Line #52 ComicBook/AntMan2022


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/28b24653_f153_4d95_811f_63ab236bf8cc.jpeg]]
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4	->''"I've been told I suffer from hubris. But...maybe that's part of what it means to be Ant-Man. Because when you're the world's smallest hero, the best thing you can do...IS THINK BIG!"''
5	-->-- '''Hank Pym'''
6
7
8	''Ant-Man'' (subtitled ''Ant-iversary'' for the collected edition) is a 2022 limited series published by Creator/MarvelComics, timed to celebrate the [[MilestoneCelebration 60th anniversary]] of the titular superhero ComicBook/AntMan. The series is written by Creator/AlEwing and illustrated by Tom Reilly.
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10	Each issue focuses on one of the different people who have worn the Ant-Man costume over the years - from Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, to Eric O'Grady, Scott Lang and a new Ant-Man of the year 2549, Zayn Asghar.
11
12	It was followed in 2023 by ''ComicBook/{{Wasp\|2023}}'', a 60th anniversary series focusing on Ant-Man's original partner.
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14	----
15	!!''Ant-Man'' contains the following tropes:
16	* AffirmativeActionLegacy: Zayn Asghar, the Ant-Man of 2549, is darker-skinned than any of the three previous Ant-Men; his name implies that he's of Iranian descent.
17	* AndroidsArePeopleToo: Deconstructed; the Black Ant copy of Eric O'Grady is fully aware that he's a robot, to the extent that he tries to release Ultron while arguing that he's following the natural order by giving himself a leader.
18	* ArmorPiercingResponse: As All-father Ultron once more proclaims to be Hank Pym, Lang points out that if he were Pym, he’d be using the All-father’s power to free himself from Ultron, briefly stunning their foe.
19	* ArtShift: The art and writing style change as the time period does, mimicking different styles of comic book over the years:
20	** The year 2549 is portrayed with stark, saturated block colors and lineless art, with angular, computerised caption boxes that provide "reader instructions", giving it a futuristic tone.
21	** The flashback to [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Hank Pym's early days]] feature yellowed pages with faux wood-pulp grain and ben-day dots, deliberately hammy dialogue and thought balloons containing characters' [[InnerMonologue inner monologues]].
22	** The flashback to [[MediaNotes/TheModernAgeOfComicBooks Eric O'Grady's Ant-Man career]] starts with an [[LemonyNarrator ant recapping the status quo]], and mimics traits of [[DecompressedComic decompressed comics]], including pages with tight grids of [[RecycledAnimation several panels of the same art, reused with different dialogue]].
23	** The present-day sequence featuring Scott Lang is written in the style of a modern comic, avoiding the use of thought balloons in favour of more varied SpeechBubbles and voiceover captions.
24	* AvengersAssemble: The end of issue 2 shows the Ant-Man of the 25th century has summoned the other Ant-Men to fight a future version of Ultron. Eric gets summoned up because the situation has gotten so desperate anyone will do.
25	* BittersweetEnding: The Ant-Men succeed at defeating [[spoiler:All-Father Ultron]] but the versions of Pym and O'Grady involved with the deed are still doomed to rather bleak fates. However, studying his predecessors has provided Zayn Asghar with vital information that could help him heal the ravaged future Earth, and all four protagonists share one joyful perfect moment of victory before they part ways.
26	* TheBrute: Eric lambasts [[spoiler:All-Father Ultron]] for using his cosmic powers to just punch and fire laser beams at people. His foe tries to rectify this by summoning some demons, but even then all it amounts to is just giving him some CombatTentacles.
27	* TheBusCameBack:
28	** In the first issue the villains Trago, the Protector, Time Master and the Window-Washer all return from the original 1960s ''ComicBook/TalesToAstonish'' stories.
29	** Skrull infiltrator Criti Noll, killed off in 2008's ''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'', appears in the Eric O'Grady issue while impersonating Hank Pym.
30	* CallBack: The events of ''ComicBook/UltronForever'' play into issue 4 in a big way, the future Ant-Man coming from the same future shown there.
