The “buzz” surrounding Wasp Marvel has always been strong.
The heroine has been an integral part of Marvel comics long before she appeared on the big screen. The MCU version is an amalgamation of many different females who have been associated with the moniker over the years.
But the MCU has just scratched the surface. The character’s comic book history is much richer (and wilder) than many even realize.
With this in mind, we fly through nine Wasp Marvel facts woven into the fabric of her character.
She was an OG Avenger… and has left a legacy.
Wasp has been there from the beginning. Janet Van Dyne was a founding member of the Avengers. But, the character has always been a trailblazer. Janet Van Dyne didn’t just break the glass ceiling. She flew right through it.
In addition to being the sole female member of the Avengers when they debuted in 1963, she’s also enjoyed the longest tenure with the team. She was the first woman to be the chairperson of this superpowered group, beginning with Avengers #217 (1982). During her time on the team, she’s also been an advocate for other women, working to bring characters like Monica Rambeau and She-Hulk into the fold. She is perhaps most famous for her leadership role in the West Coast Avengers. She officially joined the roster in West Coast Avengers #32 (1988). Fans love her leveled-headed, calm experience that guided the team.
Even more impressive, Janet Van Dyne helms the Avengers Unity Squad, which was an organization that combined both Avengers and X-Men. Established in Uncanny Avengers #1, Wasp actually bankrolls the entire operation.
Wasp Marvel knows about branding.
Janet Van Dyne understands the power of a good name.
At the end of Avengers #1, she is the one who came up with the now-famous identifier. Although Nick Fury gets that credit in the MCU, Janet Van Dyne suggests the name in the comics. She encourages Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Ant-Man to join forces after Loki inadvertently brings them together.
And still, Janet Van Dyne wasn’t finished. In Avengers #57 (1968), she’s credited with naming Vision. After Ultron sends his synthezoid son to Avengers Mansion, Wasp witnesses the floating intruder and describes him as a ghostly “vision.”
The Silver Age wasn’t kind to Wasp.
Despite being such a core character, many of the older Wasp Marvel stories are tough to read. Calling these stories “unkind” to her is an understatement.
Over the first couple of decades, Wasp was reduced to a flighty, nervous damsel in distress. She was portrayed as a ditzy, flirty character who was constantly needing reassurance, rescuing, or both. Fortunately, this changed following her divorce from Hank Pym.
Avengers #273-277 (1986) helped redefine her image. It pits Wasp and the rest of the team against the Masters of Evil. Penned by legendary writer Roger Stern, this five-issue arc is regarded as one of the best Avengers stories of all time.
She Embraces Girl Power.
Avengers: Endgame blew fans’ collective minds with its all-female team-up at the end of the movie. The scene was novel in that it was inclusive, showing all the female heroines in a prominent role. Although the MCU’s version of Wasp was instrumental in preventing another use of the Infinity Stones, the comic book version of the character is no stranger to “girl power.”
Like many other comic book creations, Wasp hasn’t been exclusively a member of the Avengers. She’s been featured (and led) other teams. The Lady Liberators is one of the most interesting. First appearing in Avengers #83 (1970) the female-only team sported a powerhouse lineup. Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Valkyrie, and Medusa made up the group’s core. Wasp later joined the fray.
Wasp Marvel is a style and pop culture icon.
Janet Van Dyne has passions beyond super-heroics.
Mainly, she knows how to throw an outfit together. Janet’s interest in fashion design has been a key touchstone throughout her life outside of the Avengers. Yet it’s more than just a passion project. It’s proved quite practical. Canonically, she has designed nearly all of her frequent costume changes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She has even created outfits for other Avengers, like She-Hulk and Firestar. This is explored in depth during Kurt Busiek’s 12-issue limited series entitled Avengers Forever (1999). Here, the writer plucks Janet into a different timeline to recon her past, making Janet a successful fashion designer over the previous decades.
Following the massive Civil War crossover event, Janet also participated in a reality show called America’s Next Super Hero. Contestants competed to become part of the pro-registration Initiative.
Hope Van Dyne has Never been Wasp.
Unlike her on-screen counterpart in the MCU, Hope Van Dyne hasn’t ever donned the Wasp wings. It’s Hank Pym’s other daughter, Nadia Van Dyne, who takes up the mantle in the comics.
Possessing the same intellect as her father, Nadia is perhaps even more powerful. As a product of the same Red Room initiative that created Black Widow, Nadia has the Pym particles in her bloodstream. This allows her to shrink between different planes of existence without ingesting any formulas.
Despite her training as a cold-heart assassin, Nadia is never bitter or jaded by her troubled childhood. She’s always displayed as a bubbly, optimistic girl genius who wants to inspire others. She even starts a think tank, with all her comic stories rooted heavily in STEM education. Recent runs, like The Unstoppable Wasp #1-8 (2017) are great depictions of this and are designed for YA readers.
Although the name “Nadia” actually means “Hope” in Slavic, the two comic characters couldn’t be more different. The MCU seemingly blends the two, using Nadia’s backstory and heroic arc as the basis for their version of Hope Van Dyne.
Spoiler Alert: Hope Van Dyne is Actually a Villain.
Nadia is a symbol of positivity, that tragedies of the past don’t define you. Hope wasn’t so lucky. In stark contrast with how Nadia is portrayed, she takes a darker path. In fact, she becomes a villain.
Coming from an alternate future timeline, the original daughter of Hank Pym first appeared in A-Next #7 (1999). In the story, Hope becomes angry after her parents’ death. Filled with rage and jealousy over her niece, Cassie Lang, being selected as an Avenger, Hope morphs into the Red Queen and leads an analog team known as “The Revengers.” In addition to using the Pym Particles, she develops a specialized suit and grafts synthetic wings to her body. While her twin brother, Henry, eventually becomes rehabilitated, the Red Queen is instead locked away in an insane asylum.
Yet Hope gets her heroic redemption in the MCU. Played by Evangeline Lily, this interpretation is much more fitting for someone named “Hope.”
Wasp Marvel was Once a Male Too.
Seems like everyone has gotten a chance to be Wasp except Hope.
On the pages of Secret Invasion: Requiem #1 (2008), Hank Pym adopts his late wife’s identity. Grieving after Janet is killed at the hands of the Skrulls, Hank becomes Wasp a superpowered tribute to her. Using his heightened abilities, he eventually finds Janet inside the Microverse, where he rescues her. This plotline heavily influenced the Ant-Man and the Wasp sequel.
Wasp Almost Made her MCU Debut Earlier
Talk about an alternate timeline.
If Director Joss Whedon had his way, Wasp would’ve cracked into the Avengers lineup during their initial 2012 film. He revealed recently that this was a result of scheduling conflicts with Scarlett Johansson. Essentially, Wasp, who was set to be played by Zooey Deschanel, would have been subbed in for Black Widow.
For MCU fans, this is the ultimate “What If?” Not only would that film have been drastically different, but it would have also yielded major ramifications for the entire Infinity Saga.