Dr. Henry Jonathan Pym is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by penciller Jack Kirby, editor-plotter Stan Lee and writer Larry Lieber, Pym debuted in Tales to Astonish #27 (January 1962). He returned several issues later as the original iteration of Ant-Man, a superhero with the power to shrink to the size of an ant. He later assumed other superhero identities, including the size-changing Giant-Man and Goliath; the insect-themed Yellowjacket; and briefly, the Wasp. He is a founding member of the Avengers superhero team, and the creator of the robotic villain Ultron. He is also the ex-husband of Janet van Dyne, the first Wasp, and the father of Nadia van Dyne, his daughter by his first wife, Maria Pym.
Since his earliest appearances in the Silver Age of Comic Books, Pym has been featured in various Marvel-endorsed products including animated films, video games, television series, and feature films. Michael Douglas plays Pym in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023). Douglas also voiced alternate-timeline versions of Pym in the Disney+ animated series What If...? (2021–2023).
Publication history
Hank Pym debuted in a seven-page solo cover story, "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 story was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, writer Larry Lieber, penciller Jack Kirby, and inker Dick Ayers. In a 2008 interview, Lee said: "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 the costumed superhero Ant-Man who starred in a 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). His adventures became an ongoing feature in the title. Issue #44 (June 1963) featured the debut of his socialite girlfriend and lab assistant Janet van Dyne, who adopted the costumed identity of the Wasp. She co-starred in Pym's subsequent appearances, and was a framing-sequence host for backup stories in the series. In September 1963, Lee and Kirby created the superhero title The Avengers, and Ant-Man and Wasp were established in issue #1 as founding members of the eponymous team.
Decades later, Lee theorized as to why "Ant-Man never became one of our top sellers or had his own book":
Pym began a continuous shift of superhero identities in Tales to Astonish, first becoming the 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 they temporarily left the team.
Next Pym rejoined the Avengers and adopted the new identity Goliath in Avengers #28 (May 1966). Gradually falling to mental strain, he adopted the fourth superhero identity Yellowjacket in issue #59 (December 1968). He 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 1972July 1973). During this run, he appeared in a redesigned costume with a nail as a weapon. After appearing occasionally as Yellowjacket in the 1980s and battling mental and emotional issues, he temporarily abandoned costumed personas altogether, joining the West Coast Avengers as a scientist and inventor in West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #21 (June 1987). Writer Steve Englehart explained, "I've been using him as he asked to be used. In the Egghead story, where he bombed out as Yellowjacket, he said that he would never be a superhero again, so I took him at his word."
Pym returned to the Avengers as Giant-Man in The Avengers vol. 3, #1 (February 1998). When the team disbanded after a series of tragedies, Pym, as Yellowjacket, took a leave of absence beginning with vol. 3, #85 (September 2004).The issue was alternately numbered #500 (of the first volume) in an anniversary return to the original series numbering.
Following van Dyne's death, a grieving Pym took on the Wasp identity as a 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 (August 2010) through its final issue #39 (January 2013). Pym returned as the Wasp in the mini-series Ant-Man & The Wasp (January 2011) and as a regular character in the 2010-2013 Secret Avengers series from issue #22 (April 2012) through its final issue #37 (March 2013).
After Secret Avengers, Pym joined the Avengers A.I. after beating his creation Ultron. He then appeared in many comics including Daredevil (Vol. 3 and 4) and the graphic novel Rage of Ultron.
