Ant (character)

Last updated
Ant
Ant at Image, by Mario Gully.jpg
Hannah Washington as Ant on the textless cover to Ant Vol. 2 #11 (February 2007)
Art by Mario Gully
Publication information
Publisher Arcana Studio
Image Comics
First appearance Ant #1 (February 2004)
Created by Mario Gully
In-story information
Alter egoHannah Washington
Team affiliationsOmega One
PartnershipsGadget Man
Notable aliasesAntwoman
Bug Girl
Subject 9
AbilitiesEnhanced speed, strength, reflexes, and agility
Ability to stick to walls and surfaces
Hard skin body armor
Whip-like antennae providing enhanced senses and doubling as melee weaponry

Ant (Hannah Washington) is a comic book superhero, created by Mario Gully. She first appeared in the eponymous series Ant #1 (February 2004), published by Arcana Studio.

Contents

Ant has also appeared in the Image Comics series Ant, Savage Dragon and Spawn.

Publication history

The Ant comic was published by Arcana Studio in February 2004. The creator and artist, Mario Gully, has stated that the concept of Ant was created while he was incarcerated in 1996 for attempted armed robbery. Gully says that one day he was looking through a barred cell window and a tiny ant crawled in from the outside. He later vowed to change his life and make something out of himself. He then created Ant. [1]

Vol. 1 (Arcana Studio, 2004)

Cover to Ant Vol. 1 #1 (February 2004) Art by Mario Gully Ant the superheroine, by Mario Gully.jpg
Cover to Ant Vol. 1 #1 (February 2004)
Art by Mario Gully

The first volume, published by Arcana Studio and titled "Days Like These", ran for 4 issues [2] before moving to Image Comics. [3] Gully worked with co-writer Matt Nixon in the first volume.

Plot

The original Arcana miniseries followed 8-year-old Hannah Washington, a lonely young girl continually tormented and bullied at school. Her father, apparently an accountant—and later on, a blue-collar employee—by profession, is made a suspect in an armed robbery and is taken into custody. To escape the harsh realities of her life, she writes in her diary stories of an alter-ego: an adult version of herself who is a superhero known as Ant.

Hannah appears to know more about the world than she ought to and often has the personality of an emotionally unstable young adult, and her new principal takes interest in her as a result.

She ends up unintentionally dropping her diary, and it is read and returned by her friend Stephen, who later on appears as "Gadget Man" in Ant's Cockroach battle, the events of which we are allowed to follow whenever Hannah's diary is read or written into.

Hannah's father was released from custody but eventually, his home gets raided as the authorities apparently have the evidence they need to put him away. Hannah is found foaming at the mouth, having a seizure on the floor.

The son of the man he allegedly killed pushes for the death penalty—which would normally be too severe a punishment, but due to his influence, his demands are met and Hannah's father is sentenced to death.

We then find Hannah's mother, Betty, working as a cabaret dancer of sorts, had left many years ago and she makes an unwelcome step back into Hannah's life, since Hannah's father requested her to. However, after reading her diary Betty comes to the conclusion that it was a mistake to leave.

Meanwhile, Ant is beaten by the Cockroach and loses her exoskeleton. Stephen rescues her and gives her a can which recharges her blood-sugar and her exoskeleton grows back. She then defeats the Cockroach.

Hannah finally manages to obtain information using Ant to clear her father's name—it turns out that the murdered man's son, and Betty's rich lover, was the actual culprit; but he is shot dead by the police when he is about to kill Betty, who has just discovered his guilt. Hannah's happiness at getting her parents together is short-lived, though. When told by the policewoman Inez that it is impossible for Ant to have helped Hannah as she had said Ant was who she would be in the future, she blacks out, and eventually ends up awakening in a straitjacket confined possibly in a sanitarium somewhat into her middle teens. The news of her revival brings forth a visit from her mother, who is in bereavement when informing Hannah of her father's apparent demise. This piece of info shocks Hannah. She manages to escape, leaving behind one of the cans she used to regenerate her exoskeleton in her story, which leads on to the second volume.

