The Man In The Ant Hill

History: After inventing a shrinking serum, scientist Henry Pym tried the serum on himself. As he shrank, Pym realized that he absent-mindedly left the antidote on the window ledge, out of his reach. Running off in a panic to his yard, Pym was pursued by ants. He ran to the ant-hill to hide. Eventually, one friendly ant carried him up the wall to the serum antidote. Pym enlarged himself to normal size, then destroyed the formula.

Later recreating the shrinking serum, Henry Pym also invented a “cybernetic helmet” (which allowed him to communicate with ants), and became Ant-Man in Tales to Astonish # 35. At first using the serum in liquid form, Pym eventually made it into a gas form which he stored in canisters on his belt. Pym later invented a growth serum, using it to become Giant-Man. The shrinking and growth serums were made in capsule form at that time. He also used the name Goliath, then returned to shrinking with the identity of Yellowjacket.

Pym would later discover the existance of sub-atomic particles he named “Pym Particles”, which were the basis of his size-changing abilities.

Pym later gave the Ant Man costume and equipment to Scott Lang in Marvel Premiere #'s 47 and 48.

Height: 6 ft. (before serum), a fraction of an inch (after serum)
Demonstrated Powers: In his shrunken state, Henry Pym had no special powers, but was shown to be skilled in Judo.

Comment: A “prototype” of this story can be found in Harvey Comics' Alarming Tales #6 (November 1958) - “King of the Ants” - wherein a scientist creates a shrinking formula and has an adventure in an ant hill.

Comment: A chronologically earlier appearance by Henry Pym can be found in the story “I Created Grutan” from Tomb of Darkness # 22 (which was a retconned reprint of the story “I Made the Hulk Live” from Strange Tales # 75, redrawn and relettered to make Henry Pym into Albert Poole's lab assistant)

Comment: It is possible that Henry Pym is related to Humphrey Pym (a con-man who was running a scam to convince people that he was a time-traveller from the future, but was arrested by “time police” who believed his story and put him in a real time-machine to send him back “home” (as seen in the story “The Man From Tomorrow!” in World of Fantasy # 17.))

Dear Reader: What would you have done if you were the… Worm Man!

Comment: Stories with size-changing characters can be found that preceded Henry Pym's. These include:

1. Human Torch Comics # 2 (Fall 1940 from Timely Comics) - young Jimmy Everett ingested a shrinking formula created by Professor Schmidt and became Microman for one appearance.

2. Captain America Comics # 12 (March 1942 from Timely Comics) - Dr. Crime used a shrinking formula when he fought Captain America and Bucky.

3. Mystery Tales # 23 (Nov. 1954) - a strange street vendor can be seen selling “Shrinko”.

4. Yellow Claw # 3 - In 1957, the Yellow Claw used a device that shrank a team of assassins and turned them into The Microscopic Army.

5. Strange Tales # 78 - A spy called The Worm Man used a shrinking formula and the growth antidote (both in pill form) to steal military secrets.

6. World of Fantasy # 11 - “Prisoner of the Fantastic Fog” by Angelo Torres (reprinted in Weird Wonder Tales # 7). Dr. Jerry Morgan used his shrinking formula in gas form to shrink his brother. Dr. Morgan returned in modern times in Defenders (vol. 1) # 21 as a member of The Headmen criminal organization.

7. Roderick Kane, a man from the year 5000 A.D., travelled through time to the year 1961, where he planned to use a shrinking formula to reduce the size of Earth's population.

8. A chronologically earlier story, set during World War II, tells how a Nazi scientist used a chemical serum to reduce Roger Aubrey to a height of 12 inches. Aubrey appeared as the superhero Dyna-Mite from the supergroup The Crusaders in The Invaders (vol. 1) #'s 14 and 15.
Also during World War II, Captain America and Bucky encountered scientist Cedric Rawlings, who discovered a radiation (Z-rays) which could shrink objects and people in Tales of Suspense # 69.
Near the end of World War II, Baron Heinrich Zemo used a pair of size-changing androids (created by Arnim Zola) to battle Captain America and Bucky in Avengers (vol. 1) # 56.

9. Mutant Lucius Farnsworth (see The Man In The Beehive) had the uncanny mental ability to shrink himself and others to the size of bees.

10. The monster Googam also demonstrated the innate ability to shrink humans.

11. The witch doctor M'Gumbu used a magic spell to shrink his enemies down to a height of twelve inches in Journey Into Mystery # 61. The gypsies Sazzik the Sorcerer and Darius Zamora were also shown casting shrinking spells against their enemies.

12. Mark Coren was miniaturized by alien satellites in Tales of Suspense #1.

13. And an ancient artifact known as The Blue Glass Bottle had the supernatural ability to shrink people when they were exposed to the light passing through it.

