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JANET VAN DYNE

Real Name: Janet Van Dyne

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-10091) human technology user

Occupation: Adventurer, assistant

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Jane Foster, Giant-Man (Henry Pym), Thor (all Earth-10091)

Enemies: Moloid-like creatures, Loki (indirectly) (all Earth-10091)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None (see comments)

Base of Operations: Mobile in the USA (Earth-10091)

First Appearance: Thor the Mighty Avenger#3 (October, 2010)

Powers/Abilities: Janet Van Dyne is a fit, smart, assertive and adventurous woman who can change size at will -- from normal human size down to about 4". This ability seems connected with her wasp-themed suit, which is also fitted with a two-way communicator and wings that enable her to fly. She can shoot concussive charges from wrist-mounted blasters; these "stings" are bio-electric in nature. She has pilot training for Pym's ant-themed flying vehicle.

Height: 5'4"
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark brown

History:

(Thor the Mighty Avenger#3 (fb) - BTS) - Janet Van Dyne was from a wealthy family, which sponsored New York's Midtown Museum for three generations. She became Henry Pym's assistant in his scientific endeavors, also becoming romantically involved. Pym used the development of his size-altering Pym particles to facilitate adventuring hero identities, giving Janet a size-altering suit with wasp-like wings for flying and wrist-mounted stingers. The duo established a reputation in the state for their heroic acts.

(Thor the Mighty Avenger#3) - At Pym's research facility in upstate New York, Janet received the phone call informing them of murder of Pym's mentor, Dr. Lew Stephens, in Bergen, Oklahoma. She told Pym and, after changing into their super-hero identities, they took off in Pym's ant-themed flying vehicle to investigate the crime site, where they found a biosignature. They traced a similar signal to the town's museum. Janet parked the vehicle while Pym investigated. However, the exiled Thor, his mind confused due to Loki's meddling, fought the giant-sized Pym. Seeing a connection between Thor and his friend Jane Foster, Janet used her stingers to threaten Foster to gain information about Thor. Janet communicated this to Pym and the confusion was resolved. Later, Foster told Janet that she had been suspended from her job at the Bergen War Memorial Museum. Seeking to help, Janet made a quick call and used her family's influence with the affiliated museum board so that Foster was quickly reinstated. As Thor left with Foster, Janet recognized that the two were in love.

((Thor the Mighty Avenger#8) - In strife underground against Moloid-like creatures, Giant-Man and Van Dyne were unable to respond to Jane Foster's call to aid Thor, but Pym contacted his friend Tony Stark (Iron Man) to help out instead.

Comments: Created by Roger Langridge (writer) and Chris Samnee (art). Derived from the Earth-616 character by Stan Lee (plot), H.E. Huntley (script) and Jack Kirby (art).

She's not actually codenamed Wasp in the stories, but I think it's a likely inevitability. I suspect this series, if it had reached it's full 12-issue run instead of just 9 (i.e., 8 + FCBD issue), may have finished with the founding of the Avengers. All the pieces were being set in place.

Given her closeness to Pym, it's likely she had met Tony Stark, possibly even Pym's mentor, Lew Stephens.

And that's "M.J." on the front cover of the fashion mag in the headshot pic -- likely a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo of red-haired Mary Jane Watson.

Physical stats (apart from hair) are taken from the Earth-616 version, as they look very much alike. Powers and family details are confined to what's revealed in the stories.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Janet Van Dyne of Earth-10091 has no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Thor the Mighty Avenger#3, p9, pan1 (main image)
Thor the Mighty Avenger#3, p2, pan4 (civilian guise)
Thor the Mighty Avenger#8, p1, pan3 (in action)


Appearances:
Thor the Mighty Avenger#3 (October, 2010) - Roger Langridge (writer), Chris Samnee (art), Nathan Cosby (editor)
Thor the Mighty Avenger#8 (March, 2011) - Roger Langridge (writer), Chris Samnee (art), Nathan Cosby (editor).


First posted: 09/17/18

Last updated: 09/17/18

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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