The Avengers test their new ally Captain Marvel’s powers, building a tracking recorder that confi rms she can circle the globe as energy in under two seconds. Wasp invites the rookie heroine to join through a newly created Avengers-in-training program, a majority of members approve, and Captain Marvel accepts. As the meeting breaks up, the members voice or ponder various personal issues, notably Iron Man considering resigning after his foolish affair with Wasp, but Cap tries to talk him out of it. Meanwhile, Captain Marvel tours Avengers Mansion and studies archival footage of the team’s previous Captain Marvel, the late Mar-Vell. Invisible Girl and Mr. Fantastic meet Wasp for brunch to see how she’s coping in the wake of her divorce, but a privately shaken Wasp does her best to seem upbeat and carefree out of pride. As Plantman and Wizard are transferred out of Ryker’s Island prison, psychiatrist Dr. Paul Edmonds examines inmate Henry Pym. Not caring whether Edmonds is with the prosecution or the defense, Pym tells Edmonds his strange and troubled life story, concluding by insisting Egghead framed him for treason. Edmonds reports back to his employer Tony Stark that Pym seems fit to stand trial despite his history of trauma and mental illness, unaware that the supposedly deceased Egghead has been spying on Edmonds’ conversations with Pym and Stark.
Solitary workaholic scientist Hank Pym is dragged to a party by his colleagues, meets Maria Trovaya, falls in love and marries her (1). Maria is abducted and killed by political enemies. Pym has a breakdown leading to a brief stay in Hungarian prison (TTA #44, ’63 fb). Pym develops size-changing technology, shrinking a rabbit (2). As Ant-Man, Pym fi ghts Egghead (TTA #38, ’62). Pym meets Vernon & Janet Van Dyne and partners with Jan after Vernon’s murder, helping her become the Wasp (TTA #44, ’63). Ant-Man and Wasp help form the Avengers (Av #1, ’63). Noting Wasp’s attraction to Thor, and feeling inadequate next to more powerful teammates such as Thor, Pym starts upgrading his own powers (3). Pym becomes Giant-Man (TTA #49, ’63). Pym regains his briefl y lost growth powers as Goliath (Av #51, ’68). The Avengers battle Ultron (Av #57, ’68). Wasp offers to fund Pym’s research, but he wants to pay his own way. He also wants to marry her, but is too unsure of himself to act (4). Chemically induced temporary insanity drives Pym to become Wasp’s new suitor Yellowjacket (Av #60, ’69 fb). Pym regains his sanity after marrying Wasp, who had seen through his Yellowjacket identity (Av #60, ’69). Stressed by unwanted pressure from Jan to stay on with the Avengers and frustrated by multiple failed experiments, Pym wrecks some of his lab equipment in a fi t of anger and Jan tries to comfort him (Av #161, ’77 fb). Driven mad by Ultron, Pym attacks Avengers as Ant-Man (Av #161, ’77). Gyrich orders the Avengers to reduce their roster, forcing Yellowjacket and many others off active duty (Av #181, ’79). Pym returns to fulltime research but all his new experiments fail, and he grows lonely while Wasp is off with Avengers (5). Yellowjacket serves with new Avengers roster including Tigra, then mistakenly attacks Elfqueen (Av #212, ’81). Facing a court martial for misconduct, Pym tries to redeem himself by programming his Salvation-1 robot to attack the Avengers so he can save them by defeating it, but the robot nearly kills him and Wasp has to save him. Pym leaves the Avengers in disgrace (Av #213, ’81).
Goliath’s costume is mistakenly colored blue & yellow in fb 4 & the rfbs for Av #51, 57 & 60. It should be red, blue & yellow in those scenes. Wasp adopts a new purple costume in this story. This story continues from ASM Ann #16, ’82 where the new Captain Marvel fi rst meets the Avengers.
