The Avengers have become one of the most popular superhero teams in pop culture. Original Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye premiered in the movie The Avengers in 2012 as the ultimate hero squad. However, one of the most respected of the original Avengers team the Wasp, was left out of the limelight.
The Wasp, aka Janet van Dyne, has become an integral part of the Avengers in the comics. Known for her intelligence, quick thinking, and sound leadership, she has served as a loyal member of the organization. Though little is shown of her life on the big screen, she has a rich and interesting history in the comic book world.
In this article, we will look at the little-known facts and trivia about Janet van Dyne and her life as the Winsome Wasp. Here are 15 Things You Didn't Know About The Wasp.
15. Founding Member & Long-Time Leader of the Avengers
The original Avengers team were brought together in The Avengers issue #1 in 1963. The Wasp and Ant-Man worked as a duo in the comics and ed up with Thor, Hulk, and Iron Man when they all received a call for help. After the group captured Loki and sealed him away, the Wasp recommended that they form a team. She suggested the name the Avengers, and they all agreed on it.
Along with helping to form and name the Avengers, Janet van Dyne's role in the group grew with time. Though initially viewed as the weakest member of the group, her critical thinking, intuition, and intelligence made her a key element of the team. Though the of The Avengers changed throughout the years, the Wasp remained one of the longest active in the team's history.
She also served as a leader and eventually the chairperson of the Avengers. She held both titles the longest of any other heroes, second only to Captain America.
14. She Helped To Discover America... Captain America, That Is
Janet Van Dyne has left an indelible mark on the history of the Avengers. With her sharp intelligence and strong leadership, she commanded some of the world’s strongest heroes. Even in her early years as a weaker, novice hero, she helped recruit one of the greatest heroes to lead the Avengers: Captain America.
Reintroduced in The Avengers issue #4, Captain America was last seen fighting in World War II. He fell from a plane into the Atlantic Ocean and became frozen in a block of ice. Fast-forward to 1964, and we find the Avengers in a battle with Namor the Sub-Mariner. Swearing vengeance on the human race, he escaped the battle and attacked a tribe of Inuits in anger. He unknowingly threw the block of ice containing the First Avenger and cracked it. The ice began to melt as it ed the Avengers in their submarine. They managed to rescue and revive Captain America and invited him to the Avengers.
13. The Wasp Never Used A Secret Identity
Superheroes usually led double lives in the comic books. For their own safety and the safety of their loved ones, they used secret identities to lead ordinary lives. There have been very few superheroes in the history of Marvel who were confident enough to live without secrecy. Those heroes included the Doctor Strange, and our own Janet Van Dyne.
Janet was introduced as a socialite, the daughter of the wealthy Dr. Vernon van Dyne. After her father was murdered by an alien being, she turned to Hank Pym to help her seek her revenge. He named her the Wasp and provided her with “Pym Particles” that granted her the ability to grow wings and shrink to the size of an insect.
Since then, Janet has maintained her public identity in all aspects of her life. Interestingly enough, the man she loved constantly went through self-doubt and frequent identity crises. He often changed superhero names and identities, losing his own sense of self in the process. Be more like Jan, Hank. Be more like Jan.
12. Janet Tricked Hank Pym Into Marriage
Hank Pym’s mental instability plagued him throughout his history with the Avengers and his rocky relationship with the Wasp. Ant-Man suffered from several mental breakdowns that resulted in the formation of new superhero identities. Janet stayed by his side for years, through all his mental issues. She pushed for them to get married but Hank was too insecure to commit. The Wasp, however, took advantage of Pym’s mental instability and tricked him into marriage during one of his breakdowns.
During a botched experiment, Pym accidentally inhaled some mind-altering chemicals that caused him to become schizophrenic. He created the identity of Yellowjacket while in this state and broke into the Avengers Mansion. He claimed to have killed Hank Pym and demanded to be inducted into the team. Yeah, he was quite crazy at this point. He then kidnapped the Wasp and escaped before the Avengers could catch him. The Wasp eventually discovered that Yellowjacket was Pym. As the team was about to restrain him, Janet announced that she planned to marry him.
The wedding took place with Pym still confused about his true identity. Once he finally regained control of his mind, Janet felt somewhat guilty about what she had done, but not that guilty since she reminded Pym that their marriage was definitely legal. That is an awful way to get him to put a ring on it.
11. She Was Turned Into A Human-Sized Wasp Creature
With the help of the “Pym Particles” that were injected into her body, the Wasp can shrink to the size of an insect and fly with bio-synthetic wings. Though her abilities also allow her to grow exponentially, she prefers to battle at the minuscule size. However, her transformational skills took a strange turn when Hank Pym turned her into a human-sized, wasp-like creature.
