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Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym is a fictional character that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber and penciler Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 (Jan. 1962). Pym's character, which debuted in a standalone science-fiction anthology story, returning several issues later as the superhero Ant-Man, with the power to shrink to the size of an insect. Pym is eventually given a crime-fighting partner, Janet van Dyne, the Wasp, and goes on to assume other superhero identities, including the size-changing Giant-Man; the physically aggressive Goliath; the insect- themed and advanced Yellowjacket and as of 2009, the Wasp. Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books, the character of Henry Pym has featured in other Marvel-endorsed products such as animated films; arcade and video games; television series and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards.
[edit] Publication historyHenry Pym debuted in a seven-page solo cover story titled "The Man in the Ant Hill" (about a character who tests shrinking technology on himself) in the science fiction/fantasy anthology Tales to Astonish #27 (Jan. 1962). The creative team was editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, penciler Jack Kirby, and inker Dick Ayers, with Lee stating in 2008: "I did one comic book called 'The Man in the Ant Hill' about a guy who shrunk down and there were ants or bees chasing him. That sold so well that I thought making him into a superhero might be fun".[1] As a result, Pym was revived eight issues later as "Ant-Man", a costumed superhero who starred in the 13-page, three-chapter story "Return of the Ant-Man/An Army of Ants/The Ant-Man’s Revenge" in Tales to Astonish #35 (Sept. 1962). The character's adventures became an ongoing feature in the title, with issue #44 (June 1963) featured the debut of Pym's socialite girlfriend and laboratory assistant, Janet van Dyne. Van Dyne adopted the identity of superheroine the Wasp and co-starred in Pym's subsequent appearances in the Tales to Astonish title. The Wasp also on occasion acted as a framing-sequence host for backup stories in the title. In 1963, Lee and Kirby created the superhero title Avengers, and Ant-Man and the Wasp were established as founding members of the superhero team. Pym began what would be a constant shifting of superhero identities in Tales to Astonish, becoming the 12-foot-tall Giant-Man in issue #49 (Nov. 1963). Retitled "Giant-Man", Pym and the Wasp continued to star in the feature until issue #69 (July 1965), while simultaneously appearing in The Avengers until issue #15 (April 1965), after which the couple temporarily left the team. Pym rejoined the Avengers and adopted the new identity of Goliath in The Avengers #28 (May 1966). Gradually falling to mental duress, he adopted a fourth superhero identity, Yellowjacket, in issue #59 (Dec. 1968). Pym reappeared as Ant-Man in Avengers #93 (Nov. 1971) and for issues #4 - 10 starred in the lead story of the first volume of Marvel Feature (July 1972 - July 1973). Temporarily abandoning a costumed persona, Pym joined the team the West Coast Avengers as a scientist and inventor in West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #21 (June 1987). The character returned to the Avengers as the superhero Giant-Man in The Avengers vol. 3, #1 (Feb. 1998). When the team disbanded after a series of tragedies, Pym, using the Yellowjacket persona again, took a leave of absence beginning with vol. 3, #85 (Sept. 2004).[2] Following the death of the Wasp, whom he had married and divorced by this time, a grieving Pym took on yet another superhero identity as the new Wasp, in tribute to her in the one-shot publication Secret Invasion: Requiem (Jan. 2009). Pym also co-founded a new team of Avengers in Mighty Avengers #21 (Jan. 2009). [edit] BiographyBiochemist Henry Pym, discovering an unusual set of subatomic particles he labels "Pym particles", creates a size-altering formula and tests it on himself. He is reduced to the size of an insect and has a dangerous encounter with ants in a nearby anthill.[3] Shortly afterward, he constructs a cybernetic helmet that allows him to communicate with and control ants. Pym designs a costume and reinvents himself as the superhero Ant-Man, and defeats several KGB agents attempting to steal the formula for an anti-radiation gas.[4] After several adventures, Pym is contacted by Dr. Vernon Van Dyne, who asks for aid in contacting Alien life. Pym refuses, but is attracted to Vernon’s socialite daughter, Janet. Vernon Van Dyne is subsequently killed by an alien criminal, and Janet asks for Pym's help in avenging his death. Pym reveals his secret identity to Janet, and uses Pym particles to graft wasp wings beneath her shoulders, which appear when the character shrinks. Janet assumes the alias of the Wasp, and together they find and defeat her father's killer.