Pym was not the first to develop a growth serum, either. Some examples of growth serums which preceded Pym's are:

1. Over a century ago, scientist Thomas Burke created a growth serum which, decades later, resulted in the creation of Sserpo in Amazing Adventures # 6.

2. In the days of the Old West, Chief Roaring Bear was given a growth serum to enhance his strength and increase his height to 8 feet in Two-Gun Kid # 65.

3. In the year 1934, Doc Savage and his crew battled criminals enlarged to monstrous size by a “human growth formula” in Doc Savage #'s 5 and 6.

4. Dr. Dill used a growth serum on the Sub-Mariner in Sub-Mariner (vol. 1) # 31 (April 1949).

5. Chemist Eric Wolton created a chemical that transformed his town into a city of giants in Journey Into Mystery # 49.

6. Biochemist Wilbur Fiske created a growth serum which turned him into a giant in Strange Tales # 70.

7. Professor Carter's growth serum was used on an ordinary ant to create Krang in Tales to Astonish # 14.

8. And a nameless scientist built a “growth ray” which created Sporr in Tales of Suspense # 11.

Comment: It may be worth noting that there is also a larger “macroverse” in which Earth is only a micro-world, as revealed in the “shock ending” of some stories; examples of these can be seen in the tales of Professor Dark in Strange Tales #76 and the drifter Brad in Journey Into Mystery #56.

…And thus begins the somewhat less-than-illustrious career of Henry Pym, second banana hero. I've read that Stan Lee wanted an insect-powered hero, so he used this appearance as a springboard for the Ant-Man ongoing series, although he apparently may also have been considering the protagonist of the “Man In the Beehive” story mentioned elsewhere on this site. He must also have wanted to do a shrinking-type hero to compete with DC's Atom. At any rate, he was apparently not satisfied with this version of the insect-hero, so he came up with Spiderman instead. Just think, if he hadn't done that, you might have been anxiously awaiting Toby Maguire as Ant-Man….nah, probably not.

I think that the good doctor might accually be my favorite superhero. Henry Pym has been an important character in the Marvel Universe for almost forty years and I think he will continue to be. I think he has the same quality as the Batman does, he's flawed. Just like reality, he has genuine problems, not unrealistic struggles with one dimentional foes. I mean sure, the means are super but the outcomes are far from it. How many other “superheros” are convicted felons? I'll tell you, not that many. Depressing. Anyways, Giant-Man rules!

To add to your list of chronologically earlier size changers, Arnim Zola per Captain America Sentinel of Liberty#12 provided size changing robots to Baron Zemo (seen in Avengers I#56.)

When I was 9 years old I bought Marvel premeire presents Ant Man-To steal an Ant Man!-It was a great story but I have never been able to read the 2nd part of the cliff hanger!
I have always felt this particular stupid little story was an overlooked stepping stone between old comic book story telling and todays very modern comic stylings—-anyone out there remember this story?—it holds a very warm(and a little moist !)place in my heart—any help would be greatly appreciated

When I was 9 years old I bought Marvel premeire presents- Ant Man-To steal an Ant Man!-It was a great story!, but I have never been able to read the 2nd part of the cliff hanger!
I have always felt this particular stupid little story was an overlooked stepping stone between old comic book story telling and todays very modern comic stylings—-anyone out there remember this story?—it holds a very warm(and a little moist !)place in my heart—any help would be greatly appreciated

This story gave us Henry Pym. In his civilian identity he once confronted Namor The SubMariner as to an off shore drilling situation. As a super hero he has been; Ant Man,
Giant Man, Goliath, and Yellow Jacket. He has been part of The Avengers and
The Defenders. This has been an interesting charactor to follow over the years.
It is interesting to note that some people credit Ant Man as the test ballon for Spider man.
Supposedly Stan Lee wanted a super hero based on an insect and Ant Man was it.
When Ant Man was not quite what Stan Lee wanted Spider Man came along later.
Allegedly Dick Ayers after working on this story attached a memo to Stan Lee suggesting
that this charactor be given further exploits.

I've been reading comics since 1959, when I was 6. Reading Marvels since Fantastic Four #6 (1962). Doctor Henry Pym, the Authentic Ant-Man, is my favorite Marvel character. Along with Peter Parker, Hank Pym is the most human and real of Marvel characters. He never hit his wife. That was a fantasy in a terrible comic written by Jim Shooter. I know Hank better than Shooter does. Hank wouldn't have done that. He's a shy person, with perfectly legitimate qualms about supero-heroics as a profession. He loves his wife, Janet Van Dyne. They are the Nick and Nora Charles of Marvel. Where Hank made his mistake was turning to Giant-Man. It was understandable, since he;'d just helped found a team, the Avengers, that included the Norse god of thunder, and Iron Man. Maybe he was 28 then. He's probably 40 now. It's time for him to realize that he got it right the first time. Giant-Man is like football—40 is old. Ant-Man is like golf—you can play it when you're 70. There should be a monthly comic starring Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne. The name of that comic should be Ant-Man and the Wasp.

