Antman, Wasp, and any others that shrink

[glunark]

This maybe a crappy question, but what the hell happens to the contents of their colons when they shrink?

I can buy that somehow they can shrink their own molecules, and those of their costumes, but stuff inside them that isn't part of their DNA?

[Happy-Hangman]

Well, that's one of those 'Where's the Head on the USS Enterprise?' questions, isn't it?

Presumably whatever process allows them 9that is the organic, physiological them) to shrink allso affects other forms of matter - fecal as well as non-organic material (costumes, tech, etc.). According to Marvel myth-history Pym Particles 'work by stunting matter into the Kosmos Dimension when shrinking an subject or pulling extra matter from the Kosmos Dimension when enlarging' (Marvel Database). That would apply to Wasp, Ant-Man, Giant Man (or whatever other names Hank Pym may be using, these days). With The Atom the process appears to be a controlled reactive manipulation of radiation from White Dwarf Star material, originally focused through a lens, then from material incorporated in his belt and costume, and latterly through becoming irradiated himself.

The key would seem to be, in both cases, that the processes work on all kinds of organic and non-organic matter within a specific proximity to the field of density-manipulation.


Either that or they remember to have a crap before they tool-up. I mean I would, wouldn't you? There never seems to be zipper...

[vonbloodbath]

There's a line to that effect in The Ultimates: Wasp says to G man not to eat before he shrinks...

[count_libido]

Isn't there a scene in Marvel Zombies where zombie Hulk eats loads and turns into zombie Bruce Banner and the contents of his stomach burst through his reduced in size body?

[Pie Man 70]

As HH said, in normal marvel universe the "Pym Particals" used by Hank Pym, Wasp et all shunt or draw mass from an alternate dimension. This also allows pym to grow or shrink objects, often his costume has included all sorts of get-out clauses for writers because pym can carry huge masses of equipment in one pouch.

Marvel also has a useful getout clause in costumes, Reed Richards' suit is constructed out of "unstable Molocules" Which allows it to stretch with him. Being a nice chap he's given similar outfits to anyone who needs to change shape without getting naked.

As mentioned, they did try and real-world the size changing process a bit in Ultimates, so costumes didn't change size, anyone who had grown large needed tinted lenses to protect their eyes from the larger amount of light etc

[Mr Cairo]

Originally Posted by glunark

I can buy that somehow they can shrink their own molecules, and those of their costumes, but stuff inside them that isn't part of their DNA?

Fillings and Veneers on Teeth would also cause issues ...

[Happy-Hangman]

Not really. Anything caught within the specific radiation/dimensional field of the Pym Particles or White Dwarf Star energy would, presumably, be subject to the same changes as anything organic.

Initially it was nothing to do with DNA: Pym and Palmer didn't possess super-powers, they had tech which allowed them to manipulate energy-fields to alter matter - fillings, gadgets, costumes, et al are therefore subject to the same changes as flesh and bone. As far as I'm aware (and I'm unsure of much recent Marvel mythology) Pym is still primarily a tech-based hero.

Ultimately Ray Palmer was able to alter his size and density without access to the tech, at which point he could be said to have acquired powers as a consequence of prolonged exposure to WDS radiation, manipulated through some form of muscle-memory. Presumably his clothing being within his organic energy-field allowed it to change - much like Superman's aura protects his costume (being in direct contact with his skin), but still allows his cape to get tattered.

[Pie Man 70]

I remember pym was eventually able to change his own size and the size of other things by touch due to over-exposure to pym particles, however I don't know if that's been retconned. For a while he could skrink or grow other people if he made skin contact