Vol. 2 (Image Comics, 2005–2007)

The second volume, published by Image Comics and titled "Reality Bites", featured heavy hitters such as Spawn and the Savage Dragon as co-stars, featuring an Invincible plush doll. This series ran for 11 issues. [3]

Issue #8 became infamous for a scene where a stripper removes her underwear, exposing her posterior. The creator later apologized for the scene. [4]

Plot

An adult Hannah Washington wakes up in a mental institution, where she has been told all her memories are the result of a coping mechanism described as a "juvenile power fantasy." But, little by little, her fantasies of her life as Ant become more and more real.

Vol. 3 (Big City Comics, 2008)

Ant: Unleashed is the third volume of the series, released in 2008 by Big City Comics. [5] [6] This run focuses on a more mature version of Ant. Six issues were scheduled, [7] but only the first three were published as of May 2008, later issues being cancelled without a resolution to the story. Ant subsequently appeared in the spin-off miniseries Omega One, featuring Shi.

Vol. 2 continued (Image Comics, 2021)

In 2012, Mario Gully sold Ant to Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen. Fourteen years after its previous issue was published, Ant's second volume was concluded with its 12th issue in June of 2021, written and illustrated by Larsen.

Vol. 4 (Image Comics, 2021–2022)

The fourth volume of the series was launched in November 2021 by Image Comics, written and illustrated by Erik Larsen. This series ran for 2 issues.

Powers and abilities

Ant possesses the typical enhanced speed and strength of many bug-based superheroes, but in addition she has bladed antennae which provide her with superhuman-level senses and weapon application. One of the more interesting aspects of the character is her exoskeleton, which appears to be regenerated by use of her blood-sugar. When her armor wears down, it breaks off rather quickly and she must recharge her blood-sugar in order to regenerate it. She seems to use some kind of spray-can with an ant symbol to do this.

Related Research Articles

Liberty Meadows is an American comic strip and comic book series created, written and illustrated by Frank Cho. It relates the comedic activities of the staff and denizens of the eponymous animal sanctuary/rehabilitation clinic. The comic strip launched on March 31, 1997, and ran until December 30, 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Youngblood (comics)</span> Superhero team that starred in their self-titled comic book

Youngblood is a superhero team that starred in their self-titled comic book series, created by writer/artist Rob Liefeld. The team made its debut as a backup feature in RAMM #1 before the next month appearing in the one-shot Megaton Explosion #1 before later appearing in April 1992 in its own ongoing series as the flagship publication for Image Comics and the wider Image Universe. Youngblood was originally published by Image Comics, and later by Awesome Entertainment. Upon Rob Liefeld's return to Image Comics, it was revived in 2008, 2012, and 2017. In 2019, Liefeld revealed that he has not owned the rights to Youngblood for several years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Larsen</span> Comic creator

Erik J. Larsen is an American comic book artist, writer, and publisher. He currently acts as the chief financial officer of Image Comics. He gained attention in the early 1990s with his art on Spider-Man series for Marvel Comics. In 1992 he was one of several artists who stopped working for Marvel to found Image Comics, where he launched his superhero series Savage Dragon – one of the longest running creator-owned superhero comics series – and served for several years as the company's publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savage Dragon</span> Comic book superhero

The Savage Dragon is a superhero created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon. The character first appeared as the Dragon in Graphic Fantasy #1 and first appeared as the "Savage Dragon" in Megaton #3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassie Lang</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Cassandra "Cassie" Lang is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by David Michelinie and John Byrne, the character first appeared in Marvel Premiere #47. Cassandra Lang is the daughter of the superhero Scott Lang / Ant-Man. She has also been known as Stature, Stinger, and Ant-Girl at various points in her history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devil's Due Publishing</span> Comic book publisher

Devil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publisher in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties which populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.

<i>Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers</i>

Captain Victory is a comic book originally created, written and drawn by Jack Kirby. It was first published by American comic book publisher Pacific Comics in 1981. Kirby agreed to create a comic for the fledgling publisher because Pacific promised him full creative control, and ownership of the characters.

