Well, from that page(thanks for posting it by the way) it seems he's not even doing something that's personal.  I always thought that a slap was relatively acceptable in years past in terms of men vs. women.  It seems like it's been shown in movies and t.v. shows for years. 

I'm not condoning doing such a thing but to say that Hank is a wife beater from what happened on that page is a bit of stretch.  Also, isn't she a super hero?  She's not the same as a normal woman in that regard and his backhand slap, when she's trying to restrain him, seems relatively understandable between two people who make a living fighting crime and solving situations with their fists.

Now, the Ultimates version of the same situation was much more graphic and obviously spousal abuse.  Of course, I don't even know what's "real" anymore in Marvel comics.  It's basically an elseworlds/what if? universe so does it even count in respect to the "real" Hank Pym?

This is an example of a story incident that Marvel's editorial offices should have stated, "This incident will never again be referenced by our publications."  Once Hank Pym reached a "redemption" point when he could be an ongoing heroic character again there was no positive good to ever refer to this story.

Also, I never read the Crossing story, but I'm sure I heard someone say that in it was revealed that Kang had tried to mind control Pym, and his instability around this time was the result of him fighting it off.  I know this also lead to Kang actually mind controlling Tony Stark, but once I heard that I thought it pretty much excused Hank because he was clearly not responsible for his own actions AND it showed considerable willpower.  If anything is ever referenced from the Crossing, it should be that.

Judging from that page, I don't think spousal abuse was even intended to be an issue.  It was just an unfortunate, reflexive act by a highly stressed individual.  It looked like it was to get her away from him, not to purposesly give her a shiner - though I think it would have been better if it were depicted as a pushing away than a backhanded slap; that would have served the writer's point equally well.  Still, it does not justify giving the character an indelible black mark.

I'm inclined to agree with Paulo.  At the time, that one panel slap might not have been seen as wife beating.  It was only after the fact that it was realized this was very bad.

Still, I think Robert has a point overall - Hank Pym should not have been written that way to begin with.  If it appeared that Hank Pym was lost in the limelight of his glamorous spouse, it would have been better to give him some sort of big success to compensate.

However, mistakes always made.  Once they exist, there are two possible solutions: keep dredging it up in an attempt to "correct" it, or simply pretend it never happens and hope their is consensus among readers to forget it as well.  Unfortunately, the first option is almost always chosen.

QUOTE: Still, I think Robert has a point overall - Hank Pym should not have been written that way to begin with.

I agree.  All the things detailed in Emery's post seem like a harsh thing to do to a hero character, especially a charter member of the Avengers.

QUOTE: However, mistakes always made.  Once they exist, there are two possible solutions: keep dredging it up in an attempt to "correct" it, or simply pretend it never happens and hope their is consensus among readers to forget it as well.  Unfortunately, the first option is almost always chosen.

I don't know if anyone is attempting to correct the problem.  It seems the attempt is to more make the mark even more indelible and paint Hank Pym as the black sheep of the superhero world.  The thinking seems to be "This guy has sunk pretty low; let's keep him there.  No one will care."