It's me—Eric Heideman—again. I suspect that I'm far from the only fan who's tired of the trashing of Henry Pym by clueless writers. I say we raise hell. You with me?

Marvel's earliest shrinking character is in the text story in Marvel Mystery Comics#6(4/40)[The Shrinking Spy]with Professor Barzak and Randy Hayes.

John — where did you find that text story? Was it ever reprinted? I'd like to do a profile on the characters for the Marvel Appendix.

John “The Shrinking Spy” was Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks Golden Age Marvel Comics#2(2006)and I found it at www.comics.org/details.lasso.

The golden age foiled a nazi named Decker's plan to shrink President Roosevelt using shrinking fluid gun[Mystic Comics vol.1#6(10/41)].That same chemical could have been used to create Dyna-Mite.

youre referencing the golden age ''TERROR'' right?,i had plans for him in an aborted series concept i came up with,and would have referenced that exact story in one issue,also to eric,even though youre comment is several months old;HELL YEAH!!!!!DIGNITY TO PYM!!!

............. TURRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!!!! :: 26 November 2006

Yes I did mean Laslo Pevely's alter ego's name but the library computer won't let me say his name.

i wonder if your school computer is being taken over by the robot ELEKTRO,after all;FIN FANG FOOM returned to evil recently,maybe ELEKTRO did too,but worry not fellow golden age fan,he only has a 64k brain according to FIN FANG FOUR,still,watch out,it could also be ULTRON!!!!!!!.

............. TURRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!!! :: 29 November 2006

Another precursor to or prototype of Pym is Dr. Perry Moore, who also developed a shrinking serum, and landed into an anthill, in the story called “Trapped in the Ant Hill” in Mystic #57. Pages 1 and 3 can be seen here:

Mark Coren's shrinking effect [Tales of Suspense#1(1/59)] pre-dates the silver age Atom's shrinking effect [Showcase vol.1 #34(9-10/61).I wonder if the 1957 movie “The Incredible Shrinking Man” is the inspiration for Mark Coren.

On the cover of Strange Stories Of Suspense#15(6/57) a man is shrinking onto a microscope,”I Went Inside The Hidden World”.

STRANGE TALES#82(I think?)Has a Story called ''THE WORLD BEYOND'' about a Scientist who shrinks first His Dog(I dont think this is one of Ingrid Newkirks favorite comics),then Himself down to oblivion and past the Atom,they awake on a planet called ''Earth,that must be the name of this microscopic world''!!!!!!!!,only to find that the exact same situations on his world(his fellow scientists had thought him mad,and tried violently to prevent him from going through with the experiment),the story suggests that the scientist and ''Crackers''the dog had shrunk themselves into a micro world that was exactly the same as theirs,since they then overhear a scientist arguing with his friends that a shrinking potion could help a man reach microscopic worlds,our hero then says;''I was right! and HE is right!,but—one thought staggers me! where did it all begin?and where—WHERE does it end???''do you think this story could be tied in with marvel continuity?,Id like to know,maybe Henry Pym,This guy,Mark Coren could all meet someday,or be revealed to have met and fought Roderick Kane,Tim Boo Ba,Elias Dane at some point,it would make a great ''Lost Generation''story.

............. TURRRRRRRRRRRD THE SHRINKING THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!!! :: 19 December 2006

Does anyone know what method the Red Skull used to Shrink Captain America and Doctor Doom in Super-Villian Team-Up#10(2/77)-11(4/77)?I wonder if it could be Decker's Shrinking Fluid[Mystic Comics#6(10/41)].

Is it possible that Cap. America and Dr. Doom were shrunk by using Dr. Decker`s Shrinking Fluid. As we all know Mr. Red Skull has access to almost any type of 'Shrinking Fluid' on this planet as well as others. In this instance it was necessary to use the heavy duty type because it involved more than one super-hero. (plan 9 from outer space would have been the second choice)

To John H: I think the size-reduction of Cap and Doc Doom was the result of an energy discharge given off by something called the Rainbow Missile (based on the multi-colored aura caused by its detonation).

In STRANGE TALES#76,Hawk Gormey and his crew,including their entire(stolen)Asian Junker were shrunken into a bottle by Master Khan(not to be confused with the Iron Fist villain,though they look similar);a sorcerer, as punishment for robbing him. possibly Master Khan had met Darius Zamora or another sorcerer with shrinking powers.

Actually, it's now generally accepted—especially by Jeff Christiansen of Marvel Comics—that the Iron Fist villain and the character from STRANGE TALES #77 are most definitely one and the same!

Marvel Tales vol.1#142(1/56)3.The Man Who Shrunk. Marvel Tales vol.1#150(9/56)3.The Shrinking Man.

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