So, I've already seen Quantumania and it is wonderful! Look for a full review over on the podcast this weekend.
To get everyone ready for it I thought it would be fun to look at some of the characters we know are in the movie. I'm just going to be going over the main cast, not rumored characters or even confirmed spoiled characters. Scott, Hope, Cassie, Janet and Hank, no more no less. I want to look at their comic history and their MCU history. As always, check out your local comic shop for great stories featuring all these characters.
Ok, now that that's out of the way let's dive into the Quantum Realm!
Leading things off is Scott Lang, our Ant-Man! Lang originally debuted in Avengers #181 in March 1979. He would become Ant-Man the next month in Marvel Premiere #47. He wasn't the first to use the title Ant-Man but more on that later. He would float around in the Avengers, FF and Guardians of the Galaxy books before he got his own series in 2015.
Even before in appearance in the MCU Scott was a fun and relatable character. He was born in Coral Gables, Florida just outside Miami. He's a movie buff who got bored with being an electrical engineer and became a burglar, or to better support his family depending on who's writing. He would spend a few years in prison before getting out on good behavior. Seeing his engineering prowess Stark International would hire him in their designs department before Tony himself had Scott install a security system in Avengers Mansion.
His daughter Cassie would get sick and the only doctor that could help her got kidnapped by Darren Cross. This caused Scott to go back to a life a crime, ultimately breaking into Hank Pym's house and stealing the Ant-Man suit. He would stop Cross, save the doctor and cure his daughter. After that Pym would confront him about the theft but seeing his good intentions, let him keep the suit.
Later, Scott would lead the Fantastic Four for a bit before returning to the Avengers. During the Avengers: Disassembled event Scarlet Witch would use a recreation of Jack of Hearts to kill Lang. He would return to the Avengers before betraying them during the Secret Empire story. That's the one where Captain America turns evil. Trying to redeem himself he would team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy before finally returning to Earth and becoming a Hero for Hire.
This more or less lines up with his MCU origin. In the MCU he turns to crime to punish big corporations. In both instances we see him as a strong family man. I like how Darren Cross carries over to he movies as Lang's adversary, that's a nice touch. The first two movies really did a lot of character and world building so I'm curious to see how this third one handles a whole new world.
The MCU Scott is funny and lovable so I really hope we get a chance to see him interact with the Fantastic Four and the Guardians. The times we have seen him crossover, Civil War and End Game, it was a ton of fun and gave some of the best moments of those movies. I have a sinking feeling something bad is going to happen to him but I'm hoping I'm wrong.
Next up is Hope van Dyne who is about as far from her comic counterpart as she can be. In the comics she goes by Hope Pym and is from another universe! Still the daughter of Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne she hails from the MC2 universe. This is the universe that focuses on the near-ish future and the adventures of Spider-Girl, the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. It's actually a lot of fun and sees the children of many modern heroes and villains make their debuts. Hope first appeared in A-Next #7 in April 1999.
MC2 Hope is the polar opposite of her MCU counterpart. In the comics Hope Pym goes by Red Queen and is a supervillian! She sees Cassie Lang as an impostor and has made it her life's mission to kill Cassie.
This is a great example of the MCU taking the source material and changing it for the better. They manage to still have Hank and Janet be Ant-Man and Wasp while giving the legacy characters a chance to shine. In a fun twist Hope is slightly resentful of her dad where as in the comics she wants to destroy anyone who besmirches his legacy.
The Ant-Man movies have a pretty loaded cast and I feel sometimes Hope gets lost in the mix. I'm really curious to see more of the dynamic of the Wasp lineage in the Quantum Zone. Hope's interactions with her mom and with Cassie could really give her a chance to shine.
The most recast character in the MCU is Cassie Lang. She's been in the comics as long as Scott making her debut in Marvel Premiere #47. Her heart condition is what let Scott to steal in the first place. Her parents are divorced and she grows up living with her dad. He tries to keep his heroing a secret from her but she eventually figures it out and even starts experimenting with the Pym Particles that give Ant-Man his powers. When she tells her dad that she knows he's a hero he loosens up and even lets her help on some missions. This leads her mom to worry and take sole custody of Cassie.
