Henry Pym
Hank Pym: Tribute
Hank Pym as Yellowjacket
Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym is a fictional character that appears in publications 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, a scientist that debuted in a standalone science-fictionanthology story, returned 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 (Wasp) and goes on to assume other superhero identities, including the size-changing Giant-Man and Goliath; the insect-themed Yellowjacket; and briefly 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.
Publication history
Hank 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 (cover date January 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.”
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 (September 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 Astonishtitle. The Wasp also on occasion acted as a framing-sequence host for backup stories in the title. In September 1963, Lee and Kirby created the superhero title Avengers, and Ant-Man and the Wasp were established in issue #1 as founding members of the team.
Decades later, Lee theorized as to why “Ant-Man never became one of our top sellers or had his own book,” saying,
“I loved Ant-Man, but the stories were never really successful. In order for Ant-Man to be successful, he had to be drawn this small next to big things and you would be getting pictures that were visually interesting. The artists who drew him, no matter how much I kept reminding them, they kept forgetting that fact. They would draw him standing on a tabletop and they would draw a heroic-looking guy. I would say, ‘Draw a matchbook cover next to him, so we see the difference in size.’ But they kept forgetting. So when you would look at the panels, you thought you were looking at a normal guy wearing an underwear costume like all of them. It didn’t have the interest.”
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 (November 1963). Pym and van Dyne continued to costar in the title 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 Goliath in Avengers #28 (May 1966). Gradually falling to mental duress, he adopted a fourth superhero identity, Yellowjacket, in issue #59 (December 1968). Pym reappeared as Ant-Man in Avengers #93 (November 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 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 (February 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 (September 2004).
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 (January 2009). Giant-Man appeared as a supporting character in Avengers Academy from issue #1 (Aug 2010) through its final issue #39 (Jan 2013). Pym returned as the Wasp in the mini-series Ant-Man & The Wasp (Jan. 2011).
Henry Pym appeared as a regular character in the 2010-2013 Secret Avengers series, from issue #22 (April 2012) through its final issue #37 (March 2013).
Fictional character biography
1960’s
Biochemist Henry Pym, discovering an unusual set of subatomic particles he labels “Pym particles”, creates a size-altering formula and tests it on himself. Reduced to the size of an insect, Pym has a dangerous encounter with ants in a nearby anthill. 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.
Pym debuts as Ant-Man on the cover of Tales To Astonish #35 (Sept. 1962). Art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.
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 who teleports himself to Earth, 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 she shrinks. Janet assumes the alias of the Wasp, and together they find and defeat her father’s killer. The pair feature in the first issue of the title Avengers, becoming founding members of the superhero team. Pym eventually adopts his first alternate identity as the 12-foot-tall Giant-Man and with the Wasp continues to star in the feature “Giant-Man”, battling foes such as the Living Eraser; the Human Top, and the Porcupine until issue #69 being replaced by Namor the Sub-Mariner the following issue. The pair also develop a romantic relationship during their final appearances in the title.
Accidentally involved in a plan by the Asgardian god Loki to draw out his sibling Thor, Ant-Man and the Wasp join the superhero team the Avengers, the Wasp unintentionally thinks up the name of the Avengers, with Pym becoming Giant-Man after the first mission. It is revealed in flashback that Pym adopted the identity of Giant-Man out of feelings of inadequacy when compared to team mates Iron Man and Thor. After a final encounter with the Masters of Evil, the pair decide to take a leave of absence.
Pym eventually rejoins the Avengers, adopting the new identity of Goliath. A mishap traps the character in giant form for several issues, and affects his self-esteem. Pym also creates a robot called Ultron that accidentally achieves sentience and becomes one of the Avengers’ greatest foes. 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.
1970’s
Pym appears as Giant-Man on the cover of Tales to Astonish #56 (June 1964). Art by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone.
After several adventures with the Avengers, including another encounter with Ultron, the pair take a leave of absence. The heroes encounter Pym at the beginning of theKree-Skrull War, discovering that the character has been reverted into a caveman by the alien Kree. Pym is restored to normal, and returns briefly to repair the androidAvenger the Vision. For a time Pym retains his Ant-Man persona and has a series of solo adventures.
Henry Pym debuts as Goliath. FromThe Avengers #28 (May 1966). Art by Jack Kirby
After aiding fellow superhero team theDefenders as Yellowjacket, Pym returns to the Avengers. 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 Ultron and force him to retreat by threatening to destroy his robotic creation, Jocasta. After Ultron’s brainwashing is reversed, Pym re-joins the Avengers as Yellowjacket, and together they destroy Ultron. Pym is forced to briefly leave the team when the roster is restructured by government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich.
1980’s
Returning 14 issues later, Pym participates in several missions until, after demonstrating hostile behavior towards Janet, he attacks a foe from behind once the opponent had ceased fighting. 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 (named Salvation-1) 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 discovers the plan and begs Pym to stop, at which point he strikes her. Although the robot does attack the Avengers as planned, Pym is unable to stop it and the Wasp uses the design flaw to defeat it. Pym is subsequently expelled from the Avengers, and Janet divorces him.
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 (whom he had covertly summoned) at the scene of the crime 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. During Pym’s imprisonment, Janet has a brief relationship with Tony Stark. 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 bidding farewell to Janet and his teammates, Pym leaves to devote his full time to research.
Hank strikes his wife Janet. Art by Bob Hall.
Pym reappears in the West Coast Avengers, first in an advisory role and then as a full-fledged member in a non-costumed capacity. Pym begins a short relationship with teammate Tigra, and after a verbal taunting by old foe Whirlwind contemplatessuicide, but is stopped by the heroine Firebird. Pym and Janet also eventually resume a romantic relationship.
1990’s
The character eventually returns to the Avengers, joining the East Coast team as Giant-Man. 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.
Pym returns and aids the team as Giant-Man and makes a significant contribution by defeating criminal mastermind Imus Champion and his flawed creation Ultron, simultaneously overcoming his old issues with his own brain patterns creating Ultron.
