Scott Lang was the second man to take up the mantle of Ant-Man. He was a member of the Avengers and a member of the Fantastic Four. He was also the father of Cassie Lang from the Young Avengers.
Origin
Scott
Lang was a down-on-his-luck electronics expert, who turned to burglary
as a means of supporting his family. Scott proved to be a poor criminal
and was arrested during a botched robbery. He was sent to prison, but
received an early parole for good behavior.
After his
release from jail, he was hired by Stark International to resume his
work in electronics. Although Scott’s life seemed to be improving, he
was devastated to learn that his daughter Cassie
had been diagnosed with a serious heart condition. Scott desperately
wanted to save Cassie’s life, and sought the aid of the brilliant micro
surgeon Dr. Erica Sondheim. Unfortunately, Dr. Sondheim was being held prisoner by the mutated villain Darren Cross. To rescue Sondheim, Scott stole Hank Pym's old Ant-Man equipment. Taking the Ant-Man mantle, Scott used his new found power to defeat Cross and rescue the doctor.
Scott
was prepared to return to prison for his crimes, but Hank Pym was
impressed by his heroics and saw Scott's potential as a hero. Dr. Pym
allowed Scott to continue using the Ant-Man equipment and identity. More
importantly (at least to Scott), Dr. Sondheim was able to successfully
treat Cassie’s heart condition.
Creation
David Michelinie and John Byrne
created Scott Lang as featured in his first appearance in Avengers vol 1
#181 (3/1979). Michelinie wrote the story, Byrne drew the pencils and Gene Day
finished the inks for this issue. Michelinie and Byrne were also the
creative team for the debut and origin of Lang as the second Ant-Man in Marvel Premiere #47 (4/1979). Bob Layton finished the inks for this issue.
Character Evolution
First
introduced as a struggling father and thief, Scott was granted the
Ant-Man armor and powers and became the second Ant-Man with Hank Pym's
blessing. Whilst initially not belonging to a team, instead occasionally
helping out other heroes, he found a home as Richard's replacement in
the Fantastic Four and then the Heroes for Hire. After this, he found
himself as a an occasional team up partner again, but after losing
custody of his daughter, Cassie, he joined the Avengers, the premier
super hero team. However, Scott was a victim of the Scarlet Witch's
madness when he was caught in the re-animated Jack of Heart's explosion,
which she caused, this was the last straw in the Avengers, and the team
disbanded. After his death, his daughter continued his legacy becoming
the hero Stature.
Recently, Scott was displaced in time, the moment right before he died,
by Cassie and the Young Avengers. It remains to be seen if he will stay
alive or return to his rightful place in time.
Major Story Arcs
Becoming a Hero
Scott
divided his time between his roles as scientist, father, and superhero.
He worked alongside several other heroes and frequently clashed with
the mercenary trainer called Taskmaster. He fought the Taskmaster alongside the Avengers on three separate occasions and earned their respect as well as part-time membership with the team. When Baron Helmut Zemo's Masters of Evil took control of Avengers Mansion, Scott helped the Avengers retake their headquarters.
Fantastic Four
Scott was later hired by the Fantastic Four as an electronics expert after Mr. Fantastic's
apparent demise. Scott was soon inducted into the Fantastic Four, and
helped the team during numerous adventures. Scott proved himself against
a variety of foes and gained new confidence after successfully
resisting possession by the insectoid Grottu.
Following Mr. Fantastic's return from apparent death, Scott left the
Fantastic Four as full-time member, but left with a smile on his face
and a few new good friends.
Heroes for Hire
After Scott's adventures with the Fantastic Four, he joined the newest incarnation of the Heroes for Hire team set up by Iron Fist and Luke Cage.
Scott had many adventures and battles with famous other Superhumans,
making him a trusted sight in the superhero community. Scott remained
with the group until they disbanded.
Some time after the group disbanded Scott began dating former superhero Jessica Jones,
they were happily together for some time. It ended after Jessica told
Scott that she was pregnant with Luke Cage's child, the former teammate
of Scott when he was part of the Heroes for Hire team. After this, Scott
would go on to provide backup to both the Avengers and the Fantastic
Four, assisting both super groups whenever his skills proved necessary.
All this time he also stayed a loving and caring parent to his daughter
Cassie.
Joining the Avengers
Scott
was subsequently invited to join the Avengers full-time, a role he
accepted after losing custody of his daughter Cassie to his ex-wife.
While with the Avengers, Scott often butted heads with fellow newcomer Jack of Hearts.
