What About The Wasp?

What About The Wasp?

Ant-Man is going to be filming soon. The choice of Michael Douglas to play a probably-retired Hank Pym was controversial enough, but what do you do with a problem like Janet Van Dyne?

Editorial Opinion
By Spock0Clock - Feb 02, 2014 06:02 PM EST
Filed Under: Ant-Man

Marvel has clearly given Edgar Wright a long leash on his adaptation of Ant-Man and his supporting cast. Personally, I think what they've announced has been a fresh take on what could otherwise an underwhelming franchise, and I say this as a big fan of Hank Pym and the “Pym Family” in the comics. Embracing Ant-Man as a legacy character is a great way to capitalize on what makes Pym and Scott Lang interesting and unique with minimal screen time. The casting of Paul Rudd even suggests there may be shades of the Irredeemable Eric O'Grady in his performance. But where does this leave the Wasp? We've already heard rumors of Rashida Jones being considered, but no one knows how she'll fit into the story at all.

Tales to Underwhelm


Janet Van Dyne's Wasp was introduced to Hank Pym's Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish #44 as the daughter of Pym's partner in science. In essence, she's a spoiled heiress who is given superpowers by her boyfriend. Most of her early adventures consist of being Ant-Man's sexy sidekick and “the girl” on the Avengers, primarily concerning herself with the fashion of her costume and the more superficial side of super-adventuring. Over the years, she certainly grew into a more grounded and relatable character, but like so many of the less iconic Silver Agers, she lacked a singular emotionally-resonant moment that defined her as a hero. At least, until she got one...

Let's Just Talk About “It”


Everyone who knows anything about Hank Pym knows about this panel. It is, unfortunately, the defining moment for him as a fictional character, but it has also become the defining moment for Janet, as well. Even decades later, years after the couple had separated, writers of the comics continued to fixate on Janet as a battered wife (sometimes as a helpless victim to be pitied, other times as a sympathetic divorcee trying to move on with her life, and still others as an embittered ex who blew the whole thing out of proportion). Regardless of the writer's approach, Janet's reaction to this moment was her most central defining quality... and that's all a bit heavy for the generally lighthearted tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Time for a Fresh Start?


It's all a bit hazy right now what, if any, role Janet will play in Edgar Wright's film. She may still be the daughter of Hank's fellow researcher, turned girlfriend and wife, even if she is 30 years younger than him. Or she could skip a generation and be Scott Lang's love interest instead. Or both. She may begin the movie as the Wasp or never put on a costume. But if we're going shake up the canon of Ant-Man for the movies, why does she have to be shoehorned into any of these things at all?

If Hank Pym has been active since the 1970's as Ant-Man, then it wouldn't be at all surprising for S.H.I.E.L.D. to have developed their own applications for Pym Particles in the meantime (just as they have done in various incarnations in the comics). Is it really that much of a stretch to imagine Wasp as Agent Janet Van Dyne, Infiltration Specialist?



It doesn't mean her personality has to be changed, anyway. She can still be the superficial daughter of Pym's lab partner without being wedded (literally or figuratively) to Pym himself. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents can come in all flavors, and it might be nice to see someone a little less stoic on the job. Moreover, by gaining her powers through S.H.I.E.L.D., she would no longer be “just Ant-Man's girlfriend”, but a hero in her own right. Worthy of joining the Avengers on her own terms, like the cinematic versions of Hawkeye or Falcon or Black Widow. Plus, putting narrative distance between her and Hank Pym undermines the audience expectation that at some point she's going to be involved in some form of domestic abuse.



I loved Hank and Janet's characters and relationship in the recent Earth's Mightiest Heroes series, but no matter how good it seemed, they couldn't escape that sense of foreboding. As soon as Hank showed the slightest signs of being unhinged, my thoughts turned to how bad it could get...



...and that's not really a good place to be. Thank you for reading and I want to know what you think about this. Is Wasp being a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent a bridge too far? How much should comicbook canon affect decisions about the MCU, and should movie-makers go out of their way to avoid this particularly troubling aspects of these characters' history?

