| Yellowjacket | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #59 (December 1968) |
| Created by | Roy Thomas John Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Hank Pym Rita DeMara Darren Cross |
| Abilities |
|
Yellowjacket is an alias utilized by several fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym is the first major character to take on the Yellowjacket codename as ananti-hero after having several other superhero identities, such asAnt-Man,Giant-Man andGoliath.[1] The character has been associated with several superhero teams in the Marvel Universe, including theAvengers and theDefenders.
| Yellowjacket | |
|---|---|
 Rita DeMara as Yellowjacket. Art by Kevin West. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers # 264 (February 1986) |
| Created by | Roger Stern John Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Rita DeMara |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Guardians of the Galaxy Masters of Evil Femizons Avengers |
| Abilities | Cybernetics expert Suit grants: High-speed flight Size manipulation Electrical bolt projection via stinger blasts |
Rita DeMara is the second major character to use the Yellowjacket codename who is initially a reluctantsupervillain and latersuperhero.
The character first appeared inThe Avengers #264 (February 1986), and was created byRoger Stern andJohn Buscema.[2] Years later, she was featured as a regular character in theGuardians of the Galaxy andAvengers titles.Guardians of the Galaxy writer/artistJim Valentino reminisced, "It was my group's first foray into the 20th Century. I knew they were going to meet theMasters of Evil... She was a member of the Masters of Evil at the time and I liked her. I thought it would be nice to have someone see the 31st Century through present-day eyes. It would give a new perspective, so I asked if I could have her. They said yes, and even though I never got the chance to write her in, they put her in the group after I was gone."[3] Yellowjacket was one of the feature characters in the 2011 three-issue limited seriesChaos War: Dead Avengers.
Rita DeMara was a reluctant supervillainess who had stolen one of Hank Pym's Yellowjacket costumes, which she modified to make more feminine (and removing the insect emblem). But when she clashed with theWasp, she became terrified upon shrinking and was captured.[4]
Yellowjacket participates in a takeover of the Avengers Mansion, assisting one of the more powerful versions of theMasters of Evil as a professional criminal.[5] Yellowjacket is defeated and sent to prison, but she is freed by theFixer with amorous intentions. She flees and tries to gain revenge on the Wasp, but she is distracted by theBlack Knight. Furious at being rejected, the Fixer tries to kill her. The Black Knight helps Yellowjacket defeat the Fixer and the two part on possibly romantic terms.[6]
During a time when no Avengers were active, her Yellowjacket costume receives a call for help from an automated system at an old base of the Avengers. She finds herself teaming up with theBeast,The Captain, theFalcon,Hercules, theHulk andJocasta. They battle theHigh Evolutionary wishing to jumpstart humanity's evolution through worldwide catastrophe. Yellowjacket helps battle through the High Evolutionary's underground submarine base, fighting against dozens of his soldiers. The High Evolutionary is eventually defeated by Hercules, and the two evolving out of reality.[7] She later briefly serves as a member ofSuperia'sFemizons.[8]
Her second affiliation with the Masters of Evil begins and ends during theInfinity War. Her team, led byDoctor Octopus, confronts theGuardians of the Galaxy inside the Avengers Mansion as the Masters of Evil had wished to take it over. Yellowjacket is soon betrayed by her side. Moments later, both teams are overwhelmed by waves of evil aliens. These aliens were impersonating all the super-powered beings involved. Each double wishes to take over the relevant body. Despite many aliens being slain, more show up.[9] Both groups work together to stay alive. Events in theInfinity War series stop the flow of aliens. Doctor Octopus desires to continue the fight, the group turn against, not wanting to hurt those who had helped them. Yellowjacket is left behind and joined the other group.[10]
Yellowjacket went to the 31st century with Guardians of the Galaxy. She further proves her worth when she saved the life ofCharlie-27 by shrinking, flying inside his throat, and performing "surgery" on a massiveblood clot with her stings. She forms a close friendship withNikki. She later uses 31st century technology to redesign her Yellowjacket costume to look less like Pym's design (as she even found a way to fly without installing wings on her Yellowjacket costume).[11]
She used her powers as a valued member of the team, until, homesick, she attempts to return to the 20th century. On the way, she stops in the near future and learns that a disaster was about to happen to the Avengers in her target time. On her return to the present, she confrontsIron Man under the control ofImmortus, a powerful time-traveling being in the guise ofKang the Conqueror. Iron Man kills Yellowjacket.[12]
During theChaos War storyline, Yellowjacket is among the dead people released byPluto to defend the Underworld fromAmatsu-Mikaboshi.[13] Yellowjacket joins with the other resurrected Avengers as they fight theGrim Reaper andNekra.[14] Yellowjacket, theSwordsman, andDeathcry are given a second chance to live when the three survive the Grim Reaper's attacks.[15] It is unknown if Yellowjacket was resurrected after the Chaos King's defeat.
Criti Noll is aSkrull who impersonated Hank Pym / Yellowjacket during theSecret Invasion storyline.[16]
Darren Cross is the third major character to use the Yellowjacket codename, thanks toEgghead, as a supervillain.[17]
The Darren Cross incarnation of Yellowjacket appears inLego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, voiced byTravis Willingham.[21][20]
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