<i>The Mighty Avengers</i> Comic book series

The Mighty Avengers is a comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics. Originally written by Brian Michael Bendis, also the writer of New Avengers, the title first featured an officially sanctioned Avengers team of registered superheroes, residing in New York City as part of the Fifty State Initiative, as opposed to the unlicensed team featured in The New Avengers. This first incarnation of the team is led by Iron Man and Ms. Marvel, with the second lineup featuring Hank Pym as the leader, and the third led by Luke Cage and Monica Rambeau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tundra Publishing</span> Defunct American comic book publishing company

Tundra Publishing was a Northampton, Massachusetts-based comic book publisher founded by Kevin Eastman in 1990. The company was founded to provide a venue for adventurous, creator-owned work by talented cartoonists and illustrators. Its publications were noted in the trade for their high production values, including glossy paper stock, full-color printing, and square binding. Tundra was one of the earlier creator-owned companies, before the formation of Image Comics and Dark Horse Comics' Legends imprint.

<i>Thor: Blood Oath</i>

Thor: Blood Oath is a 6-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in September to December 2005 and is written by Michael Avon Oeming, with art by Scott Kolins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex de Campi</span> American music video director, comics writer and columnist

Alex de Campi is a British-born American music video director, comics writer and columnist.

<i>FX</i> (comics) American limited series of superhero comic books

FX is a six-issue comic book limited series written and created by Wayne Osborne and drawn by John Byrne. It was published by IDW Publishing in 2008. Osborne, a lifelong comics fan, realized his dream by hiring Byrne, a prominent professional comics artist, to help create his own comic book title.

<i>Negative Burn</i> Black-and-white anthology comic book

Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing. Edited by Joe Pruett, Negative Burn is noted for its eclectic range of genres, mixture of established comics veterans and new talents, and promotion of creative experimentation.

Desperado Publishing is an American independent comic book publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.

Rob G is an American comics artist who has done work for DC Comics, Image Comics, and AiT/Planet Lar, and is best known for Teenagers from Mars and The Couriers.

Joe Keatinge is an American comic book writer and editor, best known for his writing work with Marvel Comics and Image Comics, and as the co-editor of Popgun with Mark Andrew Smith.

Mario Gully, also known professionally as O.M.G., is an American comic book writer-artist, who created the comic book series Ant.

<i>Ares</i> (comic book) 2006 Marvel Comics - limited series

Ares is a 2006 Marvel Comics comic book limited series starring the character of the same name is written by Michael Avon Oeming and pencilled by Travel Foreman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Sotelo</span> American comic book colorist

Beth Sotelo is an American comic book colorist working with Aspen MLT. Having started at Top Cow Productions in 2001, she has since worked at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics, two of the largest American comic publishers.

<i>Black Orchid</i> (comics) American comic book

Black Orchid is an American comic book written by Neil Gaiman with art by Dave McKean. It was published by DC Comics as a three-issue limited series from December 1988 to February 1989, and was later reprinted in trade paperback form. Black Orchid follows two girls, Flora and Suzy, who awaken in a greenhouse. Their journey to find out who they are leads them into contact with DC Universe figures like Batman and Swamp Thing, but also into conflict with criminal mastermind Lex Luthor, who seeks them for his own interests.

References

  1. ↑ Kean, Benjamin Ong Pang (July 25, 2003). "Ant-icipating the Ant". Newsarama . Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  2. ↑ Ant (2004) at the Grand Comics Database
  3. 1 2 Ant (2005) at the Grand Comics Database
  4. ↑ Kean, Benjamin Ong Pang (August 23, 2006). "Ant Extreme: Gully Apologizes". Newsarama. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
  5. ↑ Ant Unleashed at the Grand Comics Database
  6. ↑ Kean, Benjamin Ong Pang (October 4, 2007). "Mario Gully on the Return of Ant at Big City Comics". Newsarama. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  7. ↑ Ant Unleashed at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original )
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.