Line #21 ComicBook/AstonishingAntMan


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/astonishing_ant_man.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[WesternAnimation/{{Archer}} Do you want ants? Because that’s how you get ants.]]]]
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4	''Astonishing Ant-Man'' (originally just ''Ant-Man'') is a 2015 Creator/{{Marvel\|Comics}} comic book written by Creator/NickSpencer (''ComicBook/MorningGlories'', ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'') with art by Ramon Rosanas, published as part of the "ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel" initiative that sprung from the aftermath of ''ComicBook/{{Secret Wars\|2015}}''.
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6	It features Scott Lang, the second ComicBook/AntMan (and focus of [[Film/AntMan1 his 2015 movie]]) as he moves down to UsefulNotes/{{Miami}}, Florida to be closer to his recently-resurrected daughter [[ComicBook/YoungAvengers Cassie]], starting a security solutions firm while there. Oh, and Scott's {{starter villain}} Darren Cross has been revived by his vengeful son, so that's kind of an issue.
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8	Originally published in January 2015 for the "[[ComicBook/MarvelNOW Avengers NOW!]]" branding (without its "[[TheAdjectivalSuperhero astonishing]]" adjective), this series had an initial run of five issues, an annual, and a one-shot prelude to ''ComicBook/{{Secret Wars\|2015}}'', ultimately returning from hiatus in October 2015 with the previous creative team intact.
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10	Now titled ''Astonishing Ant-Man'', it picks up [[TimeSkip eight months from where it left off]] -- namely, with Scott and his employees (and fellow {{reformed criminal}}s) Grizzly and Machinesmith providing their services to a retirement home for [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks golden age]] superheroes led by Mary Morgenstern, the former Miss Patriot. It also turns out he's presently estranged from [[Characters/AntManHeroes Cassie]], as to avoid putting her in harm's way -- and that he's telling the story in {{flashback}} from prison.
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12	As for what Hank Pym --the original Ant-Man-- seems to be doing these days, well ... [[EmergencyTransformation let's just say he's feeling a bit disconnected]] [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} from humanity at the moment]].
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14	----
15	!! ''Astonishing Ant-Man'' provides examples of:
16	* TheAdjectivalSuperhero: '''''Astonishing''''' ''Ant-Man'', though the adjective itself was added post-''Secret Wars''.
17	* AffirmativeActionLegacy: Scott gives the Giant-Man suit to Raz Malhotra, a gay man of Indian descent.
18	* BackFromTheDead: Darren Cross --who died after his only appearance in ''Marvel Premiere'' #47-- is revived, thanks to his son Augustine [[spoiler:and Cassie's Pym Particle-irradiated heart]].
19	* BigBadWannabe: The Magician, who wants to avenge his father's jailing at Giant-Man's hands in ''Astonishing'' #2. [[HarmlessVillain It doesn't pan out for him.]]
20	* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[spoiler: Although she saves Scott from Cross during the break in, Beetle only reveals she's prosecuting against Scott but would throw the case if Scott sneaks her Pym Particles, however thanks to Cross, this plan fails so Beetle decides to turn against Scott by calling Peggy to testify against Scott, however when Peggy is in favor for Scott and loses the trial, Beetle is never seen again.]]
21	* TheBusCameBack: [[ComicBook/{{FF}} Darla Deering]] (also known as Ms. Thing, and Scott's girlfriend) didn't show up anywhere in the original run of issues, but came back in ''Astonishing'' #2, where it's stated that Scott packed up and left New York for Miami without even telling her. She's understandably pissed, but after battling a wannabe villain together, they talk it out and amicably break things off for now. [[spoiler: Turns out Darla hired their mook via the Hench app and filmed the fight for her reality television show pilot]].
22	* TheCorrupter: [[spoiler:Darla's agent seems to be this for her, setting up a scenario that would bring Scott to them for the sake of her reality show pilot.]]
23	* CouldHaveAvoidedThisPlot: Cassie tells Scott [[spoiler: despite Scott taking the fall for the break in for Cassie, she tells him that [[HollywoodLaw as a minor and a former Avenger, the charges wouldn't have stuck if she was charged]].]]
24	* CoversAlwaysLie: Though appearing on [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/2/21/Astonishing_Ant-Man_Vol_1_1_Textless.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150714223128 the cover]] of ''Astonishing'' #1, the issue in question doesn't ''actually'' feature Beetle, Gladiator, Porcupine (currently a {{reformed criminal}} working for [[ComicBook/SpiderWoman Jessica Drew]]), or the new Giant-Man.
25	* DatingCatwoman: Scott finds himself in this kind of relationship with the new Beetle. He's kind of bummed about it, as Captain America specifically warned him to avoid it when he first became an Avenger. {{Lampshaded}} whens she says she doesn't really want a Comicbook/BlackCat or Comicbook/{{Elektra}} kind of thing with Scott.
26	* DisappearedDad: Scott's status quo toward Cassie in ''Astonishing'', but justified in the sense that he already put her in harm's way by moving to Miami, so he's keeping some distance between them for her benefit.
