers (A-Next #12). Hope would continue to blame the Avengers for her parents’ death in future appearances.

 

It’s worth mentioning that Pincer aka Scott Lang of the alternate universe asks Stinger aka Cassie Lang if she is ‘Janet Pym—The Wasp—of your world?’ which might be an indication that Janet re-married Hank in the MC2. We may never know for sure though both children bear the name Pym too (A-Next #10).

 

The next and last time we see Janet depicted is in Last Hero Standing #1 during a symbolic flashback depiction of the Avengers’ earliest members when Uatu the Watcher is recounting the History of the MC2 like a sad little blogger. Here, Janet is seen again in what appears to be her original Wasp costume which first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44. I could be wrong, it’s extremely hard to tell at that size.

 

That is all I have to share today for Janet Van Dyne in the MC2. Or maybe that should be Janet Pym in the MC2? Either way, The Wasp’s legacy does continue via her children. Though Henry Jr’s rehabilitation is complete, it sadly appears Janet’s daughter Hope will continue on as a villainous force. Special thanks to arias-98105 for invaluable assistance.

 

Until I die of a takotsubo cariomyopathy following the death of my spouse, I remain

 

frogoat

Hank Pym in the MC2

 

This one is probably well over due, so with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania on the horizon I had better finally cover some of its prominent characters as they appear in the MC2. Today let us look at the original Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath and Yellowjacket aka Dr Henry 'Hank' Pym in the MC2.

 

Hank Pym first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 and first assumed the super hero nom de guerre Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #35, with many more costumed identities to follow. In the MC2, Hank Pym was first referenced and glimpsed in flashback in the pages of A-Next #2, first with a mention of Cassie Lang utilizes Hank’s process to implant bio-synthetic wings on herself and next when discussing Bill Foster’s connection with him. Later in the same issue, we see a flashback featuring Hank alongside Captain America and the original Thunderstrike. Here, Pym is depicted in a version of his 90’s Giant-Man costume, which he wore during the events of The Crossing and Onslaught. This issue is also where we learn Hank is dead, a hint to later revelations in the series.

 

We next see a flashback of Hank Pym in A-Next #6 in the memories of the mentally ill Hercules, who tragically recalls his former Avengers teammates’ final mission which lead to more than half of them dying. Hercules blames himself for this loss, which drove him to madness. Once again, Hank is depicted in his 90’s Giant-Man costume which he first wore in Avengers (vol. 1) #366.

 

In the following issue, the new team of Avengers seek answers for what occurred to the original Avengers. Their questions are answered by Edwin Jarvis, who recalls their final mission to a alternate universe. Here we learn that the Avengers became aware of an alternate reality in which Victor Von Doom wielded a Universal Cube which would allow him to travel to other universes via portals to conquer them. With all of reality at risk, the Avengers held an emergency meeting. Many attended this urgent summons including (but not limited to) Captain America, Firebird, Firestar, Hawkeye, Hercules, Iron Man, Justice, Living Lightning, Scarlet Witch, Tigra, Vision and the Wasp. Perhaps ironically, it is Giant-Man aka Hank Pym himself (this time dressed in a version of his Goliath costume first seen in Avengers (vol. 1) #28) who is the first to speak up and agree to the mission without delay (A-Next #7).  

 

 We learn through Jarvis that this was around a year and a half prior to the Avengers officially disbanding. Sadly, many of the heroes did not return, with only Hawkeye, Hercules, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision and the Wasp re-emerging from the portal. Dr Pym is among the fallen, leaving Janet Pym distraught (A-Next #7).

 

When Hope Pym learns the new Avengers team has travelled to the alternate universe, we discover she blames the Avengers for the death of her parents, Hank and Janet, and she launches her revenge plot (A-Next #10). As the Red Queen, Hope uses her parents’ old security codes to sneak her team of Revengers into the Avengers Compound. Among the Revengers is her twin brother Henry Pym Jr, who objects to Hope’s change of plan, which involves not just capturing but killing the new Avengers in revenge for her parents’ deaths. Fortunately, Henry intervenes to stop Hope when she attempts to self-destruct the Avengers Compound, telling her their father Hank gave his life protecting the world and their mother Janet never blamed the Avengers (A-Next #12). Hope would continue to blame the Avengers for her parents’ death in future appearances.

