Wasp (comics) - Powers and Abilities

Powers and Abilities

Making use of the cellular implantation of sub-atomic Pym particles, the Wasp possessed the power to alter her physical size, causing her body's mass to be shunted to or gained from an alternate dimension known as Kosmos. She was able to shrink to a minimum of several centimeters or grow to a maximum of several hundred feet. Smaller or larger sizes were possible but the exertion began to put a strain on her body. Initially, these abilities stemmed from use of a Pym particle gas released from special capsules, and later biochemical augmentation by Henry Pym. Over time, however, her body absorbed enough particles to cause cellular mutation due to repeated exposure to Pym particles to allow her to alter her size at will.

At miniature size, her strength level increased as her body's mass was compacted. At giant size, her strength and endurance increased geometrically with her height, reaching superhuman levels. Despite the advantages of giant size, Janet usually preferred to remain the diminutive Wasp, calling on her growth power only in times of extreme emergency.

At miniature size, the Wasp grew a pair of translucent insect wings from her back, a result of genetic modifications provided by Hank Pym. These granted her the power of flight, at speeds up to 40 mph (64 km/h).

The Wasp was able to harness and augment her body's natural bio-electric energy, releasing it from her hands in powerful electrical force bursts, which she called her "stinger blasts", "stingers", or "wasp's stings". Originally, she required special wrist devices to produce these but again, Pym particle absorption allowed her to create the ability unaided.

The Wasp's genetic modifications also granted her the ability to sprout small prehensile antennae from her temples which allowed her to telepathically communicate with and control insects. However, this was an ability she rarely used.

Van Dyne displayed several non-superhuman abilities that garnered her special fame and attention, foremost of which was her fashion sense; in nearly all of her early appearances, she sported a new costume, presumably designed and manufactured on her own as she was a gifted fashion designer. She was also a skilled amateur screenwriter. The Wasp was trained in unarmed combat by Captain America and in combat utilizing her special powers by Henry Pym. In addition, the Wasp was one of the most intuitive, if not deductive, members of the Avengers, and was an experienced leader and strategist. She effectively deduced that a chemical accident created a schizophrenic break in Henry Pym, the relationship between the Scarlet Witch and the Vision was the result of the infused personality of Wonder Man, and guessed the identity of Iron Man at a time when Tony Stark faked his own death.