Being forcibly removed from her dad and his heroic ways makes her angry and resentful towards her mother and her policeman stepfather. After her father's death Cassie would join the Young Avengers. (Fun fact, originally the Young Avengers were assembled by Iron Lad who was a younger version of Kang. Can't wait to see if that connection plays out.) While with the team she would form a lasting friendship with Kate Bishop. Yeah, that Kate Bishop from Hawkeye!
Younger Cassie played a pretty big role in the first two Ant-Man films and a smaller, but still powerful, part in Endgame. The family dynamic is a lot friendlier in the MCU but seeing her deal with her dad being gone during the blip and gaining powers should be a real treat. Hopefully Kathryn Newton will really shine in the role and make it hers going forward.
Janet van Dyne is the original Wasp both in the MCU and in the comics. She first showed up in Tales to Astonish #44, cover date June 1963. She became a hero to avenge the death of her father at the hands of an alien. She would go on to be one of the founding members of the Avengers, even being the one who gave the team their name. Much like Sue Storm, and other Marvel heroines of the 60s, she was often the damsel in distress but as time went on she became one of the most valuable assets for the team. The only person with more leadership time of the Avengers is Captain America!
Over the years she has been a voice of reason and progress among Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She recognizes when new leadership is needed and adds inclusive members to the team. She also draws attention to Hank Pym's mental health and abusive behaviors.
Her origin differs more than just seeking revenge for a dead dad. In the comics she actually undergoes a "biochemical procedure" that allows her to shrink and grow wings. In the Ultimate comics
In the MCU Janet acts like a bit of a MacGuffin throughout the Ant-Man series. In the first film she shrinks down to the subatomic level and disappears. By the end of the movie Scott shrinks down to the same size and comes back, giving hope for Janet's return. In the second film she manages to contact Scott through their quantum connection. She reveals that her time in the realm has changed her both physically and mentally.
One of the characters that differs most from their comic counterparts in Hank Pym. He debuted back in Tales to Astonish #27 in January 1962. He wouldn't become Ant-Man until issue #35 in September that year. He would have other titles over the years like Giant-Man, Goliath, Yellowjacket and even Wasp! He discovers the elements that allow him to shrink and grow that he would call "Pym Particles." Originally thinking they were too dangerous he destroys them before changing his mind and recreating them.
The various names aren't the only difference. Comic Hank isn't as fun and lovable as the MCU version. In the comics he has multiple anger and mental health issues. This results in him struggling with addiction and becoming overly aggressive. He attacks an enemy after they surrendered causing Captain America to suspend Hank from the team. This causes Pym to have a mental breakdown. He comes up with a plan to get back in the good graces of the team by staging a fake attack that only he can stop. Janet discovers his plan and tries to stop him. This results in him attacking her.
Disgraced even more he is fully expelled from the team and Janet divorces him. At a new low and with no prospects in life Hank is tricked into trying to steal adamantium from the government. The Avengers catch him and he is put in prison. Eventually it is discovered he was manipulated by Eggman, who is Ghost's father in the MCU, so he is released. After years of rehabilitation and therapy Hank rejoins the Avengers and reconciles with Janet.
In the MCU, Michael Douglas plays a charming but stern Hank Pym. Over the years we've seen him but heads with S.H.I.E.L.D, help ex-cons, and rescue his love. Douglas has been one of my favorite parts of the MCU. I love that some of the older Hollywood types, like Robert Redford, Annette Bening and Kurt Russell, come and play with the younger actors and franchises. It is refreshing to see one as a hero instead of a villain. In press junkets for Quantumania Douglas has said he would return for a fourth film if he could be killed off.
This movie has a lot of great characters and I can’t recommend seeing it enough. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Until next time,
Lance
P.S. - I don’t own any of the pictures. The belong to Disney and anyone other proper people.