27	* EarnYourHappyEnding: After Scott [[spoiler: is thrown in jail and spends almost 8 months there after taking the rap for the break in to Cross Industries from Cassie, he almost loses the trial until Darren Cross, Crossfire and Egghead pop up in the courtroom and try to attack Scott, however thanks to Cassie, She-Hulk, Darla, Machinesmith and Grizzly, they defeat Cross and the judge drops Scott's charges thanks to Peggy, Scott and Cassie become to the new superhero duo in Miami.]]
28	* GoodParents: Cassie's mom Peggy (understandably) doesn't want Scott influencing their daughter, and his actions kinda prove her conviction to be well-founded.
29	* IJustWantToBeSpecial ''Again'': Cassie isn't taking retirement from hero work well.
30	* ItsPersonal: When Cassie finds out that Augustine Cross stole her heart to resurrect his father, her mission changes from getting her powers back to revenge.
31	* LegacyCharacter: Scott himself, of course, but it seems that a lot of the villains working for Hench are this too, with such titles as the Magician and Blacklash. Hijacker is a twofer: he took the name and look of the original Hijacker, but he's actually a successor to Overdrive.
32	* MythologyGag: Scott's team-up with [[ComicBook/TheFalcon Sam Wilson]] --currently ComicBook/CaptainAmerica-- in ''Astonishing'' #3 was likely inspired by their altercation in the ''Film/AntMan1'' movie. {{Lampshaded}} in the solicitation, which points this out, then acknowledges it doesn't quite work, before concluding "Please buy our book, movie-watcher people!"
33	* RecruitingTheCriminal: A villainous example --- the Hench app (think Seamless, but for on-demand villainy) starts posing a major headache to Scott.
34	** Scott himself recruited criminals into his security business with the intent of reforming them.
35	* ReformedCriminal: Scott and his cohorts.
36	* {{Retcanon}}:
37	** [[spoiler: Cassie becomes Stinger, the identity she had in the [[Comicbook/MarvelComics2 MC2]] continuity]].
38	** [[spoiler: Darren Cross dons a powered up Yellowjacket armor which is similar to the ''Film/AntMan1'' movie.]]
39	* ShoutOut:
40	** Cassie is a big fan of ''Film/BattleRoyale'', and even echoes the common accusation that the ''Film/TheHungerGames'' movies ripped it off.
41	** Raz says he got better at fighting while giant by watching ''Film/PacificRim''.
42	* StalkingIsLove: A rare platonic example; Scott ''is'' checking up on Cassie at the start of ''Astonishing'', but she doesn't know it because he's always shrunken down when he sees her. [[spoiler:When Cassie ultimately finds out, she's understandably freaked.]]
43	* WellDoneSonGuy: The Magician, who only wants to make his father (the original Magician) proud, [[DisappearedDad in spite of the fact that he left their family for a new one]].
44	* WHAMEpisode: ''Astonishing'' #6 has [[spoiler:Cassie joining with Power Broker and Hench after Broker reveals to her that Darren Cross stole her heart and Scott kept it secret from her so Cassie is given Pym Particles and becomes Stinger in exchange for taking down Cross after Cross stole Broker's Hench App idea.]]
45	* WHAMShot: The first page of issue #1 only shows Scott's face as he's lying in bed and starts to reminisce the past eight months of his life. [[spoiler:The last page comes back to the present to show Scott is behind bars.]]
46	-->'''Scott (Narrating):''' Oh, wait, almost forgot, one other thing--
47	-->'''Scott (Narrating):''' [Jumps to present] [[spoiler:-- I did end up back in prison. There was that.]]
48	* WhatYouAreInTheDark: [[spoiler: After earlier having abandoned the heroes, Beetle secretly comes back and stops Crossfire from killing Scott.]]
49	-->[[spoiler: '''Beetle''']]: No one will ever know I'm secretly...a nice person.
50	* WholeEpisodeFlashback: The first eleven issues of the series are used by Scott to recapitulate the past eight months and [[spoiler:how he ended up back in prison]]. With the exception of #6, #8 and #10, every issue opens up with a splash page of Scott in the present to re-establish the book's framing device.
51	* WolverinePublicity:
52	** An in-universe example; [[spoiler:Darla's agent uses Scott to help boost ratings for Darla's new reality show pilot]].
53	** Another in-universe example; Scott advertises his business with a big billboard featuring Comicbook/IronMan. Iron Man later sues to have it taken down.
54	** Parodied with [[Comicbook/TheFalcon Sam Wilson]]'s guest appearance; the solicit mentions that Sam is showing up in a book with Scott Lang, just like in the ''Film/AntMan1'' movie, but then admits that the synergy is kind of ruined since unlike in the film, Sam is ComicBook/CaptainAmerica instead of the Falcon.
55	* WomanScorned: Darla comes for Scott with a ''bullet'' in ''Astonishing'' #2, but it's hard to fault her for being pissed off at him. Ultimately, they talk through their issues and break up amicably.
56	* WorkingForABodyUpgrade: In issue 6, Cassie ends up making such a deal [[spoiler: with the Power Broker]] in exchange for getting her powers back.
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Context ComicBook / AstonishingAntMan