One issue where he hit Janet while tremendously stressed out does not equal years of wife beating. Just a thought.

I hate it when Comic Books turn into Soap Operas.

Where's the art man? What happened to the art?

As far as replaced characters go, we know that Dum Dum is pretty well confirmed as having been killed when he was replaced (Well, they at least tried to kill him when they replaced him. But being comics, you never know), though he may not be an important or popular enough character for anyone to really care.

They actually gave a half-way decent explanation for that in the latest Initiative Issue. It happened after he had been replaced, so the whole "I shrunk out of it" is just his half *$$ answer to explain how he pulled it off (and only half the story. He also used some super agility and super speed to pull off the imagery). Even he thinks it's a stupid explanation, but if it works, why not use it?

Hey, it's better than saying 'magic' changed everything, like in Amazing Spider-man.

That's what I thought. I just want this solidly on the record for the kids who've read 3 or 4 issues of the Avengers and want to make blanket statements about the worth or Hank Pym.

-If- he's dead - and I'm hoping he's not, just captive - than, yeah, I'm more than a little bummed.

My email addresses? Usually some variation on DocPym. My favourite Marvel hero since I was a little kid? Yeah, him.

Sure, he had his fall from grace but I always liked the way he climbed back up from it and recognized his failings. The fact that writers with no better story ideas kept rehashing the same thing over-and-over without taking into account the development of the character frustrated me to no end.

I actually mainly read Avengers-titles just for the occasional cameo - or hopeful return - of Dr. Henry Pym.

Better believe I'm going to miss him if he's gone.

Not just stressed-out - he had a full-on mental breakdown.

When other characters do it, they're given a pass but this one was a case where they wanted to show ongoing changes from it.

Then it got beat into the ground time and again by writers that didn't understand the story.

Meanwhile, all the other heroes who go nuts and do worse - heck, including Janet (how many folks remember the stories where she wasn't herself and attacked Hank and he -refused- to attack back because it was her?) - get a constant pass on it.

People need to actually -read- the stories and -learn- about the character before going with the myth.

Might I also recommend "The Last Avengers Story" by Peter David (someone whom I believe must be a Hank Pym fan as he always manages to sneak Hank into even things like movie novelizations)? It shows what makes Hank both strong and weak...in other words, a very -human- hero.

"He only hit her once." Ummm yeah that justifies it... sure.

Although I do have an arguement that justifies it. SHE'S A SUPERHERO!!! SO'S HE!!!

Seriously, it's the same thing as two roided out pro wrestlers who get married, eventually, someone's gonna get hit. And it just happens to be Jans bad luck that Hank hit first. Sooner or later, if he hadn't, Jan would have hit him.

And while we're on the subject, what about other supervillians who have at the very least hit the wasp who have later on become full fledged Avengers in higher standing then Hank Pym? I'm pretty sure the original Swordsman has kidnapped her in the past, and they let him into the Avengers briefly. And the Thunderbolts is packed with characters who have fought her in the past. Those characters also held in higher regard then Hank Pym.

Hitting the Wasp must be some sort of rite of passage from villain to hero. Unless you're Hank Pym, then you become Marvels Jack-hole forever.

No; if he was in a right frame of mind or even just some guy that got off on it, it wouldn't justify it. In the midst of nervous breakdown where he couldn't tell right from wrong? That's an entirely different matter. Doesn't excuse his actions but it doesn't make him a wife-beater either, if you get what I mean.

Jan actually did hit Hank first time and again over the years. Supposedly it was always "for his own good".

I also just wanted to point out that I can't believe how many people in this thread are sayings things like 'How come it's okay for your wife to hit you but not the other way around.' and 'One time doesn't equal years.' =\ I don't want to get into a debate or anything but these comments just astounded me.

let's be honest, if you had to be stuck around Jan, you'd probably consider popping her in the mouth too.

Why get upset? Everyone dies....even comic book characters....two or three times sometimes.

I never liked Hank until he found a real use for that stupid power of his when him and Janet visited Vegas...