[5] The pair feature in the first issue of the title Avengers, becoming founding members of the superhero team.[6] Pym eventually adopts his first alternate identity as the 12-foot-tall Giant-Man[7] and with the Wasp continues to star in the feature "Giant-Man", battling foes such as the Living Eraser;[8] the Human Top[9] and the Porcupine[10] until issue #69[11] being replaced by Namor the Sub-Mariner the following issue. The pair also develop a romantic relationship during their final appearances in the title.[12] Giant-Man and the Wasp feature in the title Avengers[13] until issue #15[14] when with the exception of Captain America the entire original team are written out of the title. The limited series Avengers Forever reveals in flashback that Pym adopted the identity of Giant-Man out of feelings of inadequacy when compared to team mates Iron Man and Thor.[15]  Pym eventually rejoins the Avengers in issue #28, adopting the new identity of Goliath.[16] A mishap traps the character in giant form for several issues, and affects his self-esteem.[17] Pym also creates a robot called Ultron that accidentally achieves sentience and becomes one of the Avengers' greatest foes.[18] During a botched experiment Pym inhales chemicals that induce Schizophrenia, and suffering from a personality crisis, reappears at Avengers Mansion as the cocky "Yellowjacket", claiming to have disposed of Pym. Only the Wasp realizes that it is Pym and takes advantage of his offer of marriage, with Pym eventually recovering from the chemicals during a battle with the Circus of Crime at the wedding.[19] After several adventures with the Avengers, including another encounter with Ultron,[20] the pair take a leave of absence.[21] The heroes encounter Pym at the beginning of the Kree-Skrull War, discovering that the character has been reverted into a caveman by the alien Kree.[22] Pym is restored to normal, and returns to the title briefly to repair the android Avenger the Vision.[23] Pym retains his Ant-Man persona and stars in the title Marvel Feature.[24] After appearances in the titles Defenders[25] and Giant-Size Defenders[26] as Yellowjacket, Pym returns to the title Avengers.[27] Pym is eventually captured by an upgraded Ultron, who brainwashes his creator, causing the character to regress back to his original Ant-Man costume and personality. As Ant-Man Pym arrives at Avengers Mansion, thinking it to be the very first meeting of the team. Seeing several unfamiliar members, Pym attacks the team until stopped by the Wasp. The other Avengers find and route Ultron by thratening to destroy his robotic creation, Jocasta.[28] After Ultron's brainwashing is reversed, Pym re-joins the Avengers as Yellowjacket, and together they destroy Ultron.[29] Pym is forced to briefly leave the team when the roster is restructured by government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich,[30] but returns fourteen issues later.[31]  During an Avengers mission involving a sorceress, Pym attacks her from behind once she had ceased fighting and endangers the team. Captain America suspends Yellowjacket from Avengers duty pending the verdict of a court-martial. Pym suffers a complete mental breakdown, and concocts a plan to salvage his credibility by building a robot and programming it to launch an attack on the Avengers at his court-martial. Planning to exploit the robot’s weakness at the critical moment, Pym hopes to regain his good standing with the Avengers. The Wasp, however, discovers the plan and begs Pym to stop, at which point the character strikes her. Although the robot does attack the Avengers as planned, Pym is unable to stop it and it is the Wasp that uses the critical flaw in the design to defeat it. Pym is subsequently expelled from the Avengers,[32] and Janet divorces him.[33] Left penniless in the wake of his disgrace, Pym is manipulated by old foe Egghead (believed to be deceased), who tricks the character into stealing the national reserve of the metal adamantium. Pym is confronted by the Avengers at the scene of the crime (whom he had covertly summoned) and after being defeated is blamed for the theft, as Egghead erases all evidence of his involvement. Blaming a supposedly dead villain is taken as further proof of Pym’s madness and he is incarcerated.[34] During Pym’s imprisonment, Janet has a brief relationship with Tony Stark, the alter ego of fellow Avenger Iron Man.[35] Still not satisfied with his victory over his foe, Egghead reforms the supervillain team the Masters of Evil and kidnaps Pym at his trial, creating the impression that Pym himself staged his own escape. Egghead intends to use Pym in another of his schemes, but is tricked when Pym uses Egghead’s own apparatus to defeat the entire roster of the Masters of Evil. In a final act of desperation, Egghead attempts to kill Pym, but is stopped and accidentally killed by the Avenger Hawkeye, whose brother had been murdered by Egghead years ago. With the real perpetrator exposed, Pym is cleared of all charges. After farewelling Janet and his team mates, Pym leaves to devote his time to full time research.