Scott Lang’s life has taken an unexpected turn, but it’s all for the good of his daughter, Cassie. A once-again unemployed Ant-Man is looking to rebuild his life in Miami, but it certainly won’t be easy… Your Major Spoilers review of Ant-Man #2 awaits!
ANT-MAN #2
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Ramon Rosas
Colorist: Jordan Boyd
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Editor: Will Moss
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Ant-Man: A long time ago, Scott Lang was an ex-con with nothing going for him, when he inadvertently stole Hank Pym’s Ant-Man uniform and helmet. His road to heroism wasn’t an easy one, but he eventually worked his way up in the ranks to first-string Avenger…
…and then, he was killed. His daughter Cassie undertook a difficult mission that led to his resurrection, only to lose her own life, but thanks to Doctor Doom, Cassie is once again alive and kicking and the apple of Ant-Man’s eye. Of course, with her mother moving the family to Miami, it seemed like Ant-Man would lose her again, until he uprooted his whole life to go tropical and be the dad he couldn’t be before they both died…
A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
We open in the middle of a giant fight, as Ant-Man goes toe to pointy toe with an old enemy…
…of, as it turns out, the wrong guy, as The Grizzly is seeking to avenge himself for getting jailed during the Siege of Asgard, a battle that Scott Lang suddenly realizes was a previous Ant-Man. We then flash back to earlier in the week, as Ant-Man visited the First Capital Bank of Miami to secure a loan for his new venture: Ant-Man Security Solutions! Unfortunately, part of his plan involves shutting down the bank’s security systems remotely, at which point an employee tells him that they’re all dead anyway, thanks to the killer robot in the basement that spits out stolen Nazi gold.
A KILLER ROBOT THAT DOES *WHAT*?
Spencer has an interesting sense of humor throughout this issue, and I can’t help but see the parallels between the schmucky anti-hero that we saw on the big screen in ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ and the portrayal of Scott Lang here, but it still works. Ant-Man makes short work of the robot, and finds an unexpected backer, ending with a happy ending, sorta-kinda. This issue features three things I love: Cassie Lang in full-on snark mode, trying to get her dad to straighten his life out; a one-word cameo from Iron Man that’s REALLY funny; and some excellent art from Ramon Rosas, who makes the Ant-Man helmet and tech look new and futuristic but still recognizably what we’ve seen for the past fifty-odd years. Rosas’ Cassie is super-cute, as well, and new character Ms. Morgenstern is a rare example of a beautiful elderly woman in comics, as well as being the star of this issue and an ongoing mystery for Ant-Man, whether he knows it or not.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A REALLY FUN ISSUE
Spencer’s take on Ant-Man #1 was great, and I’m glad to see that we’re not just dealing with a flash-in-the-pan situation, as this issue lives up to the promise that story created. Artistically, it’s lovely, and I’m really happy to see another hero escaping Manhattan Island for a different setting. Most of all, I want to see what’s going on with Mrs. Morgenstern and her newly-purchased interest in Scott’s company. In short, Ant-Man #2 is funny, charming, has The Grizzly in it, looks great and sets up a new status quo for our hero that seems to have real legs, earning a very impressive 4 out of 5 stars overall. Even if he’s something of a familiar, feckless character, Spencer’s Ant-Man is likeable (and heroic, in spite of himself), and makes me want to read more of his adventures…
[taq_review] [signoff predefined=”PayPal Donation” icon=”icon-cog”][/signoff]