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Summary
When Marvel Comics ' 2008 crossoverSecret Invasionhappened , it claimed the spirit of a ground Avenger , theWasp , which was especially heartbreaking because she was scantily even involved in the story . This " jar death " is exemplary of several problems with major comic crossover issue of the era , and the sloppiness with which female character are often treat in comic strip . It ’s also a metatextual examination of Marvel ’s most contentious relationship , though that ’s still no alibi for what happens .
InSecret Invasion#8,Janet Van Dyne aka the Wasp dies after let a bomb calorimeter plant in her bythe Skrull posing as her alienated husband Hank Pymaka Ant - Man . When the Skrulls start out to lose , the Ant - Man Skrull activates the implanted biological artillery , which he antecedently claimed was a new growth formula for Janet to use .
private Invasion # 8is compose by Brian Michael Bendis , penciled by Leinil Francis Yu , ink by Mark Morales , colored by Laura Martin and lettered by Chris Eliopoulos .
To prevent her from killing everyone in the area , Thor is forced to strike Janet down . She becomes the superhero font of those killed inSecret Invasion , with her death push the heroes to fight even harder .
The Wasp’s Death inSecret InvasionMakes No Sense
One of the main problems with this twist is thatJanet ’s death feel somewhat arbitrary and unjust . The event comics of the 2000s billed themselves on having " real aftermath , " which commonly meantone or two shocking lineament deaths . Within the history , Janet does n’t even get much to do before her destruction . Just about anyone else could have give-up the ghost and had as much impact . It leaves a sour taste that the one chosen is a random distaff reference with little federal agency who ’s killed mostly to make readers surprised and make the other Cuban sandwich feel sorry .
Like so many theatrical role in Marvel Comics , Wasp does n’t persist idle for long . In fact , it’sSecret Invasionwriter Brian Michael Bendis who also brings her back only a few short yr by and by inAvengers vol 4#31 .
retaliator vol 3 # 31is compose by Brian Michael Bendis , illustrate by Brandon Peterson and Mike Hayhew , colored by Jason Keith and letter by Cory Petit .
It ’s altogether possible that Bendis felt more comfortable " killing " Wasp because he already had a account in judgement where she ’d return . However , this does n’t halt the actual moment inSecret Invasionfrom feeling cynical and unpointed , not to mention misogynous .
Wasp’s Death is a Commentary on an Infamous Avengers Moment
There is an interesting metatextual read of Janet ’s destiny , even if it does n’t excuse what happened to her . So much of Ant - Man and the Wasp ’s relationship is center onHank ’s infamous here and now of domestic violenceagainst Janet inAvengers vol 1#213 , and Wasp ’s expiry has parallels to this present moment . In both cases Hank Pym , or his duplicate , are complicit in physical abuse of the Wasp , which violates the trust that should live in any human relationship . This feels aim inSecret Invasion , as the " growth formula " that the Skrull gives Janet is supposedly a " good - will offering " for the couple ’s anniversary .
The Avengers vol 1 # 213is written by James Shooter , pencil by Bob Hall , ink by Dan Green , colored by Don Warfield and letter by Janice Chiang .
Even if this is Brian Michael Bendis commenting on how poorly Wasp is treated again and again , the narrative is still just replicating Wasp ’s abuse without giving her any agency . It also feel like Wasp ’s end is more important forHank Pym’sstory , as he contend in the wake ofSecret Invasionwith the horrific actions of his Skrull counterpart . In this way , Janet ’s destiny is a Hellenic case of " fridging , " where a female character dies in comedian specifically to impact a male character ’s story . Waspdeserved so much just inSecret Invasion , regardless of the moment ’s design .
Secret Invasion #8 is penciled by Leinil Francis Yu
Secret Invasion #8, written by Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by Leinil Francis Yu
Secret Invasion #8, written by Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by Leinil Francis Yu
