COMIC CONNECTIONS: Ant-Man - The Trial of Hank Pym

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.