Trigger Warning: This article references domestic abuse.

One significant change to Iron Man in the MCU has proven to be a drawback for classic Avengers lore. The Marvel Cinematic Universe often sets itself apart from the comics, with adaptations that range from minor tweaks to complete overhauls of characters and storylines. One of the biggest overhauls reshaped how MCU audiences perceive two of the comics’ most important Avengers: Iron Man and Ant-Man.

In the MCU, Iron Man is canonized as the man who created Ultron, whereas in the comics, it was Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man. Those who are more casual comic readers or who watch Marvel's superhero movies exclusively wouldn't know it by watching them, but Hank Pym is one of the most important Avengers in classic lore, right up there with Iron Man.

Unfortunately, the MCU deprived Hank Pym of creating Ultron, minimizing his role in the movie franchise and, consequently, minimizing his role in the minds of fans and in comics.

Ant-Man Originally Created Ultron in the Comics, Not Iron Man

First Appearance: The Avengers #54 by Writer Roy Thomas and Artist John Buscema

An argument can be made for Avengers: Age of Ultron being the MCU's most important movie, largely because much of the franchise is built on the back of said movie, especially when it comes to Iron Man's arc. A dark vision of the future inspires Tony Stark to create an artificial intelligence defense program called Ultron, using an AI found within an Infinity Stone. This gives birth to the maniacal supervillain Ultron, voiced by James Spader. Although Ultron is defeated, Stark's paranoia regarding the future persists.

This lore eventually paved the way for Tony's motivations in Captain America: Civil War, which largely sets the stage for Infinity War and Endgame. Iron Man's role in the MCU and Avengers lore altogether is amplified as a result of Age of Ultron, whereas Hank Pym's role is nullified as a consequence. Because Hank Pym isn't given the luxury of creating Ultron in the movies as he does in the comics, his part is constricted exclusively to the Ant-Man trilogy and nothing else, in a ing role no less. The MCU's Pym plays second fiddle to his successor, Scott Lang.

How Do Ultron's Origins Play Out in the Comics?

It's True: Iron Man Didn't Create Ultron in the Comics

While Ant-Man plays a relatively minor role in the movies, he is much more important in the comics. Hank Pym is crucial to Ultron’s creation. Ultron first appears in The Avengers #54, mostly hidden beneath a cloak. In this issue, Ultron disguises himself and Iron Man’s butler, Jarvis, who serves as his mind-controlled body double, as the Crimson Cowl to manipulate the Masters of Evil into doing his bidding. Once unmasked, Ultron reveals himself as Ultron-5. However, his grudge against the Avengers does not become clear until The Avengers #58.

It is then that readers first see Ultron's origin story following Ultron's creation of Vision. Upon turning coat and ing the Avengers to defeat Ultron, Vision brings Earth's Mightiest Heroes to a seemingly abandoned dwelling place. There, Hank Pym recognizes the metal parts as the same ones he used to experiment on Dragon Man before fighting the android in Avengers #41. He lastly re leaving the equipment in ruins, so he's confused to see everything perfectly intact when he doesn't touching it again.

Hank Pym's Part in Creating Ultron Made Him a Bigger Star in the Avengers Comics

Iron Man Creating Ultron in the MCU Took Away Hank's Star Power

With Janet van Dyne's help, Hank uses an apparatus to access his memory bank. It is then that the Avengers discover that Hank created Ultron. Hank had been experimenting with the concept of artificially intelligent robots, and thus, Ultron-1 was born, literally perceiving Hank as his "daddy." Convinced that his mission is to sur his father by conquering him and humanity, Ultron-1 immediately attacks Hank and uses its powers to brainwash him into forgetting ever creating him. In secret, Ultron constantly rebuilds and advances himself until he's ready to fight the Avengers as Ultron-5.

During this period, Hank Pym, who was known both as Ant-Man and Giant-Man at different times, briefly took on the name Goliath.

For a time, Giant-Man's guilt and grief surrounding his creation of Ultron not only come to define his character but also completely warp his mind. His mental health struggles eventually led to Pym becoming the Yellowjacket to distance himself from the man who created a monster, while his part in creating the Avengers' greatest villain proved to be a crux for future storylines. Ant-Man’s role in the Avengers is significant as a founding member, and his connection to Ultron’s creation further highlights his importance to the team. However, the MCU removed both his founder status and his involvement in creating Ultron.

Ultron's MCU Origins Aren't the Only Reason Hank Pym Has Been Distanced from Marvel

Controversy Has Kept Hank Pym Away from the Comics

As much as not being Ultron's creator in the MCU has left a burden on his movie legacy, it would be inaccurate to say that's the only reason why the movie franchise has been shy about casting a bigger spotlight on his onscreen counterpart. Pym's downgrade has been plagued largely by the same reason why he isn't depicted in comics as often as he used to be: because of his history with domestic abuse against ex-wife Janet van Dyne, a.k.a. The Wasp. In The Avengers #213, Hank strikes Janet in the face.

Marvel's most controversial moment came as a result of an editorial mistake that didn't have the time to fix, forever painting Hank as a domestic ab. It wouldn't help that the 2000s Ultimate Universe would go a step further and actually depict Hank as a repeat ab tormenting Janet. Such a stain on his legacy has felt like an elephant in the room that's hard to address, and so Marvel doesn't. In the comics, Hank has spent the past couple of decades unused and dead, save for a resurrection during Avengers Inc. He hasn't been seen since the series was canceled.

Iron Man Basically Made Ant-Man Irrelevant

Iron Man Taking His Place Gives Marvel an Excuse Not to Use Him

Iron Man has replaced Ant-Man in every facet of the latter's role from the comics. Tony taking Hank's role in the comics for Marvel's big-screen adaptation has given the company all the more reason not to adapt Hank to the fullest extent. Hence, this is the reason why the original Ant-Man lacks any semblance of a notable presence in the franchise. By proxy, Iron Man replacing him also affects Hank's relevance in modern comics. Marvel loves to promote synergy between its comics and movies, as is evident by their renaming of the Thunderbolts comic as soon as the big-screen version became the New Avengers.

Without the need for synergy between Hank Pym’s movie character and the comics, Hank has essentially been erased from the larger Marvel landscape. This is unfortunate because, in earlier comics, Hank was a vital, compelling, and before his controversies, a likable part of the Marvel Universe. As an inventor and super-genius, he contributed much of his brilliance to the Avengers. His connection to Ultron made Ant-Man even more captivating, but in the MCU, there seems to be no need for him when Iron Man has taken over his role.