Reviewing Comics From Classics To New

Reviewing Comics

- - Characters
commentary

Hank Pym (Ant-Man / Giant-Man)

Real Name: Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym
First Appearance: Tales to Astonish #27 (1962); becomes Ant-Man in #35
Aliases: Ant-Man; Giant-Man
Affiliation: Founding Avenger; partner of the Wasp
Powers and Equipment: Scientific size-changing methods and equipment for communicating with insects.

Hank Pym’s story begins as a scientific experiment, not a superhero mission. In Tales to Astonish #27, his shrinking discovery leaves him facing an ant hill from a very different perspective. When he returns in Tales to Astonish #35, his research and interest in ants become the basis of Ant-Man.

Janet Van Dyne joins him as the Wasp in Tales to Astonish #44. That issue also brings more of Hank’s personal history into view. Their partnership gives his adventures a continuing relationship beyond the laboratory: Janet wants his attention, while his experiments frequently absorb it.

The introduction of Giant-Man in Tales to Astonish #49 expands the possibilities of his discovery. Instead of relying only on a tiny body and an oversized environment, Hank can meet danger as a giant. His methods continue changing, including cybernetic control and experiments with altering the size of others.

Hank and Janet help found the Avengers, then step away from the active lineup in #16. Their own feature continues through Tales to Astonish #69, where the Human Top threatens them both. Hank’s worry about the risks Janet faces becomes an important part of the story. The ending raises the possibility of a break, rather than establishing a permanent retirement.

His size-changing abilities are not presented with perfectly consistent limits in these issues. The latest confrontation even uses a shrinking solution after the preceding installment appeared to rule it out. Hank’s ingenuity is clear; a fixed technical rulebook is not.