31	* CallForward: With a mix of DramaticIrony. 60s Hank hears one line of dialogue for Ultron, and states that none of his AIs will be programmed to act like that.
32	* ChekhovsGun: The Time Master's aging ray, which just seems like part of issue 1's one-off story, comes back in issue 3. It's used to [[spoiler:free Ultron from his prison. Vibranium may be a fictional metal, but it's still one that obeys ''some'' of the laws of physics... like entropy. Then Scott brings it along with him to the future by accident, allowing the Ant-Men to use it to defeat Ultron.]]
33	* ComicBookTime: Given a nod in the opening recap for issue 2, with the ant noting the events of ''Irredeemable'', published in the early 00s, are just six years ago in Marvel Time.
34	* ConnectedAllAlong: The first issue reveals that both Scott Lang and Eric O'Grady, two LegacyCharacter versions of Ant-Man, crossed paths with Pym early in his career.
35	** O'Grady, as a teenager, pelts Pym with popcorn when he's trying to watch a movie with Janet Van Dyne.
36	** Scott Lang inadvertently rescues Hank by trying to burgle the villain's soundproof lair, as Trago's music is heard by the Wasp as soon as the window's slightly open. The Wasp lets him off with a warning.
37	* ContinuityNod:
38	** Alongside teenaged Eric is his best friend Chris [=McCarthy=], who was the one who used the G.I.Ant suit before Eric.
39	** Black Ant suggests he and Scott should exchange notes on Hench, the app seen in Nick Spencer's ''Ant-Man'' run.
40	** [=TTA=] Hank Pym accidentally misnames Ultron "Ultimo".
41	** [[spoiler:When zapped by the Time-Master's age ray, Ultron shifts through some of the forms he's had over the years, including his Phalanx-Ultron form, and his Ultron-13 form, finally ending on his very first.]]
42	* DisneyOwnsThisTrope: In the future, Marvl apparently owns the trademarks on the phrases narrative experience, instructions, and info-dump
43	* EntertaininglyWrong: Issue 2 shows Criti having a private freak out over her being punked by Eric, wondering if he knows she's a Skrull and is plotting against her, while it's already shown Eric is a complete moron who has no idea about her.
44	* EveryoneHasStandards: O'Grady tries to tell himself that the fact that he isn't comfortable about digging up Lang's grave is what's important, even though he still attempts it.
45	* FutureMeScaresMe: [[spoiler:Tales to Astonish-era Hank comes face to face with Pymtron]].
46	* HintDropping: [[spoiler:When Black Ant takes Cassie hostage, Scott makes numerous size-related remarks until Cassie finally uses her size-shifting abilities to escape]].
47	* HoistByTheirOwnPetard: Hank defeats the Ant-agonists using their own powers against them, breaking free when Time Master's aging ray ages him enough to slip his bonds, then grabbing it and using it to age Window-Washer's spritz bottle enough it decomposes, getting his paralyzing fluid on him.
48	* HowDoIShotWeb: At the start of his issue, Eric O'Grady discovers that his suit is out of Pym Particles, so can't shrink. He has absolutely no idea how to get more of them. [[spoiler:After an attempt at GraveRobbing and a battle against Criti Noll, he discovers he simply needed to tell the suit to make more]].
49	* IdenticalGrandson: Parodied with the ant narrating issue 2, who notes that the original narrator ant was his ant-cestor.
50	* IdiosyncraticCoverArt: Every issue's cover has that issue's Ant-Man pictured in an identical pose, helmet under their arm, in a close up that doesn't show their face. Each of them is against a single-colour plain background.
51	* IgnorantOfTheirOwnIgnorance: Desperate for more Pym Particles, O'Grady tries to dig up Scott Lang's grave in the hope that he was buried with his equipment. As is later pointed out, Lang was killed when he was ''blown up'', so the grave is purely symbolic and there's nothing buried there.
52	* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: Criti Noll in her disguise as Hank Pym used Skrull technology to upgrade the Ant Man suit. This allowing it to now [[InfiniteSupplies synthesize its own pym particles]]. It makes her paranoid to retrieve it from Eric, believing he either suspected or can find out her identity as a Skrull infiltrator.
