Episode 34 - The Trial of Hank Pym
In the MCU Hank Pym has been portrayed as a grumpy but loveable genius, sort of an older, more family-driven version of Tony Stark. He loves his daughter, mentors Scott Pym, never stops searching for his lost wife, and even seems to be a defacto grandfather for Cassie in Quantumania. To say the least, this is a retcon from his history in the comics, and this week we are taking a look at one of Hank Pym’s lowest moments – the Avengers run in which his wife leaves him and he is expelled from the Avengers.
This Week In Comic...
Episode 34 - The Trial of Hank Pym
In the MCU Hank Pym has been portrayed as a grumpy but loveable genius, sort of an older, more family-driven version of Tony Stark. He loves his daughter, mentors Scott Pym, never stops searching for his lost wife, and even seems to be a defacto grandfather for Cassie in Quantumania. To say the least, this is a retcon from his history in the comics, and this week we are taking a look at one of Hank Pym’s lowest moments – the Avengers run in which his wife leaves him and he is expelled from the Avengers.
This Week In Comics
Unforgiven: Marvel Series Pits Spider-Man vs. Vampires
- https://comicbook.com/comics/news/spider-man-unforgiven-1-preview-marvel-comics-vampires-forgiven-event/
Invincible Creators Debate If He Can Beat All Might, Chainsaw Man, & More.
- https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/invincible-creators-debate-my-hero-academia-chainsaw-man/
- Skybound Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/lSMpoLOuiRU
- Superfight! by Robert Kirkman: https://store.skybound.com/collections/superfight
Recommendation: Black Cloak from Image
- https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/black-cloak
This Week's Stack
- Tales To Astonish #27, 35 and 44
- Avengers 212-214, 217, 222, 224, 227-230
Creator Focus: Larry Lieber
2 Minute Recap and Discussion Topics
Tales To Astonish #27, 35 and 44
- First appearance of a superhero, but this is not a superhero story.
- Horror / suspense story with a science-gone-bad twist
- In #35, Hank now has a costume and super-power, but this still is not a traditional superhero story
- In #44, Pym’s original origin is no longer heroic or tragic enough.
- Creepy relationships between middle-aged men and young women.
- Very atomic age. Glorification of science, stridently anti-communist
Avengers 212-214
- Domestic Abuse is a tough topic to address in a comic
- https://www.moviemaker.com/how-ant-man-hank-pym-accidentally-became-a-wife-beater/
- “I’ll bet Tonto never went to this much trouble for the Lone Ranger”
- Also touches on issues of economic power, with Jan having all the money.
Avengers 215-227
- Hank disappears then comes back and is tricked into helping Egghead - which gets him landed in prison.
- The male Avengers and Jarvis are relatively blasé about Janet and her feelings while seeming very concerned about Hank.
- Sexual politics remains a bit part of this run. Hawkeye and She-Hulk for instance.
- Janet does take over as leader/chairperson of the Avengers
Avengers 228-230
- Both Jan and Hank end up acting in about as adult a fashion as could be hoped.
- Hank finally admits that he made serious mistakes, and understands he has broken things he can’t fix.
- She-Hulk is depowered, and her interaction with Hawkeye is also unpleasant.
- Marvel’s take on a “modern” liberated woman.
Final Thoughts
What's Next
- Ant-Man (2015) Movie Review
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Questions or comments
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Music Intro and Outro created by Lesfm.