After she was severely injured in a fight with Iron Man, Hank tried to treat Janet’s injuries. As he was treating her, his machine created a cocoon around her body. When she awoke, Janet discovered she had mutated into a wasp-like creature. Feeling rejuvenated in her new state, she continued to fight as an Avenger. She faced off against Whirlwind, Dr. Nemesis, and Para-Man.
It was not until after the Onslaught comic event that she was restored to her normal form by Franklin Richards, son of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.
10. She Was A Fashion Designer And A TV Host
Since Janet lived a very public life, she was able to live an ordinary life successfully. During her time away from the Avengers, Janet chose not to rely on her family’s wealth and pursued a working life. In the course of her comic history, the Wasp has been a successful fashion designer and a TV host.
Taking a page from her relative Amelia Van Dyne, Janet decided to pursue fashion deg. She graduated from design school and maintained her career while leading the Avengers. The Wasp’s frequent costume changes were actually attributed to her stylish fashion sense. She also designed clothes for her colleagues including She-Hulk and Hank Pym. She was well-received and respected in the fashion design community.
Janet expanded on her fame by hosting a TV show called America's Next Star. Janet also ventured into the world of reality TV. During the Civil War arc, she and Hank ed the Superhuman Registration Act. To further the act, she created a pro-registration show called America's Newest Superhero.
9. Janet Became Ultron's Boo
The Wasp eventually ended her tumultuous relationship with Hank Pym. After years of his breakdowns and an incident of physical abuse, she finally divorced him. Janet’s romantic escapades led her into the arms of other superheroes including Havoc, Paladin, Tony Stark, and Hawkeye. However, her most shocking relationship was with her own mechanical “son,” Ultron.
Hank Pym is responsible for the creation of the self-aware Ultron. Being the only one of his kind, he longed for a companion. Hey, can't a sentient robot get a little lovin’ too? Ultron created his own mate named Jocasta. He brainwashed his creator, Pym, into transferring Janet's mind into his metallic boo. She acquired Janet's emotions and personality but not her memories. However, Jocasta realized that in order for her to live, Janet had to die. Feeling guilty, Jocasta ed the Avengers to help her stop Ultron and restored Janet back to her body.
8. She Was A Member Of Several Avengers Groups
Janet's commitment to the Avengers was reflected well beyond her assistance with founding the team. During her time as the chairperson of the Avengers, she had recruited many new , including She-Hulk and Monica Rambeau. Along with making new connections as a leader, she earned the respect of many superheroes. In the course of her superhero career, Janet has ed several other Avengers groups.
Janet took many breaks from the Avengers for personal reasons. During those times, she still worked with groups when needed. She became team leader of the West Coast Avengers but eventually moved from being a regular member to a reserve member.
In 1970, the Wasp, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, and Madame Medusa were tricked by Enchantress (in disguise) into forming the first iteration of the Lady Liberators. Then, as part of the 50 State Initiative, Janet was recruited by Carol Danvers and Iron Man for the first Mighty Avengers team. She also ed the Avengers Unity Division to defeat Red Skull and had a brief stint as a member of the Defenders.
7. The Wasp Was Used As A Living Bomb
In the next tale of “Janet being in the wrong place at the wrong time", she is used yet again by another enemy. In this case, it occurred in the middle of a fight with the Skrulls during the Secret Invasion arc. The Avengers had to defeat the aliens before they could take over the Earth. Over time, the shape-shifting Skrulls had taken the place of many of the superheroes. Hank became one of those victims and was replaced with Skrull imposter Criti Noll.
During this time as Pym, he tricked Janet into drinking a serum containing new “particles” claiming they would help her. However, at the apex of their fight against the Skrulls, Criti (as Pym) activated these particles and turned the Wasp into a living bio-bomb. She rapidly grew and emitted a deadly purplish-black energy from her body. She fled the scene of the battle and headed toward the Skrulls to try to take out as many aliens as she could.
In order to save everyone, Thor decided to sacrifice the life of the Wasp. He used Mjolnir to warp her out of the area, and she disappeared. Janet Van Dyne was declared dead.
6. Janet Was Kidnapped For Zeus
Over the year, Marvel Comics has combined its world with other pop culture characters, historical figures, and mythological heroes. One such storyline involved Zeus, the God of Thunder and the most powerful God from Mount Olympia, seeking revenge on the Wasp.
The Avengers were involved in an ongoing battle with Zeus. He was angry over the fact that his son, Hercules, had been badly injured and was left in a delirious state. Seeking revenge, he had his daughter Artemis kidnap Janet and bring her to him. He personally blamed Janet for Hercules’s injuries as she was one of the leaders of the Avengers. In reality, Hercules made a rash decision and Janet attempted to stop him from getting hurt.
Just as Zeus is about to punish her, the Avengers are discovered plotting against Zeus with other of Mount Olympus and he left to confront him. Whew, that was a close one, Janet.
