Stings and Sorrows!

The Wasp has asked Dane Whitman — aka the Black Knight — to run a full diagnostic on her powers. He runs her through a course where he tests her size-changing, flight, bio-stings, and enhanced strength.[1] Once he has completed his tests he concludes that Janet’s powers have increased allowing her to assume much larger sizes and still maintain her wings. Excited to learn of these enhancements, she kisses Dane on the lips and suggests they go out for a celebratory dinner that evening. Dane is happy with this offer since he has begun to have feelings for Janet.

As the Wasp goes out to try out her new powers she is unaware that someone is parked in a van just outside Avengers Mansion. Using a special helmet, this individual manages to take remote control of the Yellowjacket costume that has been stored there since Hank Pym retired from the role.[2] Inside the mansion, Dane Whitman begins another battery of tests, this time on his Ebony Blade in order to learn more about its magical properties.[3] While in another lab, Mister Fantastic has Hercules help him set up a new device that will hopefully help them track the Beyonder, who has been eluding detection for quite some time now.[4] Upstairs, Jarvis has just finished baking a batch of cookies and goes out to give one to Franklin Richards, who is playing the backyard. The automated Yellowjacket costume slips by all of these people unseen, floats over the mansion’s outer wall and enters the van parked outside. The person responsible then makes a quiet retreat with their prize.

Back inside the mansion, the Sub-Mariner reflects on his current situation. He has joined the Avengers after the people of Atlantis forced him to abdicate the throne, leaving him to wonder what the world will think once his membership on the team becomes public knowledge.[5] His thoughts are interrupted by the Invisible Woman and for a brief moment he remembers how he lusted after her many years ago.[6] He briefly considers renewing his romantic intentions when Franklin comes running in. Seeing the boy reminds Namor that their moment has long passed and he excuses himself.

In New Orleans, Frank Rambeau is leading a fire crew into a burning building to rescue anyone who might be trapped inside. Things go sideways when a support beam falls on one of the fire fighters. Luckily, Frank’s daughter Monica arrives as Captain Marvel to lend a hand. After helping the fire crews get out of the burning building, Monica heads back to the dress shop owned by her mother, Maria. She tells her mother what happened and then goes to put on a new dress Maria made for her. As she changes, Monica thinks about how the Avengers roster is ever changing and how she was about to reveal her secret identity to her teammates. However, the recent addition of the Sub-Mariner to the team has caused her to re-evaluate this plan as she is unsure she can trust the former Atlantean prince with her secret.

Back in New York City, the Wasp continues trying out her enhanced powers. While not far away, Captain America heads off to answer a strange call he received from one of his old foes, and prepares for the possibility that he is walking into a trap.[7]

Soon, the Wasp decides to head for home to show and change before her dinner date. When she arrives she finds a mysterious black van parked outside her home. Flying into the vehicle to investigate she finds the shredded remains of Hank’s Yellowjacket costume. That’s when a woman dressed like Yellowjacket comes back to the vehicle after raiding Pym’s former lab. This leads to a fight between the two women. However, this new Yellowjacket has the advantage as Janet is exhausted after testing out her new powers all day. However, the battle comes to a quick end when the new Yellowjacket tries to shrink down to insect size. She is ill prepared for the sudden change in perspective and can’t handle it and quickly surrenders. As the authorities arrive, Yellowjacket refuses to explain why she stole Hank Pym’s costume and technology. Wiped out after her ordeal, Janet turns Yellowjacket over to the cops and heads inside to get ready for her dinner date with Dane Whitman.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Wasp, Black Knight, Hercules, Captain Marvel, Sub-Mariner), Yellowjacket, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Franklin Richards, Edwin Jarvis, Frank Rambeau, Maria Rambeau

Continuity Notes

1. The evolution of the Wasp’s powers is detailed here as well as her relationship with Hank Pym:

   • Janet was first given her powers in Tales to Astonish #44. At the time she could shrink down to insect size. At that size she grew wings and antennae although the antennae eventually faded away.

   • She received a power boost in Marvel Team-Up #59-60, which enhanced her strength at insect size as well as gave her bio-stings, replacing the stinger weapon she used previously.

   • Hank Pym is referred to as Janet’s ex-husband here. The pair got married back in Avengers #60. However, their trouble marriage came to an abrupt end when Hank struck her in issue #213, and she promptly divorced her.

2. Hank Pym retired as Yellowjacket and super-heroics in Avengers #230. His costume had been stored at the mansion ever since.

3. Dane mentions how he spent a number of years in the 12th Century where he possessed the body of one of his ancestors and fought in the Crusades. This was from Defenders #4 until Avengers #226. He also mentions that the blade had a curse on it until it was removed by Doctor Strange, that happened in Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #68, however the curse will eventually return by Avengers #293.

4. Mister Fantastic is in Avengers Mansion because the Fantastic Four are staying there following the destruction of the Baxter Building in Fantastic Four #278-279. The Beyonder has been on Earth since Secret Wars II #1 and the Avengers have been trying to keep track of him since Avengers #261.

5. Namor was forced to abandon the Atlantean throne following the events of Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4. He subsequently joined the Avengers in Avengers #262.

6. For decades, Namor wandered New York suffering from amnesia after an encounter with a telepath named Destiny, as seen in Sub-Mariner #1. Years later, the Human Torch recognized him and revived his memory, prompting him to declare war on the surface world but he also found himself smitten by the Invisible Girl, as seen in Fantastic Four #4. Namor chased after Sue for years until she eventually decided to marry Reed Richards in Fantastic Four Annual #3.

7. At the time of this story, Captain America had just set up a toll-free number for people to call him and ask for assistance in Captain America #312. The phone call Captain America received was from Alex Gentry, aka the Porcupine, who has offered to sell Cap his armor. See Captain America #315.