[36] [edit] Return to the AvengersPym reappears in the title West Coast Avengers, first in an advisory role[37] and then as a full-fledged member in a non-costumed capacity.[38] Pym begins a short relationship with team mate Tigra,[39] and after a verbal taunting by old foe Whirlwind contemplates suicide, but is stopped by the heroine Firebird at the last moment.[40] In the title Avengers Pym and Janet become friends again,[41] and eventually resume a romantic relationship.[42] The character eventually returns to the Avengers, joining the East Coast team as Giant-Man.[43] The pair, together with many of the other Avengers, apparently sacrifice themselves to stop the villain Onslaught, but actually exist in a pocket universe for a year before returning to the mainstream Marvel universe.[44] Pym returns and aids the team as Giant-Man in the third volume of the The Avengers,[45] and makes a significant contribution by defeating criminal mastermind Imus Champion in the Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual[46] and his flawed creation Ultron.[47] During this period both Giant-Man and the Wasp feature in the limited series Avengers Forver, having been pulled with other Avengers from the timestream by the entity Immortus. Pym encounters his unbalanced previous self, who has just adopted the identity of Yellowjacket.[48] During an encounter with the sorcerer Kulan Gath, Pym's personality is temporarily reverted to the early Yellowjacket phase, and while the effect is reversed another Henry Pym is accidentally created from the extradimensional bio-mass Pym uses to grow. Each Pym reflects an aspect of his personality: Giant-Man is the thoughtful, scientific aspect while Yellowjacket is the impulsive component. During the events of the Kang Dynasty storyline the two Pyms begin to deteriorate from being apart, but are restored when the Wasp helps the two halves realize that they need each other.[49] In an Avengers annual Pym is able to resolve his past problems and adopts his Yellowjacket costume once again.[50] After the events of the Avengers Disassembled storyline, Pym takes a leave of absence,[51] and in the one-shot title Avengers: Finale, the character and Janet leave for England to rekindle their relationship.[52]  Pym and Janet's relationship fails and it is revealed in flashback during the Secret Invasion storyline in the title Mighty Avengers that at this point he is replaced by an alien Skrull.[53] In the limited series Beyond!, the Skrull version of Pym, along with the Wasp and other heroes, is transported to a place called "Battle World" to combat each other. The culprit is the cosmic entity the Stranger, posing as fellow entity the Beyonder.[54] Pym as Yellowjacket is a central character in the Civil War storyline, joining the those heroes that support the Superhuman Registration Act. Together with Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four) and Tony Stark (Iron Man), the character creates a cybernetic clone of currently missing Thor to battle the anti-registration heroes, although the clone shows no morals and kills Bill Foster (who had taken up Pym's former identity as Goliath) in battle. Pym is also kidnapped by Young Avengers member Hulkling, who uses his shapeshifter powers to impersonate Pym and free several captive anti-registration heroes. At the conclusion of the Civil War, Pym — still a Skrull — is named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine for his role.[55] In the title Avengers: The Initiative, the Skrull is revealed to be called "Criti Noll", and becomes one of the chief administrators at Camp Hammond, a U.S. military base in Stamford, Connecticut for the training of registered superheroes in the government program Avengers: The Initiative.[56] The Skrull Pym officially ends the attempt at reconciliation with Janet, and becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Tigra. During the combat phase of the invasion, the Skrull Pym is exposed and defeated by the hero Crusader.[57] Following a final battle between Earth's heroes and the Skrulls, the real Pym is found with other "replaced" heroes in a Skrull vessel. After the Wasp is killed in the final battle,[58] Pym takes on a new superhero persona as the Wasp in tribute to his former wife.[59] Pym rejoins the Avengers[60] and is eventually convinced to lead the team.[61] The cosmic entity Eternity reveals to Pym that he is Earth's "Scientist Supreme", the scientific counterpart to Doctor Strange, Earth's former Sorcerer Supreme.