Despite being an easy punchline for years, some really interesting things have been done with the concept of Ant-Man. Let’s say concept, because so far, three people have worn the helmet. Yes, Hank Pym was a founding member of the Avengers mostly because he was one of the few superheroes Marvel had at the time, along with Janet Van Dyne as the Wasp. Spider-Man was too much of a loner, and then there was the Hulk… who… was a founding member of the Avengers.
It’s logical, then, that Al Ewing would turn his attention to Ant-Man, because he just finished up one of the best takes on the Hulk ever. Pym may be problematic, but Scott Lang has always been fun, and the oft-forgotten Incorrigible Ant-Man, created by Robert Kirkman, is a really different take. So who is the Ant-Man of the future? Marvel teases we’re not prepared. What decade-spanning menace is so frightening that only the legacy of Ant-Man can stop it? My money’s on the Scarlet Beetle, who was in one of the first comics I ever read and scared the crap out of me because I was 4. Bring it on, Ewing!
From Marvel:
Ant-Man, one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, will celebrate his big 60th anniversary with a new limited series! Al Ewing, the writer who redefined Hulk in IMMORTAL HULK, now sets his sights on Ant-Man, delving into the character’s unique history to examine every hero who’s ever taken on the mantle! Joining him on this epic journey will be artist Tom Reilly. Known for his acclaimed work on the current THE THING series, Reilly’s stylish art will take readers on a brilliant adventure that begins in Marvel’s silver age and concludes in a strange new future. Each thrilling issue will focus on a different Ant-Man from Hank Pym to Eric O’Grady to Scott Lang as a brand-new future Ant-Man seeks to connect them all so they can face off against a threat only they can hope to defeat!
It all kicks off in ANT-MAN #1 which will flash back to the early days of Hank Pym’s career as the astonishing Ant-Man! It’s date night for Hank and his girlfriend Janet Van Dyne, but nobody told that to Ant-Man’s enemies! Watch as Hank’s ant-agonists band together to finally take down the scientific adventurer! But will anyone come to his rescue? And who is the mysterious stranger who stalks him?
“For Ant-Man’s ant-iversary, we wanted to go BIG with the world’s smallest hero – burrowing an ant tunnel right through his sixty-year history and far beyond, from the wild and wooly 1960s all the way to a future you’ll have to see to believe!” Ewing promises. “You’ll find out how Henry Pym, Scott Lang and Eric O’Grady impacted each other’s lives in ways they never knew themselves – but who’s the mysterious final member of this Ant-tastic Four? Tremble with ant-icipation, true believer – the answers are coming soon to a hill near you!”
“I’m very excited to work with Al again, this time to celebrate, and add to, the legacy of Ant Man!” Reilly says. “Several different people have taken the name, and Al’s written a fun story that gives them all a chance to shine. I also look forward to working with Jordie Bellaire again, her colors elevate any book that she’s on. There’s lots of inspiration to be taken from Ant Man’s rich artistic history, and there’ll be plenty of room for both of us to experiment in this series. I can’t wait for everyone to check it out!”
Be there when this definitive saga in ANT-MAN’s storied history begins this June!
In addition to running Fanboy Planet, Derek has contributed stories to Arcana Comics (The Greatest American Hero) and Monsterverse Comics (Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave). He has performed with ComedySportz, City Lights Theater Company and Silicon Valley Shakespeare, though relocated to Hollywood to... work in an office? If you ever played Eric's Ultimate Solitaire on the Macintosh, it was Derek's voice as The Weasel that urged you to play longer. You can buy his book "I Was Flesh Gordon" on the Amazon link at the right. Email him at [email protected].
