Ant-Man

This article is about the fictional characters. For the upcoming film, see Ant-Man (film).
Ant-Man
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Tales to Astonish #35 (January 1962)
Created by Stan Lee
Larry Lieber
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego Hank Pym
Scott Lang
Eric O'Grady
Team affiliations Avengers
Abilities Size-shifting from nearly microscopic to ~100 feet gigantic (both at extremes)
Maintains strength of normal size in shrunken state

Ant-Man is the name of several fictional characters appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Ant-Man was originally the superhero persona of Hank Pym, a brilliant scientist who invented a substance that allowed him to change his size. Hank Pym was created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27 (Jan. 1962); his first appearance as Ant-Man was in Tales to Astonish #35 (Sept. 1962).

After Pym retired his Ant-Man identity, successors Scott Lang and Eric O'Grady have used Pym's technology to take on the role of Ant-Man.

Fictional character biography

Over the years a number of different characters have assumed the title of Ant-Man, most of whom have been connected with the Avengers.

Hank Pym

Main article: Hank Pym

Biophysicist and Security Operations Center expert Dr. Henry 'Hank' Pym decided to become a superhero after discovering a chemical substance (Pym Particles) that would allow the user to alter his size. Armed with a helmet that could control ants, Pym would shrink down to the size of an insect to become the mystery-solving Ant-Man.[1] He soon shared his discovery with his girlfriend, Janet Van Dyne, who became his crime-fighting partner as the Wasp.[2] The duo would become founding members of the Avengers, fighting recurring enemies such as the mad scientist Egghead, the mutant Whirlwind, and Pym's own robotic creation Ultron.[3]

While Pym is the original Ant-Man, he has adopted other aliases over the years including Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket,[2] and the Wasp after Janet's presumed death in Secret Invasion.[4] Leaving his original persona vacant, his successors have taken up the role of Ant-Man while Pym explored these other identities.

Scott Lang

Main article: Ant-Man (Scott Lang)

Scott Lang was a thief who first became Ant-Man after stealing Henry Pym's Ant-Man suit to save his daughter Cassie from a heart condition.[5] Reforming from his life of crime, he soon took on a full-time career as Ant-Man with the encouragement of Hank Pym.[6] He became an affiliate of the Fantastic Four,[7] and most recently became a full-time member of the Avengers. For a period of time he dated Jessica Jones.[5] He was later killed by the Scarlet Witch along with Vision and Hawkeye in Avengers Disassembled,[8] and his daughter, Cassie, took up his heroic mantle as Stature in the book Young Avengers. He returned to life in 2011 in the mini series, The Children's Crusade, but lost his daughter when she heroically sacrificed herself to stop a super charged Doctor Doom, who would later revive her during the AXIS event.

Eric O'Grady

Main article: Eric O'Grady

Eric O'Grady is the third character to take up the title of Ant-Man. Eric O'Grady is a low-level agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. who stumbled upon the Ant-Man suit in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters.[9] A man of few morals and willing to lie, cheat, steal, and manipulate in order to get ahead in life, Eric stole the armor for his own selfish plans, which included using his status as a "super-hero" to seduce women[10] and humiliate and torment others.[11] He had his own short-lived title before being part of other teams such as joining Avengers: The Initiative as his first team and then joining The Thunderbolts but more recently Secret Avengers, where the character perished heroically while defending a child against the villain known as Father.

Film

Main article: Ant-Man (film)

A live-action film, featuring Scott Lang and Hank Pym, titled Ant-Man, is scheduled to be released on July 17, 2015.[12][13] The film is directed by Peyton Reed, with a screenplay by Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish and Adam McKay & Paul Rudd from a story by Wright and Cornish.[14][15] Wright was slated to direct the film but left the project in May 2014 due to creative differences with the studio.[16] In November 2013, Kevin Feige confirmed that aspects of Eric O'Grady's Ant-Man would not be featured in the film.[17] In December 2013, Paul Rudd was cast as Ant-Man,[18] followed in January 2014 with the casting of Michael Douglas as Pym, and the confirmation of Rudd as Lang.[19] Filming began in August 2014[20] and was completed in December.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Henry Pym Biography". IGN. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Secret Invasion Illumination". Marvel.com. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Psych Ward: Hank Pym". Marvel.com. December 29, 2008. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Mighty Avengers: Assemble". Marvel.com. October 7, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Marvel's 5 Unluckiest Heroes: A Friday the 13th Special Report". Marvel.com. July 17, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Ant Man (Scott Lang) Biography". IGN. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Take 10: Replacement FF Members". Marvel.com. August 25, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  8. ↑ Avengers #500 (Sept. 2004)
  9. ↑ Irredeemable Ant-man #1 (Oct. 2006)
  10. ↑ Irredeemable Ant-man #2 (Nov. 2006)
  11. ↑ Irredeemable Ant-man #3 (Dec. 2006)
  12. ↑ Douglas, Edward (July 26, 2006). "Exclusive: Edgar Wright Talks Ant-Man". SuperHeroHype.com. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
  13. ↑ Kroll, Justin (January 23, 2014). "Marvel's 'Ant-Man' Moves into Former Superman-Batman Release Date". Variety. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Director Peyton Reed and Writer Adam McKay Join Marvel's Ant-Man". Marvel.com. June 7, 2014. Archived from the original on June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  15. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (April 22, 2015). "Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ Resolves Writing Credit Dispute (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Archived from the original on April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  16. ↑ Graser, Mark (May 23, 2014). "Edgar Wright Exits Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ as Director". Variety. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  17. ↑ Bibbiani, William (November 8, 2013). "Exclusive Interview: Kevin Feige on Thor and Marvel’s Future". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Paul Rudd Set to Star in Marvel's Ant-Man". Marvel Entertainment. Marvel Studios. December 19, 2013. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  19. ↑ Kroll, Justin (January 13, 2014). "Michael Douglas to Star as Hank Pym in Marvel's Ant-Man". Variety. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Production Begins On Marvel's Ant-Man". Marvel.com. August 18, 2014. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  21. ↑ Reed, Peyton (December 5, 2014). "And that's it! Principal photography on ANT-MAN is now complete. The ants have left the building. Stay tuned...". Twitter. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.

External links