MC2 Influences in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

 

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

 

 

 

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  

Coal Tiger: Son of the Black Panther

 

Having recently watched Black Panther: Wakanda Forever I felt inspired to keep writing posts in that vein. So, today let us take a look at Prince T’Chaka aka Coal Tiger, the son of the Black Panther.

 

The moniker of Coal Tiger was originally one considered during the creation of the Black Panther, and it seems Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz elected to pay tribute to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby when they introduced T’Chaka’s alias in A-Next #4. While visiting America for a trade agreement, T'Chaka was attacked by the hate group Soldiers of the Serpent. It is at this point we learn that T'Chaka has the ability to transform into a humanoid cat-like being resembling a Black Panther.

 

Alongside the Avengers original line-up, Coal Tiger rescues N’Kano (aka the Wakandan ambassador and super hero Vibraxas) and notes the new team of heroes seem more like a family. N’Kano tells T’Chaka his father would be proud. T’Chaka tells the Avengers he will tell his father about all of them and that he considers them friends.

 

T’Chaka next appears when, upon returning from an alternate reality ruled by Doctor Doom, the entire Avengers team are captured by the Red Queen aka Hope Pym and her Revengers. With Mainframe’s consciousness transmitted to another body, he recruits Earth Senty, Argo, Blacklight and Coal Tiger to rescue the Avengers (A-Next #12).

 

At some point, Coal Tiger is pulled into the massive Destiny War alongside the Avengers’ American Dream and Freebooter and the Fantastic Five’sd Kristoff Vernard (Avengers Forever #12).

 

Coal Tiger is not seen again until a large assembly of the MC2’s super heroes gather at Avengers Headquarters in preparation for battle with Seth the Serpent God of Death. Despite this, the assembled heroes end up trapped within an impenetrable barrier until Spider-Girl weakens Seth enough to free them (Spider-Girl #58).

 

Alongside fellow reserve Avengers members Spider-Girl, Blacklight and Earth Sentry, Coal Tiger was called upon to join the Avengers team due to a large number of team members being sidelined for various reasons following the events of Last Hero Standing. This line-up of Avengers is briefed about someone posing as the mutant master of magnetism; Magneto. Spider-Girl and trainee member of the X-People known as Push would ultimately apprehend the poser (Spider-Girl #92).

 

In his last appearance to date, Coal Tiger again joins a large assembly of super heroes who show up to help Spider-Girl when she is captured by the Hobgoblin aka Roderick Kingsley (Amazing Spider-Girl #15).

 

It’s a great missed opportunity that T’Chaka as the Coal Tiger never got more than a few brief appearances after his debut, as there is a huge amount of potential left unexplored and stories left untold.

 

Until I develop the ability to transform into a Wakandan werecat, I remain

 

frogoat