Pym Particles

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pym's experience in the anthill inspired him to study ants, leading to the creation of a cybernetic helmet for communication and control. He initially destroyed his serums but later recreated them to assume the identity of Ant-Man. As a founding member of the Avengers, Pym began a continuous shift of superhero identities using these particles. In Tales to Astonish #49 (November 1963), he became the 12 ft-tall Giant-Man. Later, in Avengers #59 (December 1968), he adopted the persona of Yellowjacket after inhaling chemicals during a botched experiment that affected his mind. In September 2004, following the disbandment of the team due to tragedies, Pym took a leave of absence as Yellowjacket. Years later, in Secret Invasion: Requiem (January 2009), a grieving Pym adopted the Wasp identity as a tribute to Janet van Dyne after her death.

In Their Own Story

After Vernon van Dyne was killed by an alien criminal who teleported to Earth, his daughter Janet asked Dr. Pym for help avenging his death. Pym revealed his secret identity and used Pym particles to graft wasp wings beneath her shoulders, which appear when she shrinks. She assumed the alias of the Wasp, and together they found and defeated Vernon's killer. Later, in a mishap during his time as Goliath, Pym was trapped in giant form for several issues, affecting his self-esteem. During a botched experiment, he inhaled chemicals that altered his mind, causing him to reappear at Avengers Mansion in the cocky new persona of Yellowjacket, claiming to have disposed of Pym. Although the Wasp realized his true identity and accepted his marriage offer, the chemicals lost their effect during a battle with the Circus of Crime at their wedding, restoring his original identity.

Reader's Guide

To use these particles safely, one must possess precise control over the serums; a miscalculation can lead to being trapped in an anthill or suffering mental strain. Pym built a cybernetic helmet specifically to communicate with and control ants while wearing a costume made of unstable molecules for protection. The particles allow for distinct transformations: shrinking to insect size as Ant-Man, expanding to 12 feet (3.7 m) as Giant-Man in Tales to Astonish #49, or adopting the Yellowjacket persona after chemical exposure. In West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #21 (June 1987), Pym temporarily abandoned costumed personas altogether to serve as a scientist and inventor, though he later returned as Giant-Man in The Avengers vol. 3, #1 (February 1998).

Did You Know?

• Pym was initially trapped in an anthill after testing the shrinking serum on himself before escaping with a reversal formula.
• In Tales to Astonish #49 (November 1963), Pym became the 12 ft-tall Giant-Man, a height of 3.7 meters.
• Janet van Dyne was granted wings that appear only when she shrinks, using Pym particles grafted beneath her shoulders.
• Pym inhaled chemicals during a botched experiment which caused him to adopt the Yellowjacket persona while claiming the original Pym was gone.
• After Janet van Dyne's death, Pym temporarily took on the Wasp identity as a tribute in Secret Invasion: Requiem (January 2009).