The first appearance of Marvel’s Wasp, also known as Janet Van Dyne, was in “Tales to Astonish” #44, which was published in June 1963. She was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Janet Van Dyne became the first female superhero in the Marvel Universe to take on the Wasp mantle and became a founding member of the superhero team known as the Avengers.
Tales to Astonish #44 CGC 0.5 Origin & 1st Wasp
Tales to Astonish #44 is the first Appearance of Wasp — so WHO IS WASP?
The origin story of Marvel’s Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, involves a tragic event and a transformative encounter. Here’s a summary of her origin:
Janet Van Dyne was the daughter of Vernon Van Dyne, a wealthy scientist and industrialist. After her father’s death in a tragic accident, Janet sought the help of Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym, a brilliant scientist and adventurer. Dr. Pym had been experimenting with size-changing technology and had created a serum that allowed him to shrink down to the size of an insect while retaining his strength.
Janet convinced Dr. Pym to help her avenge her father’s death, and together they devised a plan. Dr. Pym designed a special suit for Janet, complete with wings and bio-electric blasters, and modified his shrinking serum for her use. Janet became the Wasp, a costumed superhero with the ability to fly, shrink, and fire bio-electric blasts.
In their first mission together, Janet and Dr. Pym confronted the villainous alien creature known as the Black Knight. They successfully defeated him, and Janet continued to operate as the Wasp alongside Dr. Pym, who had taken on the identity of Ant-Man. They soon joined forces with Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk to form the Avengers, Earth’s mightiest heroes.
Over the years, Janet Van Dyne played a vital role in the Avengers, using her size-changing abilities, flight, and energy blasts to aid her teammates and battle various supervillains. She became an integral part of the Marvel Universe and a respected superhero in her own right.
It’s worth noting that in later comic book storylines, Janet’s origin and role as the Wasp have been expanded upon and evolved, adding further depth to her character.