[62] [edit] SuccessorsThere are a number of characters in the Marvel universe that have also used the "Pym particles" to effect size changing. These include the Wasp;[63] Clint Barton;[64] Bill Foster[65] Scott Lang;[66] Erik Josten;[67] Rita DeMara;[68] Cassie Lang[69] Eric O'Grady[70] and Tom Foster.[71] [edit] Powers and abilities Henry Pym is a scientific genius with a Ph.D in biochemistry, along with expertise in the fields of quantum physics; robotics/cybernetics; artificial intelligence; biochemistry, and entomology. The character discovered the subatomic "Pym particles" that enable mass to be shunted or gained from an alternate dimension, thereby changing the size of himself or other beings or objects; and is the creator of the robot Ultron. After constant experimentation with size-changing via ingested capsules and particle-filled gas, Pym is eventually able to change size at will, and mentally generate Pym particles to change the sizes of other living beings or inanimate objects. Pym retains his normal strength when "ant" size, and possesses greatly increased strength and stamina when in "giant" form, courtesy of the increased mass. Pym’s costume is synthetic stretch fabric composed of unstable molecules and automatically adapts to his shifting sizes. The character also uses a cybernetic helmet for achieving rudimentary communication with ants and other higher order insects. As Yellowjacket, Pym wears artificial wings and has weapons called bio-blasters called "stingers" built into his gloves. Pym also carries a variety of weaponry, provisions, and scientific instruments, which are shrunken to the size of microchips and stored in the pockets of his uniform. [edit] Other versionsIn the limited series Fantastic Four: The End, Pym is still Goliath, and has two children who aspire to become superheroes, calling themselves "Beetle Boy" and the "Wasp".[72] The MC2 imprint title A-Next, set in a futuristic alternate universe, stars Henry and Jan Pym's children, Hope and Henry Pym Jr., who have become the supervillains Red Queen and Big Man respectively.[73] Pym features in several of the Marvel Zombies limited series, set in the alternate universe of Earth-2149. Pym is initially "zombified" (transformed into a flesh-eating zombie);[74] loses his hunger and regains sensibilities before being teleported to an alternate dimension;[75] and reappears for a final confrontation with human survivors of the plague, finally being killed.[76] The Ultimate Marvel imprint title Ultimates features a version of Pym who is portrayed as a brilliant but mentally fragile scientist and addicted to the drug Prozac. Pym's gains his abilities after transfusing the blood of wife Janet, who is a mutant. His abusive behavior ends their marriage and the character is expelled from the Ultimates, briefly joining pseudo heroes the Defenders in his Ant-Man persona. The character eventually rejoins the Ultimates in his Yellowjacket identity. During the events of "Ultimatum" storyline, Pym sacrifices himself to save the lives of the remaining Ultimates.[77] [edit] In other mediaHenry Pym appears in the animated television series The Marvel Super Heroes (1966); the The Avengers: United They Stand voiced by Rod Wilson (2000) and makes a cameo appearance in his Ant-Man alias in the Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes voiced by John Payne II (2006 - 2007) and the The Super Hero Squad Show voiced by Greg Grunberg (2009). Pym appears in the animated feature films Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2 (both 2006) (based on the Ultimates rendition of the character) and is voiced by Nolan North. Pym appears in the video games Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Jerry Houser (2006), and as Yellowjacket in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (2009) voiced by Wally Wingert. Pym also appears in his various guises in the HeroClix miniatures game and in the Vs. System card game. In 1999, a toy line was produced for the Avengers: United They Stand cartoon series, with an action figure of Hank as Ant-Man released. Toy Biz released a figure of Hank Pym in his Giant-Man costume in an Original Avengers box set that also included a miniature Ant-Man figure, and then released the same figure in Series 4 of their Marvel Legends toyline as a repaint of Pym in his Goliath outfit. The figure also came included with miniature Ant-Man and Wasp figures. In 2006, an exclusive series of Marvel Legends figures was released to Wal*Mart stores in the United States. This series required the purchasing 10 of the figures in the assortment to complete the "Build-A-Figure" toy of Giant-Man. In 2007, after Hasbro took over Marvel Legends, a Hank Pym in his Yellowjacket persona was released with the second series. A mini Yellowjacket had previously been included with Wonder Man in the ToyBiz Legendary Riders series. [edit] Bibliography
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
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