53	* InfoDump: Issue #4 has a "Marvl Narrative Infodump! ([-TM-])" to explain just who Zayn is.
54	* KillItWithFire: Thor suggests this as a solution to Ultron, dropping him in the forges of Nidavellir (which, he notes, would also give whatever's left of Hank Pym a Viking funeral). Tony rejects this because, aside from the fact this particular Ultron's survived being dunked into the ''Sun'' before, the casket keeping him contained would melt long before Ultron would.
55	* LampshadeHanging: Black Ant and Scott's fight in issue 3 has Black Ant note this is the first time the two have ever actually crossed paths.
56	* LeakingCanOfEvil: [[spoiler:The Avengers hoped Ultron was a SealedEvilInACan after his defeat over in ''Iron Man'', but he was still able to speak out to Black Ant and arrange his freedom]].
57	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The narration boxes for the future sections of the first issue ask viewers [=/=] readers not to spoil the villain of the piece, which anyone who's read the solicits for the final issue may know.
58	* LegacyCharacter: A theme of the series, with each issue spotlighting a different character who's worn the Ant-Man helmet.
59	* MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds: Turns out Black Ant is (partially) responsible for the BadFuture of ''ComicBook/UltronForever'' thanks to his actions in issue 3. Namely, [[spoiler:freeing Ultron from his casket gave him a boost thanks to the Asgardian magic and vibranium present, allowing him to conquer Asgard and then the entire universe.]]
60	* TheMirrorShowsYourTrueSelf: An enforced trope. Criti uses a washroom while impersonating Hank Pym and the mirror shows her undisguised Skrull form. This is a narrative device for the reader's benefit, as her in-universe reflection doesn't reveal her disguise.
61	* MortonsFork: Sitting alone in an apartment, Eric O'Grady considers all his possible options, concluding that no matter what he does, he'll die in jail.
62	* {{Nanomachine}}: In the future, a lot of Earth species including most ants have gone extinct, so the Ant-Man of that time uses nanoscale robot ants instead. Though they can manipulate atoms, so far they have failed in their intended purpose of restoring Earth's ecosystem.
63	* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
64	** Criti Noll (the Skrull impersonating Pym) actually used Skrull technology to make the new Ant-Man suit, with the result that O'Grady's suit is significantly more dangerous than what Criti can achieve when he tries to go after O'Grady in the original suit.
65	** Zayn's ''illegal'' time travel experiments inadvertently allow the Ultron of his time to recorporate himself after being killed in ''Ultron Forever''.
66	* NoodleIncident: The fake recap page for issue 4 lists several future Marvel comics as being part of the events of the ''Ultron: Forever'' future, including "Mighty Thor #4774", "Avenging Ultron: The All-Father Imperative", "Immortal Doom: The End Omega" and "All-New New Champions".
67	* NoRespectGuy: Lampshaded by Cassie Lang, who points out that Scott shouldn't have to suck up to the other Avengers, given he's just as accomplished as any of them; it's implied that they would respect him more if [[DudeWheresMyRespect he wasn't so desperate for their approval]].
68	* PaintingTheMedium: The narration boxes for the scenes in the 60s are typically bombastic for that time period. The ones in the unspecified future era are terse and branded to fit not only the time period but the sterile laboratory setting, as if they were being spoken by a computer.
69	* TheQuisling: After being caught by Ultron, O'Grady- having yet to undergo the CharacterDevelopment that would make him marginally less of a DirtyCoward- immediately begins pleading for his life by offering to be a henchman or [[TheStoolPigeon stoolie]]. Of course, once Ultron is defeated, he immediately claims he was [[FakeDefector deliberately trying to distract Ultron so the others could beat him]].
70	* RecurringElement: Each of the Ant-Men appears in some respect in each of the four issues.
71	** In issue 1, a teenage Eric O'Grady pesters Hank Pym at the cinema, while Scott Lang appears as a burglar trying to break into the Ant-Agonists' base.
72	** In issue 2, the Skrull duplicate of Hank Pym catches Eric O'Grady in the act of trying to dig up Scott Lang's grave.
