Astonishing Ant-Man #1

East Nowhere, Nebraska, 1985

Walking home from school, with my first trophy ever. For winning the fourth grade science fair. Not even a black eye can take away this smile. Even though it hurts to keep it open. Yeah, the other kids didn't take my win that well. Dad's gonna be really mad though. Assuming he's even awake.

 

I make my way up the driveway, and up the steps of the porch. I open the door, shortly after.

 

"Dad!! Look at wh- ---- " I cheer, entering the front door, but he just looks up at me, with anger in his eyes. There's a bottle of something, in his hand. Whether it was beer, whiskey, vodka, or rum, I couldn't tell.

 

"Henry! What the hell happened to you?" he yells.

 

"Huh? Oh, that's nothing dad. I uh just tripped. Did you see? I won!" I reply, trying to change the subject at the last moment. Mom's about to speak up, but dad interrupts her before she gets even a word in.

 

"Tripped? You expect me to believe that?! For a 'smart kid', you sure can't think of an excuse to save your life." He mocks, slurring his words throughout.

 

"Alright Brad, that's enough." Mom shoots him a glare, but dad keeps going.

 

"No, Doris, it's not. The kid needs to stop letting the other kids beat the tar out of him. He's always too busy thinking of his next invention, instead of focusing on what's in front of him." I cover my ears, and head to my room.

 

"What a surprise! Henry runs to his bedroom like the coward he is. " This causes my mom to fight back, which she often was too scared to do. "Now that's enough outta you! "

 

I can't help but cry, as I'm sitting on my bed, with my parents fighting once again. This isn't the first time, and it won't be the last. Covering my ears did nothing to stop my father's voice from entering the room, full of hatred and vitriol.

 

A minute later, my grandma enters the room, with a bag of frozen peas in her hand. I just nod, as she sits down beside me.

 

"You okay kiddo?" She asks, handing me the bag. I only shake my head in response.

 

"I just want them to be proud of me for once.." I place the bag on my eye, hoping to ease the throbbing pain. Grandma places her hand on my shoulder, and continues talking.

 

"I have no doubts that they are proud of you Henry. They both love you very much. It's just harder for your dad to show it." She says with a sigh, before continuing "Your dad, is rather stubborn. It's either his way or the highway. Been that way ever since he was your age, unfortunately. Always for the practicality of something, over creativity and imagination. But your dad doesn't always know what's best for you. Especially when he's drinking."

 

"As for what I think... I think you're a brilliant young boy, who can do anything he sets his mind to. I believe great things are in store for you Henry, and that you will change the world for the better, in your own little way. I will always be there, cheering you on. I love you, forever and always. Now let's see this trophy you won!" She says with a smile.

 

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Unfortunately, it would only be a few weeks later, that my grandma, Angela Pym, would pass away, from a heart attack. I was at school at the time of her passing, so I never had the chance to say goodbye. Which I still regret, to this day. But her words would always stay with me. I would stay true to myself, and not give up on my quirky inventions.

 

Mom would get a divorce soon after, taking me with her. We'd move, and she'd get multiple jobs to pay for the rest of my schooling. Haven't seen my dad since the move and everyone's better for it. The rest of my school years would pass fairly quickly, with me graduating from high school. After highschool came years of studying at Grayburn College, specifically in biochemistry. But much like my father, the professor's there discouraged the use of my imagination. They tried telling me I wouldn't make anything that would impact the world. I remember telling myself then, that I would prove them all wrong.

 

It was also during this time, that I would meet Maria Trovaya. The love of my life. There was instant chemistry, and it wasn't long before we started dating. Every now and then I did struggle, as I prioritized my schooling over our relationship, which led to our fair share of fights. Every relationship has its ups and downs. We would power through each hurdle, becoming better people for it. After years of dating, we'd get married, and go to Hungary for our honeymoon. Even me spouting off facts about butterfly genomes didn't scare her away, which is very surprising. We were happy. Of course, that happiness didn't last. Seems to be a recurring theme in my life. I'd come back to our hotel room, to find Maria's dead body. Blood was everywhere, and there was nothing I could do. She was gone, just like that. Once again, someone I truly cared about, died, and I did nothing to stop it. Why would this keep happening to me? That night would haunt me for years to come.

 

I would pour myself into my work, looking for anything I could. Unfortunately that wouldn't stop me from having nightmares every night. But I kept searching for something that could save others nonetheless. I would not let what happened to Maria to happen to anyone else. Vernon Van Dyne, a scientist who gave a guest lecture at my college once, reached out, wanting me to join his company, Biotek. Biotek at the time was just a start up company. But Vernon was a world-renowned scientist, and he was asking me, to join his team. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so it was a no brainer. After college, I would accept his offer, and join Biotek.

 

It was at Biotek where I would meet, and strike up a friendship with Elihas Starr. Another scientist on Vernon's team. Though others at the company would often mock Elihas, giving him the nickname "Egghead", due to the 'strange' shape of his head. Elihas would act as though none of that got to him, but I could tell that it did. I would stand up for him on a several occasions, which only strengthened our friendship. Did they really have nothing better to do? Apparently not. Elihas had his quirks, sure. But he's a brilliant scientist, and he cares. He cares so much about his family, that he often works late, and overtime, just to make sure his wife Catherine, and his daughter Ava, are taken care of.

 

Getting back to the matter at hand however. Me and Elihas, would work on various projects together under Vernon's leadership, but none were as groundbreaking as the Pym Particles. Don't look at me, I didn't choose the name.. Or maybe I did. But I realized the potential of these subatomic particles faster than Elihas did. He said it was too risky. However, being able to shrink to the size of an ant was too fascinating of an idea to me, so I went through with the experiments. The applications of this, if it works? Limitless! Sure enough, it worked, and I became the size of an ant. Looks like I'll prove everyone wrong after all. Hank Pym will change the world with these Pym Particles, and make sure no one faces the same injustice that Maria did.

Done