Mighty Avengers 17 - More Hank Pym

Despite the cover Marvel is displaying on their website, this comic has absolutely nothing to do with Ares and everything to do with Hank Pym again. I don't understand why Marvel is putting such a focus on him throughout this Skrull storyline, but I have a feeling he's going to play a very big part in ending it.

The story opens with Hank and Dum Dum Dugan talking in a diner. After a few minutes, we understand it's really the Skrull replacements of both, but Hank Skrull wants to call off the invasion. He doesn't think they stand a chance of winning, and there's a quick mention of Thor returning. An interesting statement is made here: "You've got half the brain of Hank Pym, and you're losing to it." So the Skrulls aren't just imitating these guys, but they've got part of their brain too? Marvel still hasn't given us the reason why the Invasion is working so well this time, but this may have something to do with it.

After a conversation, the Hank Skrull rebels and tries to stop the Skrull team himself. It's very cool to actually see Hank Pym in action as Giant Man and as Yellowjacket in the same book, especially since we haven't really seen him as much more than a scientist in years (with the exception of one quick stint as Ant-Man in Mighty Avengers 5). Of course, this isn't really Hank, but still...

Marvel's ploy of making every issue of Mighty Avengers and New Avengers some sort of backstory dump is really starting to wear thin here. If not for the fact that I believe this issue is trying to foreshadow Hank Pym's upcoming importance in the story, I'd say this was just filler. As it stands, I believe Marvel is setting the stage for Hank Pym to save the day at the cost of his own life. It makes sense. If you look at the upcoming library of Avengers titles shipping after Secret Invasion #8, they all make mention of a "death that shakes them to the core" and such. He's a core member of the Avengers, so why not? For now, this is just my theory, but I feel pretty strong about it.

Unless you're a Hank Pym fan, I'd skip this issue. Fortunately we only have about two more months of backstory to go before Marvel brings the Avengers titles back to the present.