Real Name: Janet Van Dyne
First Appearance: Tales to Astonish #44 (1963)
Affiliation: Founding Avenger; partner of Ant-Man / Giant-Man
Powers and Equipment: Shrinking, winged flight at small size, and insect-related equipment developed in her adventures with Hank Pym.

Janet Van Dyne enters Tales to Astonish #44 as the daughter of a scientist and becomes the Wasp, joining Hank Pym’s adventures. Their partnership quickly makes her a central presence in his life. She is a companion and fellow adventurer, with her own expectations of what that relationship should be.

Janet’s interest in Hank often clashes with his absorption in experiments. In Tales to Astonish #64, frustration leads her to try leaving their superhero routine, only for Attuma to draw her into another dangerous situation. Their personal disagreements and their work together remain closely connected.

The Wasp also has adventures that place her in charge of the action. In the separate Wasp feature in Tales to Astonish #58, she confronts the Magician without relying on Hank to defeat him. That story offers a useful introduction to Janet as a crimefighter in her own right.

As one of the original Avengers, Janet belongs to a larger circle of heroes. Avengers #14 places her survival at the center of the team’s efforts after she is badly wounded. She later leaves the active roster alongside Hank in #16.

Her latest reviewed solo-feature adventure, Tales to Astonish #69, reunites the pair against the Human Top. Hank fears the danger their lives bring her, but Janet expresses pride in him rather than a wish to end their partnership. Their bond matters as much as the size-changing escape that gets them out of trouble.

Selected Reviewed Appearances

• Tales to Astonish #44
• Wasp feature, Tales to Astonish #58
• Tales to Astonish #64
• Avengers #14
• Avengers #16
• Tales to Astonish #69

Coverage: based on reviews published on Reviewing Comics as of October 23, 2026.