Sometimes being a hero gives you free rein to be a jerk

[John Moret]

I had discussed something similar back in the day on the CBG forum but something brought the idea back to mind. I was just looking over Essential Avengers vol. 4 and there is the story originally presented in Avengers # 87, "Look Homeward, Avenger !" During the opening of the story, dear ol' Edwin Jarvis shows up with refreshments and at this point in time Clint Barton is Goliath. In the scene, he is at full height and Jarvis is serving him a large cup (practically a bucket size) of what I will assume is coffee.

A couple of days ago, I was re-reading the Busiek/Perez reboot and at that point, Hank Pym is the resident giant and Jarvis trots out with the fine china including another giant sized cup o' joe.

So, poor old Jarvis has to brew up at least another full pot of coffee in both these cases because Clint and Hank don't want to shrink down to their normal height. If it had been at a point where either had been stuck at that height like Hank was a bit before issue # 50 of the original run (and when I am guessing the huge cups had been purchased) that would have been an out but this is just being a jerk.

 

Anyone have any other examples to share? (And yes, I have seen the superdickery website)

[Rich Steeves]

Not to nitpick, but how do we know that Hank/Clint didn't just give Eddie Jarv a handy dose of Pym Particles to zap the regular sized coffee with?

[Commander Benson]

It also, obliquely, raises the question that I have always pondered:  whenever we saw a Giant-Man/Goliath attending a routine meeting or casual confab at the Avengers Mansion, he was usually at giant height.  Why?  There was no impending need.  Particularly, if it was a routine business meeting, or if the members were just socialising before or after an adventure.

 

Certainly, one can find some instances when Pym or Barton was at normal height during these occasions, but they are far in the minority.  (And, naturally, I'm not counting the brief period when Hank was stuck at ten feet.)  It would seem to me that, during the downtime in the mansion, it would be logistically easier for Giant-Man/Goliath to move around (door frames and such), or to lounge (furniture size), or as you point out, Mr. Moret, to consume food and drink, at normal height.   And we won't even go into bathroom considerations.

[John Moret]

Although it wasn't Hank or Clint, another Goliath, Erik Josten (later Atlas of the Thunderbolts) was mentioned on wrecking havok on the plumbing during his incarceration at the West Coast Avengers compound in an Iron Man Annual (or maybe an issue of the regular series) when he refused to shrink down (but he was a villain, so you expect HIM to be a jerk about it) ;)

[Philip Portelli]

You could also mention the Hulk running around in those little purple trunks!

The Human Torch using his powers inside for fun and games.

Remember all the equipment the Avengers installed so Ant-Man could be seen and heard and then he quickly becomes Giant-Man! Also Henry Pym has said before that growing giant-size took a toll on his body, so why all the unnecessary risk?

[John Moret]

Well, I wouldn't hold the Hulk's choice of wardrobe against him, HOWEVER, speaking of the Human Torch. I mentioned that I had started a similar discussion to this on CBG, back then I mentioned about how the FF was visiting Whisper Hill (where at the best of times you'll find it hard to get a good night's sleep) and middle of the night, Johnny is having a hard time sleeping, sees Agatha Harkness' crystal ball showing him Crystal (ironic isn't really the right term here but I am not an English major) so he decides to fly off and, of course, middle of the night with everyone sound asleep, he decides to use his battle cry at the top of his lungs, "Flame on!" Maybe it is just me, but at like midnight, 1 or 2 A.M. I think you can forgo the shouting. He even managed to disrupt Ben's sleeping.

 

Anyways, I just started this topic for a bit of a giggle so I hope I am not offending anyone or rubbing them the wrong way with my comments and thoughts.

[Craig Boldman]

I was just browsing a Hawkman trade where Ray Palmer refrains from having a cocktail for dinner because he's expecting to do work as the Atom later, and the shrinking process would cause his alcohol level to rise to 90% or some such thing. So maybe it's Jarvis who's being the jerk here, and he figures that when Clint/Hank shrink down to normal size, the bucket of coffee he serves them will squirt out their ears.

[Dagwan]

Craig Boldman said:

So maybe it's Jarvis who's being the jerk here, and he figures that when Clint/Hank shrink down to normal size, the bucket of coffee he serves them will squirt out their ears.

LOL!

I always just chalked it up to artistic license. Who wants to look at a panel of heroes standing around, and the one who's named "Giant Man" is not a giant. "When I'm 25 feet tall, call me Giant Man. When I'm really small call me Ant Man. When I'm normal sized, call me Average Height Man."

 

And John, we could all use a bit of a giggle now and then!

 

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[George]

I imagine the giant cups o' joe were there because Frank Giacoia (the artist) thought it was a cool visual, and the writer (Roy Thomas) and editor (Stan Lee) agreed.

 

I always wondered about those desks the Kingpin smashes in half with his fist in virtually every Romita Spider-Man he appeared in. He must have had a storage room full of 'em.