Marvel Cinematic Universe

It might be that Scott is also more marketable then Hank. Hank might seem a bit... redundant, with Bruce and Tony already around (super smart scientist, accidentally a superhero due to a huge, thought-impossible break through), but Scott has a far unique story tell, at least in terms of already existing heroes.

If they had Hank Pym as more of an earnest, optimistic superscientist, as opposed to Stark's smarmy smarm or Banner's SUPER SERIOUS cold & grim personality; then he could fit in well. It looks like they're going with this other guy though, so I suppose that's academic.

I'm sure it's been changed around but at one point the plan was Pym as a retired hero from the 60's (via flashbacks) and Lang as the current Ant-Man. They could still do something similar, albeit with Pym being slightly younger and kept around as the scientist/mentor figure.

If nothing else it could provide an excuse for Ultron showing up in later films.

That would be a pretty good idea, it would even leave open the possibility of an xmen: first class-style prequel.

@post 1975: Pun intended?

If Lang is current, I wonder what would happen with Janet.

(Bitter, battered divorcee, clearly.)

edited 17th Sep '12 6:11:02 PM by wanderlustwarrior

Or former student or a scientist who admired his work, perhaps. There was a (pretty good) all-ages Avengers book from a few years ago where they had it so that Hank was a scientist who worked for Jan's dad, and she ended up taking his formula or something. Something similar to that could work too.

No, no, no, ten thousand times no. Not only would that overlap with Steve's characterization, Hank Pym should be a neurotic wreck that has to struggle for others' regard. That's what makes him awesome - the fact that he's basically a Mad Scientist supervillain that just happens to be a superhero. Hank is, frankly, vastly more interesting than Scott, who's something of a Generic Guy.

I couldn't fathom how anyone could read this exchange and not think it's brilliant:

Panel of Scientists: You should stick to practical projects.

Hank Pym: No! I'll work only on things that appeal to my imagination... like my latest invention.

Panel of Scientists: Oh... what's that?

Hank Pym: I won't tell you yet! You would only laugh at me as you've done before! But when I've finished it, I'll show you! Then you shall know I'm a greater scientist than any of you!

The only reason I don't outright hate the idea of Scott Lang in the MCU is the possibility of Cassie appearing with him. Making him a single father would be great for distinguishing him from the rest of the Avengers gang and avoid the pattern of love interests we're getting. (The same could be accomplished by a superhero couple though, namely Hank and Janet.)

edited 17th Sep '12 6:06:52 PM by BornIn1142

The main reason I always loved Scot's character was because of how human he was, in comparison to the Larger Then Life Avengers. His motivations where always overtly normal: good man in a bad situation, ready to do anything to save his daughter. I think the contrast would be an amazing angle to take with.

...what Avengers comics exactly have you read? And you do realize that Hank's self-esteem problems mostly draw from the very fact that he felt he didn't live up to his teammates? That fits your criteria for "humanity" rather well, I'd say.

edited 17th Sep '12 6:06:12 PM by BornIn1142

Oh, I'm fully aware of that, but that's not quite the point I'm trying to make. Let me see if I can't phrase it better....

You have the likes of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Hank Pym, super geniuses who made amazing breakthrough with their minds and talents and used them (or where caught along with them, in Bruce's case) to become heroes, you have Black Widow, a trained immortal superspy, Hawkeye an mercenary/assassin raised in the circus, the Maximoff Twins, children of one of the most powerful and feared mutants in the world, Ms Marvel an airforce pilot turned Kree Super Heroine...and you have Scott Lang, a single father struggling to makes ends meat, who only became Ant-Man in the first place when an attempt to save his daughter's life spiraled out of control. He never sought out to be a Hero, never even sought out to be more then a successful working father, his roots are and have always been the most organic and human of the Avengers, he was first and foremost a good man trying to do the right thing in a terrible situation, never doing anything that another man, another father, might have done in his place.

I'm not sure I'm making sense >.<

Gentlemen, please! can't we all just get along... and make fun of the guy with the inferiority complex?

