With his life on the downturn, Scott Lang finds himself at a
crossroads. After turning down an opportunity to work for Tony Stark, Scott
moves to Miami to be closer to his daughter. He starts his own business and
hopes to stay away from the superhero problems that plagued him before, but
when enemies from his past begin resurfacing it becomes clear that he will
never lead a semi-normal life.
Ant-Man Volume 1: Second-Chance
Man collects Ant-Man #1-5,
written by Nick Spencer and illustrated by Ramon Rosanas and Jordan Boyd.
Second-Chance Man is fun and
quirky, offering a more slice-of-life perspective on the world of superheroes. The
plot is straightforward and focuses on building not only a world for Ant-Man to
exist in, but to develop his character seamlessly. Spencer opts to portray Scott
as an everyman, thus emphasizing a distinct difference between him and his
Ant-Man predecessor Hank Pym. Scott is a guy who has good intentions and wants
to make a difference, but somehow things don’t always seem to work out the way
he intends them to. He’s extremely likeable and relatable to the point where
the reader is constantly rooting for him to succeed. His relationship with his
daughter is touching and it helps to ground his character, making him all the
more realistic to readers. The dialogue between he and Cassie is on point. It’s
playful, funny and energetic – much like the rest of this trade.
I do have a problem this collection’s relative inaccessibility. Spencer
relies heavily on Scott Lang’s earliest adventures as well as the continuity
built around the character. For the average person familiar with him only
through the films, they’re bound to get lost amongst the plethora of references
to his past. Everything from his death in Avengers:
Disassembled to Cassie’s super abilities get a nod, though curiously Cassie’s
adventures with the Young Avengers and the Mighty Avengers get zero mentions.
Luckily, the vast majority of the characters and storylines Spencer either
includes or builds on were collected in the trade Ant-Man: Scott Lang. Curious readers may want to give that a read
before tackling this collection.
Also in the con column is Spencer’s portrayal of Scott’s ex-wife Peggy.
I have the same issue with her that I had with Ellen Baker in Grant Morrison’s Animal Man series. She’s largely
one-dimensional and comes across as a shrew or as an obstacle for Scott to
overcome. It’s not fair to paint wives and ex-wives within this box, as it
often denies them the opportunity to be liked and understood by readers.
Ant-Man: Second Chance Man is
a breezy read that perfectly sums up Scott Lang’s character and presents it to
readers in a way that is both entertaining and relatable. Issues of
accessibility and the shrew-ification of Scott’s ex-wife, this collection has a
great cast of characters and a lot of creative action. I love the quirky
supporting cast Spencer builds for Scott, as well as the emphasis placed on
Scott’s role as a father. By the time you reach the final page of this trade,
you realize that Scott is a father first and a hero second. It’s touching and
unique. That said, don’t expect anything groundbreaking or universe-shattering in
Second-Chance Man. It’s cutesy, but
also feels a bit like filler.
RATING: B
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