The Ultimates #1 attempts the improbable: redeeming Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man

2024-06-05

ComicsMarvel ComicsThe Ultimates #1 attempts the improbable: redeeming Hank Pym, the original Ant-ManWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Ultimates #1

As promised, June 5’sUltimates #1assembles the first roster of the new Ultimate Universe’s main superhero team, including the debuts of the new Ultimate Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne.

And along with leading very different civilian lives from their mainstream Marvel Universe counterparts, the new Ultimate Hank and Janet also provide a fresh slate for the characters' emotionally and morally complex relationship.

Spoilers ahead for Ultimates #1

This knowledge, along with the power sources, are sent out tohundreds of potential superhumans- though only a few both accept the call and survive the experience, such asPeter Parker/Spider-Man.

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Ultimates #1

With just a few potential allies for the Ultimates left unaccounted for, the team finds the new Ultimate Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, a pair of exterminators in this world who refuse to kill a family of Moloids living in someone’s basement.

Though their heroic compassion is on display, their lives are a far cry from Hank’s career as a super-scientist and Janet’s reputation as a high-end fashion designer - and from the sad, violent complications of their now-ended romance in the mainstream Marvel Universe.

Comic deals, prizes and latest news

Get the best comic news, insights, opinions, analysis and more!

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Ultimates #1

Hank’s regret over his abuse of Janet, and the moral impropriety of a superhero who is also an abuser, became a core tenet of fans' understanding and reception of Hank Pym for years to come, even after characters in the story attempted to move on.

It’s perhaps no surprise then that some fans have maintained their distance from Pym as a character as a result of his abuse of Janet, and it’s also no surprise that when confronted with the stark truth of his mainstream Marvel counterpart’s actions, the Ultimate Hank has some misgivings about putting himself in any situation that may eventually lead to a repeat of those actions on Ultimate Janet, calling himself “dangerous.”

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Ultimates #1

Strangely, though the mainstream Marvel Universe Hank Pym’s reputation as a spousal abuser has followed him throughout the last few decades - enough that the Ultimate Hank Pym doesn’t trust himself to be a superhero at first - the original intent was never to depict Hank hitting Janet, according to the story’s writer, Jim Shooter.

In a story related onShooter’s personal blogway back in 2011, Shooter explains that he originally wrote the scene, which appears in 1981’s Avengers #213, to depict Hank accidentally striking Janet while trying to brush her off - a much gentler, though still somewhat shocking exchange.

However, he lays blame for the escalation of the scene at the feet of artist Bob Hall, who Shooter explains was taught as an artist “to always go for the most extreme action,” resulting in Hall depicting Hank full-on hitting Janet.

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Ultimates #1

With no time to correct the art before the publication deadline, Hank Pym became an out-and-out physical abuser, a shameful misdeed to be reckoned with throughout the remainder of Pym’s career along with a litany of other more fantastical sins, including creating the evil AI known as Ultron.

Though Hank has had some rehabilitation in the MCU, and even in the mainstream Marvel Universe to some degree, the Ultimate Hank Pym’s awareness of his own mistakes and abuses and his unwillingness to repeat them may finally lead to a comic book Hank Pym who is able to both reckon with his core Marvel counterpart’s actions, and move beyond the moral stigma attached to the character.

Ultimates #2 goes on sale July 10.

Both Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne make the list of thebest Avengers membersof all time.

More about marvel comicsPatton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Amazing Spider-Man is relaunching with a new #1 in 2025 with a focus on classic villainsLatestThis Nintendo Switch controller takes one of Razer’s best features and costs $200 lessSee more latest►

More about marvel comics

Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics"Amazing Spider-Man is relaunching with a new #1 in 2025 with a focus on classic villains

Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum explain why comics are still the perfect medium for superhero stories - “Visuals that will never be achieved in TV or movies can be achieved in comics”

Amazing Spider-Man is relaunching with a new #1 in 2025 with a focus on classic villains

LatestThis Nintendo Switch controller takes one of Razer’s best features and costs $200 lessSee more latest►

Latest

This Nintendo Switch controller takes one of Razer’s best features and costs $200 less

See more latest►

Most Popular

Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTS

One of Sonic 3’s writers threatens us with a good time in a future movie: “We gotta get Big the Cat in there in some capacity”

This nifty gadget turns any M.2 SSD into a portable drive, but it’s great for when you’re upgrading your PC too

League of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane”

After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarming

James Gunn says his DC shows will likely stick to the “one episode a week” schedule moving forward: “It affords a quality show an opportunity to be discussed”

Just two weeks after its theatrical release, Lord of the Ring: The War of Rohirrim is heading to digital

Escape the horrors of family time this holiday with Slitterhead’s first ever discount

Nosferatu should “feel like a love triangle” according to star Lily-Rose Depp, albeit a twisted one

You might be ready for Elden Ring: Nightreign, but not as ready as this streamer who completed the RPG like it was a roguelike – 207 bosses, random items, and permadeath

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Spoilers ahead for Ultimates #1

Comic deals, prizes and latest news

Contents