Fictional character biography 1960s Biochemist Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym discovers an unusual set of subatomic particles he labels "Pym particles". Entrapping them within two separate serums, he creates a size-altering formula and a reversal formula, testing them on himself. Reduced to the size of an insect, he becomes trapped in an anthill before he eventually escapes and uses the reversal formula to return to normal size. Deciding the serums are too dangerous, he destroys them.Tales to Astonish #27 (January 1962) He later reconsiders his decision and recreates his serums. Pym's experience in the anthill inspires him to study ants, and he builds a cybernetic helmet that lets him communicate with and control them. He designs a costume made of unstable molecules to prevent bites or scratches from the ants and reinvents himself as the superhero Ant-Man.Tales to Astonish #35 (September 1962)
After several adventures, Pym is contacted by Vernon van Dyne, who asks for his help contacting alien life. Pym refuses, but is attracted to Vernon's socialite daughter Janet van Dyne. When Vernon is killed by an alien criminal who teleports to Earth, Janet asks for Pym's help avenging his death. Pym reveals his secret identity to Janet and uses Pym particles to graft wasp wings beneath her shoulders, which appear when Janet shrinks. She assumes the alias of the Wasp, and together they find and defeat Vernon's killer.Tales To Astonish #44 (June 1963) They become founding members of the superhero team the Avengers.The Avengers #1 (September 1963)
Pym eventually adopts his first alternate identity as the 12-foot-tall Giant-Man.Tales to Astonish #49 (November 1963) (Three decades later, a flashback shows him adopting the identity out of feelings of inadequacy when compared to powerful teammates Iron Man and Thor.Avengers Forever #1-12 (December 1998February 2000)) Pym and the Wasp begin a romantic relationship,Tales to Astonish #63 (January 1965) and soon take a leave of absence from the Avengers.The Avengers #15 (April 1965)
Returning to the Avengers, Pym adopts a new superhero identity, Goliath.Avengers #28 (May 1966) A mishap traps him in giant form for several issues and affects his self-esteem.Avengers #28-35 (May–December 1966) After recovering his size-shifting powers, he creates the robot Ultron that unexpectedly achieves sentience and becomes one of the Avengers's greatest foes.First appearance: The Avengers #54 (July 1968); origin: The Avengers (November 1968) During a botched experiment, Pym inhales chemicals that affect his mind, and he reappears at Avengers Mansion in the cocky new persona of Yellowjacket, claiming to have disposed of Pym. The Wasp secretly realizes he is Pym, however, and accepts his offer of marriage. At their wedding, a battle with the Circus of Crime erupts; in the ensuing conflict, the chemicals lose their effect on him and his identity is restored.The Avengers #59-60 (December 1968January 1969)
1970s
After several adventures with the Avengers, including another encounter with Ultron,Avengers #66-68 (July–August 1968) the pair take another leave of absence.The Avengers #74 (March 1970) The heroes re-encounter Hank Pym at the beginning of the Kree-Skrull War,Avengers #90 (July 1971) and once again as the Ant-Man persona and has a series of solo adventures.Marvel Feature #4-10 (July 1972July 1973)
After aiding fellow superhero team known as the DefendersDefenders #23-25 (May–July 1975)Giant-Size Avengers #4 (May 1975) as Yellowjacket, Pym returns to the Avengers.The Avengers #137 (July 1975) He is eventually captured by an upgraded Ultron that brainwashes his creator, causing the character to regress to his original Ant-Man costume and personality — arriving 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 Avengers #161162 (July–August 1977) After Ultron's brainwashing is reversed, Pym rejoins the Avengers as Yellowjacket.The Avengers #170 (April 1978) Pym is forced to briefly leave the team when the roster is restructured by government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich.The Avengers #181 (March 1979)
Also at this time, he noticed Scott Lang's theft of the Ant-Man suit. After Darren Cross's defeat and aware of Lang's use of the stolen goods, Pym let Lang keep the equipment, albeit only to uphold the law.Marvel Premiere #47-48
1980s
Returning 14 issues later,Avengers #195 (May 1980) Hank Pym participates in several missions until, after demonstrating hostile behavior toward Janet van Dyne, 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 mental breakdown and concocts a plan to salvage his credibility. He plans to build a robot and program it to launch an attack on the Avengers; Pym will then counter the false flag attack at a critical moment using his knowledge of the robot's weaknesses, thereby presenting himself as the other Avengers' savior. The Wasp discovers the plan and begs Pym to stop, whereupon he strikes her.The Avengers #212-213 (October–November 1981)
Pym is subsequently expelled from the Avengers, and Janet divorces him.The Avengers #214 (December 1981)
Left penniless, Pym is manipulated by an old foe, the presumed-dead Egghead, who tricks Pym into stealing the national reserve of the metal adamantium. Pym is confronted by the Avengers and blamed for the theft, as Egghead erases all evidence of his own involvement. Pym, in turn, blames Egghead, a criminal still believed dead by the other Avengers. This is taken by Pym's former teammates as further proof of his madness, and he is incarcerated.The Avengers #217 (March 1982) During Pym's imprisonment, Janet has a brief relationship with Tony Stark.The Avengers #224 (October 1982) Egghead later attempts to kill Pym but is himself accidentally killed by Hawkeye. With the perpetrator of the original theft now exposed, Pym is cleared of all charges. After bidding farewell to Janet and his teammates, Pym leaves to devote himself full-time to research.The Avengers #228-230 (February–April 1983)
Pym reappears as a member of the West Coast Avengers, first in an advisory role,West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #1 (October 1985) then as a full member. He answers to "Doctor Pym" in the field, using none of the names or costumes associated with his previous superhero identities.West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #21 (June 1987) He begins a short relationship with teammate Tigra.West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #16 (January 1987) After being taunted by old foe Whirlwind, Pym contemplates suicide, but is stopped by Firebird.West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #17 (February 1987) Pym and Janet eventually resume a romantic relationship.West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #42 (March 1989)
1990s