Hank Pym has a long and tumultuous history with the Avengers. As Ant-Man, Hank was one of the founding members of the team, alongside Thor, Iron Man, the Wasp, and the Hulk. Within a few issues, Ant-Man began using his Pym particles to not shrink, but instead to grow and took on the name Giant-Man. Not long after Pym left the team, he later returned again, this time under the identity of Goliath. Hanks history is intricately tied with the Avengers. It was Hank who created the robot Ultron, which would gain sentience and become one of the Avengers greatest enemies. During a particularly infamous storyline, a botched experiment caused Hank to inhale chemicals that induced schizophrenia. He developed another personality that adopted the costumed identity of Yellowjacket. As Yellowjacket, Hank became increasingly more hostile and was suspended from active duty pending a court-martial. After suffering a mental breakdown, Hank plotted to redeem himself by programming a robot to attack the Avengers and he would have destroyed it at the last minute to paint him as a hero. When the Wasp discovered this plan, Hank accidentally struck her and was expelled from the team, with the Wasp divorcing her. Despite proving himself to the team once more, later as a member of the West Coast Avengers, Hank has been unfairly characterized as a serial spousal abuser by many casual fans, with some poor writers even trying to focus on the spousal abuse angle in disgusting ways (such as The Ultimates). Michael Douglas is set to play an older Hank Pym in the upcoming Ant-Man film. Although the film will focus on younger Ant-Man Scott Lang, it remains to be seen just what Pyms role will be in the movie.
Percival Constantine is the author of several novels and short stories, including the Vanguard superhero series, and regularly writes and comments on movies, comics, and other pop culture. More information can be found at his website, PercivalConstantine.com
