The Fantastic Four are generally known for their core family members. Even so, Marvel's First Family has extended its membership across the Marvel Universe. One of the Fantastic Four's most overlooked members is Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man. Ant-Man first ran into the Fantastic Four in 1982's Marvel Two-In-One #87, by Tom DeFalco and Ron Wilson. In this issue, the Thing was spontaneously transported into the micro-verse. Since Hank Pym was a fugitive at the time, the Fantastic Four contacted Scott Lang for help. Although Scott was reluctant to shrink into the Micro-Verse, Mister Fantastic convinced him to do it.
When Ant-Man arrived in the Micro-Verse, he helped the Thing broker a truce between two warring civilizations. Ant-Man later officially joined the Fantastic Four in 1994's Fantastic Four #384, by Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan. When Reed Richards went missing, the Invisible Woman, as the new team leader, recruited Scott as the Fantastic Four's new technical expert.
Of course, Scott was initially just recruited for his electronics experience rather than his abilities as Ant-Man. Still, it wasn't long until Scott sprang into action to help his teammates, revealing his secret identity. Along with the rest of the Fantastic Four, Ant-Man worked alongside the Human Torch's wife, Lyja, the Sub-Mariner and even Kristoff, Doctor Doom's old ward. While Scott was on the team, he and his daughter Cassie moved into the Fantastic Four's headquarter at Four Freedoms Plaza. Eventually, when Reed returned, in 1995's Fantastic Four #407, by Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan, Ant-Man stepped down.
Scott would return to the team on occasion, such as 2001's Fantastic Four #43-44, by Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin, Jeph Loeb and Joe Bennett. During this short story arc, the Fantastic Four went missing, leading the Human Torch to form a temporary group, including She-Hulk and Namorita as well. Ant-Man's most crucial time on the Fantastic Four, however, arguably came in 2012's FF #1, by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred. The original Fantastic Four was heading on a voyage across space and time, and needed replacements. Reed Richards himself approached Scott to lead the team.
Ant-Man was reluctant, since he would not only be the Fantastic Four's leader, he would also be in charge of the young members of the Future Foundation. Having just lost his daughter, Scott was apprehensive about looking after more children. Moreover, the Fantastic Four were only supposed to be gone for four minutes, but something went wrong. This turn of events left Scott in charge of a new Fantastic Four, comprised of She-Hulk, Medusa and Darla Deering, aka She-Thing, not to mention the Future Foundation.
The team faced many challenges, facing public scrutiny before anything else. Ant-Man also had to lead the Fantastic Four against opponents such as the Frightful Four, Maximus the Mad and the Mole Man, among others. Worst of all was Ant-Man's final confrontation with Doctor Doom, who had stolen the powers of both Annihilus and Kid Immortus. Not only was Doom all-powerful, he was also the one who had killed Cassie in the first place. Along with the rest of the Fantastic Four, Ant-Man launched an all-out assault on Doctor Doom, eventually beating him within an inch of his life. Having avenged his daughter's death, Ant-Man moved on, celebrating with his new family and beginning a romance with Darla Deering.
Ant-Man could also lead a replacement Fantastic Four, like he did the second time he joined the team. Seeing Ant-Man not only lead a team, but mentor a group of young minds in the Future Foundation would be fantastic character growth for his MCU counterpart. Of course, all of these possibilities are quite a ways in the future. Regardless, Ant-Man made an excellent member of the Fantastic Four.
0 Comments