I think shrinking is a stupid illogical superpower (no, I have no problem with Banner Hulking out and getting huge)
Getting huge and smashing things at least seems somewhat useful to me. Being tiny and riding flying ants...I guess you could spy on people because they can't see you? I just can't make "IS REALLY TINY" a superpower in any useful sense.
Sounds like the type of character that might be useful in a group. ("Shrinker, you go in and find out what the bad guys are planning. Then we won't be surprised by what they do.") But not really a solo-type character, except maybe in the hands of someone very creative.
I understand that, at least in the comics, Ant Man has a helmet he uses to control insects. Sending a few nests of hornets after the bad guys could be a thing, if they keep the helmet for the movies.
Ant Man has a helmet he uses to control insects.
Only slightly more useful than Aquaman's powers.
I can see how shrinking would be really useful to avoid getting hit by the villains, and if their plans involve machinery with moving parts you could get tiny enough to slip inside and sabotage them from within.
Nevertheless, I can't shake the feeling that Ant-Man is the superhero you invent after you've already used up all the really good powers.
Or the cartoonist just likes drawing gigantic ants.
Of course the main reason to have Ant-Man is so you can have Janet Van Dyne.
Which they've already fucked up, so.
Nevertheless, I can't shake the feeling that Ant-Man is the superhero you invent after you've already used up all the really good powers.
That's a fair point. If someone offered me the superpower of my choice, I wouldn't pick getting tiny.
Legion of Super-Heroes excelled on this score. I offer you, Bouncing Boy and Matter-Eater Lad.