The Wasp featured heavily in the zombie episode of the animated What If..? series as a key part of an alternate Avengers roster. Comic fans know that Janet Van Dyne is much more integral to the history and lore of the Avengers than she has been so far in the MCU, and is one of the most important figures in the team's history.

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Nearly every incarnation of the Avengers both in Earth-616 and across the vast multiverse in Marvel Comics features some form of the Wasp. The character has been involved in both the beginning and in some cases, the literal end of the team, but she always comes back to help lead them to the next adventure.

She Named The Avengers

The Wasp flies around as Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, and Ant-Man look on in an Avengers comic.

Though the Wasp isn't a major part of the Avengers yet in the MCU, she was a founding member of the team in the comics. She also has the distinction of naming the team at the end of The Avengers #1, which debuted in 1963. Her importance to the team goes even further. She also is the one who suggests the group of heroes, including Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and her partner Ant-Man, form a team after Loki brought them together inadvertently. In the MCU, Carol Danvers Air Force call sign is the inspiration for Nick Fury naming the Avengers Initiative.

Leader Of The Avengers

Avengers from numerous eras in Marvel Comics rush into battle.

Comic fans know that the Wasp's importance to the team goes beyond her naming them. At various points, she was the leader of the team. Janet Van Dyne was the leader of some of the best Avengers rosters in the comics, including a long stint in the 1980s that began with The Avengers #217.

She is nominated as the leader by Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man after she suggests the team needs a different person at the helm. Her new perspective comes in the wake of the dissolution of her relationship with Hank Pym, whose behavior had become unacceptable. During her tenure, the team battled the Masters of Evil (twice!) and encountered the Beyonder, who kidnapped the Avengers, and almost every other Marvel hero, to participate in the Secret Wars on a distant planet.

The Lady Liberators

Marvel female heros sits around a table in a panel from a Marvel comic book.

Like many other Avengers, the Wasp has been part of other superhero teams as well. One of the most prominent was the Lady Liberators, an all-female team that came together in The Avengers #183. This powerhouse team included some of the most powerful women in the Marvel Universe, including Valkyrie, Medusa, Black Widow, and the Scarlet Witch, one of the most powerful Marvel magicians. Janet Van Dyne joined the team after a sabbatical from the Avengers that stemmed, again, from the chaotic nature of her relationship with Hank Pym.

The Bride Of Ultron

The Wasp's consciousness is transferred into Jocasta in Marvel Comics.

Comic fans know that Ultron's consciousness is based on the brain patterns of his creator, Hank Pym. When Ultron tried to create a female android named Jocasta as his companion, he used the mind of the Wasp to create his bride. The Wasp's memories and thoughts were transferred into Jocasta to make her whole in The Avengers #162. The relationship between Janet and Jocasta, who could still make an appearance in the MCU despite the death of Ultron, went very different than Hank Pym and his creation. Jocasta ended up helping Janet and turning on Ultron.

Fashion Designer

Wasp and She Hulk sit in a movie theatre and present a TV show in an Avengers comic book.

Janet Van Dyne not only named the Avengers, but she also has made many of their costumes. Her interest in fashion design has been a big part of her life outside of the team but also has found practical application with them as well. She created the Avengers costume for She-Hulk, one of her best friends in the comics.

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Janet also designs her own costumes and she has had dozens over the course of her career. She frequently changed designs in the '70s and '80s, with her MCU costume being based on one of the more modern versions in the comics.

Member Of The West Coast Avengers

The West Coast Avengers charge into battle in Marvel Comics.

The Wasp was also a major member of the West Coast Avengers, a team whose roster seems to be slowly coming together in the MCU. Alongside the U.S. Agent, Moon Knight, and others, she played a key role in their adventures after leaving the main Avengers squad.

At first, Janet continued to function as the leader of the group, as she had of the main team but eventually relinquished the role to others. She would come in and out of the group during their tenure, serving as a reserve member who could be called up when situations got out of control.

She Was Captain Marvel

Janet Van Dyne becomes Captain Marvel in Age Of Ultron comic.

Janet Van Dyne is a member of the Avengers in most of their incarnations across the multiverse. In the dystopian future of the Age Of Ultron reality, she was actually a powerful version of Captain Marvel. It's not made explicit in the comic book event what circumstances led to Janet taking on this role instead of Carol Danvers, but it's one of the many differences between this alternate reality and the main one of Earth-616. Unfortunately, she doesn't get much of a chance to show off her powers. She is killed with many other Avengers by Ultron in New York City.

Ultimate Romance With Captain America

Wasp and Captain America dance in Marvel Comics.

Another alternate version of the Wasp lived a very different life than her Earth-616 counterpart. The Janet Van Dyne of the Ultimate Comics universe of Earth-1610 was in a romantic relationship with Steve Rogers, Captain America, though it didn't last very long.

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The two made a happier couple than Janet and Hank Pym ever seemed to in the main Marvel Universe, but the fate of the Wasp was tragic in Earth-1610. She died along with many other major characters in the Ultimatum crossover event.

The Destiny War

Kang The Conqueror fights the Avengers in Marvel Comics.

The Wasp could yet become the leader of the Avengers in the MCU, if the franchise takes any cues from The Destiny War, a major 90s comic book storyline pitting the team against Kang The Conqueror. During this epic story arc, the Wasp leads a team of Avengers assembled from different timelines and realities to go into battle against Immortus, one of the most powerful Kang variants. The Wasp guides the team, which includes a version of Yellowjacket, her former husband, across numerous different timelines in the bid to save the universe.

Avengers Disassembled

Scarlet Witch raises her arm with the Avengers floating in Avengers Disassembled comic.

The Wasp is inadvertently responsible for one of the darkest episodes in Avengers history, and ultimately, that of the Marvel Universe. In the early stages of the Avengers Disassembled story arc, Janet accidentally reveals to Wanda Maximoff that she once had children.

Wanda had forgotten Billy and Tommy ever existed thanks to a spell from Agatha Harkness. The shock and grief of losing them all over again set Wanda off, leading her to lash out against the Avengers and sometime later, erase most mutants from existence in the House Of M storyline that followed.

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