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Bearjew
Bearjew - 2/2/2014, 6:30 PM
I'd like a lighthearted Wasp/Ant Man relationship.
Bearjew
Bearjew - 2/2/2014, 6:30 PM
But a really good and emotional sequence with him slapping Janet is fine too.
Reasonnnn
Reasonnnn - 2/2/2014, 7:46 PM
I do not doubt Edgar Wright. I'm more of a Edgar Wright fan than Ant-Man and I'm fully confident that he'll deliver something original with a visual flair while capturing the essence of the characters.
crdl2nslv
crdl2nslv - 2/2/2014, 8:17 PM
I've heard alot of people on this site talk about her maybe being Hank's daughter and Lang's girlfriend. If they went with that dynamic it would be pretty easy for Hank to have a volitile, domineering relationship with Janet without being physically abusive. We could still enjoy a happy, light-hearted relationship between Lang and Janet.
OptionFour
OptionFour - 2/2/2014, 9:24 PM
I hear what you're saying about the violence aspect not fitting well in the MCU. But really, it was one of the more interesting, defining moments for the two characters. Cutting it out just because it doesn't fit into the comedy/action atmosphere of the movies seems . . . weak, I guess?

Further, I'd really hate to see another superhero turned into a secret agent. Its becoming sort of a crutch for the films to not explain anyone's history. Who are they? Oh, they work for SHIELD. Looks like we're getting the same thing with Falcon now, too. I'd like to keep enough superheroes that the movies are still . . . ya know, superhero movies instead of secret agent movies.
Cles
Cles - 2/3/2014, 9:00 AM
I would love to see something like the use of the time gem to bring 60's Hank to the present, where he becomes Yellowjacket. Janet could still be the daughter of his partner who always had a crush on him, and when he arrives in the present, the age difference is no longer an issue. At the end of his run in the present, after however many movies, he could be sent back to the past again which would, in his later life, lead up to the events seen in Antman. There is a wealth of opportunity for some very interesting stories, as well as being able to hint at Hank's insecurities and emotional well-being by juxtaposing him against Captain America.

Janet's crush from the past could be shown to be caused by Hank. Her adult self is in his past, and he still loves her. There is a strong bond there with him, and she feels it. When he shows up as his younger self, she can act on those feelings. If done right, Janet could be one of the most sympathetic love interests in CBMs. Think about her being left in the present without him, a man she has truly loved since she was a child. It would also go a long way to show why adult Hank is so bitter. The woman he loves is right there in front of him, but too young, and too far away.

MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 2/3/2014, 6:17 PM
I think the violence should actually be left out and not mentioned with in the MCU. If it is included then maybe it should be alluded too but having Hank Pym only hit her once. Hank Pym wholeheartedly hated and regretted hitting Janet and admitted his sorrows towards Jocasta in Mighty Avengers just before taking up the persona of The Wasp and giving respect towards Janet even after she had passed away.

mook
mook - 2/4/2014, 1:50 AM
The basic plot set-up could be something like this;

We start with 'Ant-Man' breaking into a scientific research building to steal certain equipment.

A group of S.H.I.E.L.D agents (including Janet Van Dyne) go question the man that invented the technology – introducing us to the old Pym. This leads to a flashback to the late 1960's with Dr Henry Pym working at S.H.I.E.L.D when he discovers the subatomic "Pym particles". This can lead to a big period Sci-Fi/Spy adventure with Pym's Ant-Man . After this is concluded he decided it was too risky to pursue the life of a Superhero, shelves his uniform/equipment and return to safer lab work - in particular concentrating on his 'Ultron' concept...

Back in the present day (around the same time as 'Avengers 2') we learn that Scott Lang stole the Ant-Man suit and equipment from Pym's home. We can see him committing a few robberies but also discover that he is being blackmailed to steal scientific equipment to protect his daughter who has been kidnapped.

While this is going on, Pym and S.H.I.E.L.D agree that the best way to stop Lang would be for someone else to have the Ant-Man tech. This leads to Pym training SHIELD Agent Janet Van Dyne to basically become Wasp. This leads to Wasp capturing Lang. Once the reason for Lang's actions are revealed Lang & Wasp team up to get his daughter back and capture the bad guys. Pym does not press charges and a friendship develops between the older Pym acting as mentor to Wasp and Scott Lang, the new Ant-Man. Both Lang and Wasp join the team in Avengers 3...

Read more at http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/SuperheroSpeculation/news/?a=93010#XrFo4emLHwb4DzJX.99
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