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Hank Pym – and Maybe Nadia Pym – Diagnosed as Bipolar in Unstoppable Wasp #4 (Spoilers)

Yesterday, Marvel Comics published Unstoppable Wasp #4 by Jeremy Whitely, Gurihiru, Joe Caramagna, Carlos Lao and Alanna Smith. Which sees Janet Van Dyne, the Wasp, dealing with the aftermath of an AIM incident, with injured superheroes and civilians – including herself. Trying to deal with people, help them – and help herself incidentally. In terms of superhero action, it's on pause. In terms of character development, it's a leap forward.

Because for her adopted daughter Nadia Van Dyne, the Unstoppable Wasp, we see more than ever why that adjective is applied to her. Because she has to fix everything.

Which starts with a greenboard, a frenzied expression and spins and out of the laboratory.

The Red Room, which as we know makes monsters of people. The frenzied expression may have gone but this is worse.

The Superman Complex, as defined by Dr Frederick Wertham, is the belief that one can do acts beyond anyone, can control every eventuality, can fix everything. An opposite to Imposter Syndrome, it turns out it can affect superheroes too.

And it's even more familiar for Janet Van Dyne. Who remembers what her father, Hank Pym, Ant Man, was like.

Hank Pym, diagnosed as bipolar. Nadia showing similar signs. And her friends trying to intervene.

Which leads us to revisit a famous Avengers episode. Where, now calling himself Yellowjacket, found himself in trouble with the Avengers, after shooting a supervillain in the back…

..found himself being court-martialled in Avengers#213, by Jim Shooter, Bob Hall, Dan Green, Don Warfield, Janice Chiang and Jim Salicrup.

And decided the answer was not in the arms of Janet van Dyne but in the laboratory….

Berating himself for his own failings.

Clearly the only solution was to build another robot.

As Hank Pym went a little like Syndrome in The Incredibles…

Not quite the solution one might have ezpected. But also of Hank Pym's desire to fix everything, which led to his most infamous moment of all.

With Hank Pym's appeals becoming more manic… 

…and the revelation as to what had happened to Janet clear as day. Which is what brings us back to today's Unstoppable Wasp #4.

Just be grateful she's not up for designing robots right now. The scene brought much comment on social media, especially regarding the way neurodiversity is portrayed in this comic.

Here is what's to come in three short weeks:

UNSTOPPABLE WASP #5
(W) Jeremy Whitley (A) Gurihiru (CA) Stacy Lee
Nadia believed that when A.I.M. attacked her lab, she had reached rock bottom. She was wrong. And now she is finding out that she has more in common with her father than she ever knew. This issue of UNSTOPPABLE WASP will change everything about Nadia's life.
Rated T+ In Shops: Feb 20, 2019 SRP: $3.99

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