Seriously. Hank Pym's problems made a great dynamic for the universe as a whole. If Reed was in the MCU, then I'd see it as absolutely inexcusable to not have Pym in. Then there would probably be no field where he wouldn't be outclassed, and it would drive him to do things that would seem less than heroic.

I'm wondering if Iron Man 3 is going to have a some sort of conference with the worlds greatest scientists. If you had a scene with Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Hank Pym and future Radioactive Man discussing something holographically it would be a good way to set the new characters up. It would kind of point to Reed Richards not existing though.

Well, that can always be hand-waved as:
=> He isn't prominent yet
=> He's busy fighting DOOM
=> He's quarreling with Namor
=> He's in the Negative Zone
=> He can't be assed to step away from his current experiment
=> He's in space
=> He's in microspace
=> He's trapped in the past
=> He's trapped in the future
=> He's held up in court over legal action over Latverian issues

I personally find the entire idea that a scientist would be totally obsolete if there was a "smarter" scientist around to be absolutely ludicrous.

And from a storytelling standpoint, I find the idea that they would be incapable of writing Pym effectively and giving him an important role as a scientist in the MCU simply because Stark or Richards is smarter to be misguided. It's shouldn't even be a factor to an adequately competent writer in making him an important character, unless you want to make it a plot point that Pym would be jealous of Stark or something.

edited 17th Sep '12 7:26:54 PM by KnownUnknown

I actually do get the point behind including Lang if the endgame is making him a new recruit in Avengers 2. I can see why they'd want to avoid some of that overlap. Especially since with the possible exception of Steve (who still is more of a Fish out of Temporal Water than anything) there isn't that clear everyman/Audience Surrogate character on the team. Everyone else is pretty spectacular to some degree, while Lang is just a single father who lucks his way into superpowers.

And like I said, they could easily keep Pym as his aged mentor if they want him to be seen as a prominent scientist.

^ Last I heard of the movie it was going to be something like that - Hank was Ant-Man, or at least invented the shrinking technology, but is retired, and the movie is about Lang being groomed to use the tech as Ant-Man: possibly as part of branching out the Avenger Initiative.

Last I remember they said there would be some flashbacks or some manner of relevancy made of the days when Pym wasn't retired, though.

Hank probably hates on Peter for being younger. Or on the other Hank for being a mutant.

Reed's absence can be explained by his being useless.

I wonder if this Tony would try quickly to set up an Illuminati.

I doubt it, given all the shit he gave the government over his suits, he has a long way to go before embracing that kind of imperialistic attitude. He's barely past the "It's all about me!" stage.

Like this?

Pym shouldn't hate all the other Marvel omniscientists, just slightly resent the ones that are smarter than him.

As for the Illuminati, that wasn't something the pre Bendis Stark would have done. Film Stark is mostly based on original Stark, the guy who would have been leading the opposition to superhuman registration.

edited 17th Sep '12 8:39:43 PM by C0mraid

Yes. That's the one.

"Hating on" someone isn't hate like that. It's a "can't just be happy for someone" thing.

edited 17th Sep '12 8:42:15 PM by wanderlustwarrior

So, Ms Marvel. I'm not positive on here exact origins, but I can think of a general plan. SHIELD is experimenting with the widgets thanks to the events of Item 47. One of the generic back ground science eggheads is Mar'Vel, on a mission from the Kree to keep watch on SHIELD and/or develop decent weapons as a way to be a thorn in whoever they're fighting at the time (do the Skrulls count as FF property?). Carol is a test pilot for it. I suppose you could make it a dual cockpit attack fighter with an experimental energy weapon. Random science device in the back overloads. Mar'Vels personal shield tech interacts with Chitauri tech and creates Ms/Captain/Colonel Marvel. Also, she should be a redhead in this verse.

Why a redhead?

Because they're hot. But I'd stick to blonde, as a good action blonde would be nice, and no sense in changing it needlessly.

As I've mentioned, I'm pretty sure most of her backstory is tied with the Four's rights.

Today I Westy wondering if they'd still call her Miss Marvel, or if sonething else would be more marketable for a title. I'd rather she had a standalone movie. And I wish they'd market her and Black Widow to get girls interested in action girls (who aren't in pretty boy love triangles).