When Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, retired from the job, another man rose to the occasion (err, stole the costume) – None other than Scott Lang! His somewhat sordid past behind him, Scott took on the size-changing, ant-communicating abilities of Ant-Man.
That is the introduction to the new Ant-Man series that takes advantage of the promotion for the upcoming film, but also Marvel’s Avengers NOW! initiative. Written by Nick Spencer with art by Ramon Rosanas, the comic is a great jumping on point for anyone who wants to explore more of the Ant-Man world. The story provides the necessary exposition while also providing a fulfilling tale. The issue also sets up a new status quo for the character, which should provide an interesting backdrop for stories to come.
The ironically extra-sized issue is appropriately drawn and told in small-scale form. There are no intergalactic battles or dimension warping villains. The story focuses on Scott as a father who is down on his luck and not catching any breaks. We see him struggle making decisions regarding his professional and his personal life, while having a touch of humor that prevents the book from being a “downer.” In many ways the mix of a down on his luck hero and humor results in a grown up Spider-Man style book with the troubles of being a teenage super hero replaced with adult problems.
The dialogue and characterization of the book is superb. It assists the book in being easy to read for even the newest Marvel fan. While Scott Lang is not new to the Marvel Universe, the title is not bogged down by previous continuity which can be a barrier for newer fans. That being said, those who have witnessed what Lang has had to deal with in the past, may appreciate his current struggles having seen his challenges first hand.
The art is good as well. It forgoes big splash pages, for smaller details that are befitting Ant-Man. The characters convey emotion with their looks while the settings are filled with details to give a complement the storytelling. The scenes with Ant-Man and Tony Stark are a highlight of the book while they contrast appropriately with the smaller-scale scenes of Lang with his daughter Cassie.
If you are excited for the film, I encourage you to pick up Ant-Man. It is a great book for comic veterans and new comers alike. Spencer and Rosanas deliver the best new Marvel comic book series in quite some time.