After some time they started to understand each other more. It turned
out that Jack would be consumed by his own powers, unless he would go
into a holding cell to siphon off the overpowering energies building up
inside him. After Scott came to know these problems, they both got more
and more respect for each other. And despite the animosity they first
had, Jack even helped Scott during one of his darkest hours. Scott's
daughter Cassie was abducted by an insane man, who saw his own dead
daughter in Cassie and wanted to kill her for that reason.
Scott
and Jack of Hearts both came to the rescue of his daughter. Only
problem was that Jack had been away from his holding cell for too long
and the energies inside him where building up to dangerous levels. As
soon as Cassie was safe, Jack grabbed the insane man, said goodbye to
Scott, seeing him as a true friend and flew of into outer space. There
Jack seemingly exploded and ceased to exist. Scott knew that he had lost
a friend who sacrificed himself to save that which Scott loved most in
life, his daughter.
Death and Legacy
Jack
of Hearts would soon reappear floating outside of Avengers Mansion. He
was clearly in distress and appeared to be in a catatonic state,
crackling with uncontrolled energy. Unknown to the Avengers at the time,
Jack was under the control of the now insane Scarlet Witch,
who intended on using him as a weapon against her former comrades. As
Scott rushed out of the mansion to confront Jack, the undead Jack of
Hearts exploded, and Scott was incinerated by a tremendous discharge of
energy. Scott’s death proved to be the first of a series of tragic
occurrences that brought about Avengers Disassembled.
A
commemorative statue for Scott was placed in the gardens of the
Avengers Mansion. Scott Lang's legacy is currently kept alive by his
daughter, Cassie, as the costumed hero Stature.
Cassie was extremely effected by her Father's death and her costume is
based on her Father's. Scott was also seen in the underworld when Hercules visited it. His helmet fell into the possession of Amadeus Cho, who, with Cassie's blessing, choose to wear it and harness it's insect controlling abilities.
Children's Crusade
During the search for the Scarlet Witch, the Young Avengers, Iron Lad
and the amnesiac Wanda, time travel to the day Wanda brought back Jack
of Hearts and killed Scott in order to see if the present day Wanda's
memory will be restored. Whilst there, they run into the alive Scott,
moments before his death. Cassie immediately runs to him and hugs him,
confused as to why she's there, and in a costume, Cassie tells him that
they're dressing up for Halloween and taking them on a tour of the
mansion. She begins to introduce the members to him, but at that moment,
Jack of Hearts returns. However, just in time, Iron Lad returns them to
the present day, with Scott. However, unknown as to why, Scott Lang is
still dead in the present, but, moments later, the Scarlet Witch returns
and remembers everything. Later, whilst fighting the empowered Victor Von Doom,
Scott shrinks down and approaches Doom, backed by a swarm of flying
ants. Doom attacks back; Cassie - fearing her father is again dead-
grows to Doom's size and punches him. Doom retaliates with an energy
blast which deals a fatal blow to Cassie. She later dies from her
injuries in Scott's arms.
Future Foundation
When the Fantastic Four decided to go a road trip through space and time, Scott was recruited along with She Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing
to make up a temporary replacement team for the Future Foundation. It
is evident that Scott is still mourning the loss of his daughter and as
such wishes Doom dead. Eventually, Scott devises a plan to defeat Doctor
Doom and exact vengeance for what he did to Cassie. Utilizing a new,
more comprehensive way of manipulating Pym Particles, Scott nearly kills
Doom, but chooses to spare his life, reasoning that the humiliation
would be worse than death.
Following the murder of the Watcher, Scott is chosen alongside Black Panther, the Winter Soldier, Gamora, Emma Frost, the Punisher, and Doctor Strange as one of the potential candidates to replace the original Nick Fury
in his role as the defender of Earth. He and the others help defeat
Fury after he is revealed to be the Watcher's true murderer.
Powers and Equipment
- Size manipulation
- Communication equipment
- Ability to control ants
Alternate Realities
House Of M
Scott is still alive and is married to Jessica Jones.
Ultimate
Lang appears as a new recruit for the New Ultimates as the new Giant-Man.
Avengers Fairy Tales
Scott appears as the Caterpillar.
MC2
Scott
had retired from super-heroics and developed new size altering
technology. The tech was stolen by Cassie and she became the super hero
known as Stinger. Later, Scott came out of retirement to save and repair Mainframe from the inside. Scott felt a renewed love for super-heroics and came out of retirement and joined A-Next.
Thunder Guard
Scott was part of a Nazi Avengers called the Thunder Guard. He was named 'Pincer' and was extremely unstable, having killed his own daughter. They fought A-Next.
In Other Media
Film
Ant-Man
Scott Lang will appear as the lead in the 2015 Ant-Man movie, played by Paul Rudd.
Television
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
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