Father's Day is upon us, so now feels like the perfect time to look back and celebrate some of the best father figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ant-Man's Scott Lang, Jim Paxton and Hank Pym. Part of the charm that sets the Ant-Man franchise apart from other films in the MCU is the emphasis on smaller, personal stakes over a giant, world-ending event. And for the Ant-Man movies, nothing is more personal or important than family.
When fans first meet Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in Ant-Man, he is being released from prison after serving three years for burglary. He is quickly approached by Hank Pym to take on the mantle of Ant-Man for a mission that would utilize Scott's thieving skills to steal shrinking technology from the villainous hands of Darren Cross. The reason Scott agrees to accept the role, and the driving force of his entire character, is Scott's desire to make his young daughter, Cassie, proud. Scott's love for his daughter is really the inspiration he needed to turn his life around and become a hero.
Several times throughout Scott's appearances in the MCU, his role as Ant-Man conflicts with his role as a father. His participation on Team Cap in Captain America: Civil War first sees him locked up on The Raft, then later forced to serve a two-year house arrest sentence. Scott's desire to help save Janet Van Dyne from the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and the Wasp leads him to risk breaking his house arrest orders, facing years in prison should he be caught. For Scott, these risks are now second nature. His desire to set a good example for Cassie has led him to become more selfless, which in turn makes him an even bigger inspiration to his daughter. In Ant-Man and the Wasp, the young Cassie even asks if she can be her father's superhero partner. Scott's story started with him in prison feeling like a failure as a father for not being there for his daughter. Throughout his journey as Ant-Man, Scott discovers that it takes more than just being there to be a great father. The sacrifices he makes along the way and the selfless actions he takes are what truly make him a hero.
Scott Lang also isn't the only great father figure in Cassie's life. Her new stepfather, Jim Paxton (Bobby Cannavale), is inspiring in his own right. It would have been easy for director Peyton Reed to cast Paxton as an antagonistic figure toward Scott. Paxton being a cop who is always on the verge of exposing Scott's secret role as Ant-Man seems an obvious story choice to make, but instead Reed and Cannavale craft a much more nuanced and satisfying take on the character. Paxton genuinely wants the best for his stepdaughter Cassie, which means he actively encourages Scott to better himself to create a healthier family unit. He wants Scott to be a major part of Cassie's life but is also willing to step in and put his foot down when Scott's actions could lead to Cassie getting hurt. Across the first two Ant-Man movies, Scott and Paxton's relationship proves to foster an ideal version of a blended family unit.
Perhaps the most important father figure in the Ant-Man franchise, and the character with the most growth, is Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). When fans first meet Hank, he is still grieving the loss of his wife, Janet. His relationship with his daughter, Hope, is strained due to his fear of losing her in the same way he lost his wife. Throughout the first Ant-Man, Hank learns to let go of his grief and begins to trust his daughter to make her own decisions. This growth continues in Ant-Man and the Wasp, where he embraces Hope's role as the new Wasp and serves as a mentor to Scott.
Comic fans know the Fantastic Four to be the First Family of Marvel, but when it comes to the MCU, the extended Lang/Pym family may have them beat. So, if you're looking for a feel-good story to watch this Father's Day, it's hard to go wrong with everyone's favorite superhero dad, Ant-Man.