 

 

Next time we see Pym depicted is in Last Hero Standing #1 during a symbolic flashback depiction of the Avengers’ earliest members when Uatu the Watcher is recounting the History of the MC2 like a sad little blogger. Here, Hank is seen in his second Giant-Man costume which first appeared in Tales to Astonish #50.

 

While he does not actually appear, it is worth mentioning that a ‘zombie ‘or ‘magical clone’ of Hank Pym’s Yellowjacket identity does appear in Avengers Next #1. These duplicates were created when the villainous Asgardian daughter of Loki, Sylene combined magic with stolen blood and tissue samples of various former and present Avengers. The first time the Yellowjacket costume identity appeared was in Avengers (vol. 1) #59.

That is all I have on Doctor Henry Pym in the MC2. While he is long dead, Pym’s legacy remains strong, ranging from the good to the bad. Be it Cassie Lang aka Stinger, Bill Foster’s faith in the new Avengers, Hank’s children Henry Junior and Hope Pym, the lingering threat of Ultron or the use of Pym Particles, the MC2 is full of Hank’s influence.

 

Until I die on a parallel world and my body is left behind, I remain

 

frogoat  

Tigra in the MC2

 

I am late to the party as always but since she has made it to the big leagues with her first movie appearance in the Disney+ original film Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, I wanted to throw some attention toward everyone’s favourite were-tiger, Greer Grant Nelson aka Tigra in the MC2.

 

Greer Nelson first appeared in 1972’s The Cat #1 as the titular character, before she later gained her feline form and identity as Tigra in 1974’s Giant-Sized Creatures #1 where she appeared alongside the Werewolf By Night.  Finally, Tigra gains a power boost and a tail in the pages of West Coast Avengers #15 giving us her iconic look as it’s known today. 

 

Anyone who frequents this blog regularly (all two of you) will know I usually try and identify when a character’s last Main Marvel Universe published appearance occurs prior to the point of divergence into the MC2. For Greer this turned out to be extremely easy, as Tigra appeared in 1995’s Avengers #382 or more accurately the flipbook version titled Marvel Double Feature: Avengers/Giant-Man #382. This features the last of a 4-part back-up tale (written by the late great George Perez, no less) following Hank Pym where Tigra makes a brief appearance. Tigra does not appear again until Avengers (vol. 3) #1-#4 which as I’ve mentioned previously seems to be the point at which events for the MC2 Avengers really diverge, at least assuming Wonder Man stayed dead.

 

As I’ve discussed previously, we know the original Avengers team’s last mission was nearly 12 years prior to the events of A-Next #1, as mentioned by Jarvis when he recounts the details to the new Avengers. Tigra is seen amongst the assembled Avengers during the flashback where it is decided the team must venture through the portal to the alternate world to halt Doom’s multiversal threat. While it is difficult to discern specific details from this cameo, Greer appears in her now-iconic hirsute feline design. It should be noted we do not know if Tigra was on the Avengers then-current roster at the time or simply returning for this major emergency summons (A-Next #7).

 

Tigra was among those who agreed to embark on the grave mission which saw only seven members return through the portal. While we do not get a 100% confirmation, it is assumed Greer Nelson died along with almost all the Avengers who went on this final mission. Despite the sobering tragedy of such a massive loss, the Avengers team did collectively succeed in saving their Earth from the threat of Doom (A-Next #7).

 

We get one other MC2 appearance of sorts for Greer Nelson with the cover for Spider-Girl #60. While not appearing in the issue itself, we do see Greer Nelson amongst an assortment of other superheroines on the cover, again sporting her original The Cat costume. You might have to take a close look as she is only partially visible at the very top left of the image. Confirmation this is not her sort-of successor Patsy Walker in the suit as Hellcat comes when we look to the original pencils of the cover by Ron Frenz.

 

 

Sadly, that is all I have to offer regarding Tigra in the MC2. The Avengers roster was certainly culled significantly on their final mission, leaving the world quite sparce on heroes for over a decade. I’d enjoy a flashback tale or something featuring Tigra or maybe her next generation counterpart, even if I know it’s fairly unlikely.

 

Until I gain feline abilities through a mix of science and magic and later grow a tail, I remain

 

frogoat