Avengers Inc. #5, concluding the series, elegantly ties up loose ends and hints at the potential next chapter in Janet Van Dyne and her allies’ saga. The issue also introduces a new status quo for two members of Janet’s extended family, aligning them more closely with their MCU depictions.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Avengers Inc #5.
Penned by Al Ewing, illustrated by Leonard Kirk, colored by Alex Sinclair, and lettered by Cory Petit, the issue picks up from the previous one, revealing Ultron’s apparent return in the form of Victor Shade. However, the revelation takes an unexpected turn.
Ultron had hidden his code within low-level supervillains under Hank Pym’s influence, including Victor Shade. Surprisingly, Shade is conscious of this and, in the previous issue, knocked out Hank not to harm him but to purge the Ultron code from his mind.
The complexity of the situation stems from a past event where Hank Pym’s physical form merged with Ultron’s, keeping them in the background of the Marvel Universe.
However, in the 2022 Ant-Man limited series, a younger version of Pym, aided by Scott Lang and Eric O’Grady, successfully separated Pym from Ultron, sending them back to the present-day Marvel Universe. This explains Pym’s aged appearance in Avengers Inc.
In the present-day narrative of Avengers Inc #5, Ultron’s code lurks in Pym’s neural network, utilizing the Lethal Legion to reconstruct his physical form. Victor Shade, revealed to be the heroic Ultron MK. 12, helps Pym redirect the evil Ultron’s control, putting an end to the Ultron threat.
The aging but resolute Hank Pym departs with the Lethal Legion, pledging to track down Ultron wherever he may hide. Before leaving, he shares a heartfelt moment with his daughter Nadia Van Dyne, disclosing that her mother Maria Pym named her ‘Hope’ before being taken by Russian operatives. The revelation aligns Nadia, now known as Hope, and Hank Pym more closely with their MCU counterparts.
As Avengers Inc #5 concludes, Janet Van Dyne stands alongside allies like Victor Shade, Moon Knight, Cassie Lang, Scott Lang, Nadia Van Dyne, Luke Cage, Vision, and Jane Foster.
Janet hints at the possibility of forming a new Avengers team, potentially a revamped version of the West Coast Avengers. While nothing official has been announced, the door remains open for Janet and her new team to make a return. In Janet’s words, “Watch this space.”
For more updates on the Marvel Universe, stay tuned for announcements and developments in the ever-evolving superhero landscape.