73	** In issue 3, Scott Lang is tasked with dealing with the fused Hank Pym/Ultron, only for Black Ant, a robot copy of Eric O'Grady, to attack him.
74	** In issue 4, all three previous Ant-Men team up with Zayn Asghar, who had made appearances time traveling back to each of the previous issues.
75	* {{Retraux}}:
76	** Issue 1 is written and drawn in the style of Hank's ''Tales to Astonish''-era adventures.
77	** Issue 2 is drawn in imitation of ''Irredeemable Ant-Man'''s art.
78	* ScareEmStraight: Hank uses his ants to scare a young Eric O'Grady out of pelting him any further.
79	* SequelEpisode: Issue 4 to ''Ultron Forever''. It's even titled ''Ant-Man Forever''.
80	* SequelHook: [[spoiler:It's left vague whether All-Father Ultron is actually defeated this time, or has just been sent careening back into the timestream. The narration box advises readers to check future Marvl releases.]]
81	* ShoutOut: Black Ant begins issue 3 comparing himself to the Creator/PhilipKDick story "The Electric Ant".
82	* SlidingTimescale: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] and [[PlayingWithATrope played with]]. Even though the flashback sequences are, in-universe, supposed to be only to about fifteen and six years ago respectively, Hank and Janet are seen visiting a 60s-style movie theater, while Eric asks Zayn to [[SkewedPriorities tell him what happens]] in future episodes of ''Series/{{Lost}}''.
83	* SupermanStaysOutOfGotham:
84	** The Avengers are unable to assist Scott in issue 3 due to being called away for Avengers stuff.
85	** The Ant-Man of 2549 mentions there are heroes in his time he could call, but they're too far out to get there quickly enough to deal with the problem.
86	* ThatManIsDead: Scott Lang is very insistent there's no Hank Pym left in the Pym-Ultron merge.
87	* UncertainDoom: It’s not made clear [[spoiler:what happened to Pym’s body when Ultron was regressed by the Time Ray]].
88	* UnfulfilledPurposeMisery: Why Black Ant's up to what he's up to in issue 3. He was made for a KillAndReplace scenario, but the being that made him has long been defeated. He's a robot made to follow orders without orders to follow (and you can only hang out with Taskmaster for so long). Fortunately, [[spoiler:Ultron]] provides him with something to do.
89	* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Tony Stark outlines the simple plan to get rid of Ultron for good this time. It goes wrong.
90	* UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: Eric versus Criti in issue 3 has Criti discarding the Yellowjacket costume she preferred to go after him in the prototype G.I. Ant outfit from ''Irredeemable''. Eric's only saved from death via unexpected time-travel summons.
91	* VillainousBSOD: Scott Lang manages to temporarily shut Ultron's claim of being part-Hank Pym down by asking why, if he's got all the power he has, he never tried separating himself from Ultron. This gives the kill-bot a momentary existential crisis... and then he defaults to Ultron's usual solution: Kill everything in sight.
92	-->'''Ultron:''' I'm Pym-\
93	'''Scott:''' Bull! You can't be! Because if the real Hank had the power of the All-Father, he wouldn't rest until he'd used it - TO FREE HIMSELF FROM ULTRON!\
94	'''Ultron:''' ... [-What?-] NO. I am Henry Pym. I am. [-I... I am...-] I AM ULTRON!
95	* WeNeedADistraction: Eric's contribution to the final battle amounts to being an unwilling volunteer of this trope as he's too much of a coward to fight [[spoiler:All-Father Ultron]], he just tries to run away from him. This paradoxically allows him to last longer against the mad god than any of his predecessors, giving the other Ant-Men time to think up a solution.
96	* WorfHadTheFlu: [[spoiler:All-Father Ultron]] spends most of issue 4 not quite at full power after his resurrection, allowing the Ant-Men to fight him without being killed instantly.
97	* XtremeKoolLetterz: Zayn Asghar's name would more typically be spelled "Zain", but the Y gives it a futuristic twist.
98	* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Cassie's general speech to Scott, after seeing him acting like a ButtMonkey despite years of competent superheroing under his belt.

Context ComicBook / AntMan2022