I was reading JB's rewind thread earlier today and I noticed many of the suggestions posted were to rewind the Marvel Universe to just prior to an unpopular event, respectively.

In that same spirit, I always thought that "Hank Pym - Wife Beater" was unfair at best, bad writing at worst and just plain dishonest. I read it when it was first published and was cautiously intrigued. The topic seemed to have come out of nowhere but abuse often does. I was hoping the story would go somewhere and a some form of dialgoue would result, both inside and outside the book. This would eventually happen for Tony Stark and his problems but, unfortunately, this was not to going to happen for Pym. I don't know if it was Jim Shooter's intention but he essentially set in motion a series of events that ruined Hank Pym.

Now, years later, the character of Hank Pym seems beyond redemption. Every once in a while, his abuse of Jan is used as a bad plot device. In the Ultimates, Mark Millar's take on the character is one of an obsequious, insecure weasel from Day 1. Hank actually doesn't hit Jan until well into the run, though. In Volume II, Hank's now a turncoat traitor, guilty of sedition and conspiracy. In the mainstream Marvel Universe, Hank has not fared much better.

And this is where I find the problem. If you want to turn a hero bad, fine. But if you want to use something as commonplace and personal as domestic abuse, then be true to your source. Most abusers were themselves abused. Most abusers are not conniving, little reprobates. Like alcoholics and other forms off mental illness, abuse can be found in all social classes, regardless of wealth, education, etc. The truly scary thing about abuse is that it can exist where you least expect it.

Peter David showed this as the source of the Hulk's rage. And PD did it effectively showing therapy sessions and the consequences of abuse to those around you. But Pym's abuse is a bad CBS Sunday Night Movie treatment with Valerie Bertinelli or Meredith Baxter Bernie. The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Anybody else miss "Tales To Astonish"?

It's unfortunate, but I doubt you can expect more than juvenile tripe at best from Marvel or DC right now. I wouldn't let it bring you down.

Pym was a wife beater before I started reading comics, so I have always known him as such.  For that I have never been able to like the character.