Marvel Comics Ultimate Universe isn’t a redone version of Universe-1610. It’s the version that Maker (Ultimate Reed Richards) created out of past moments from Earth-Prime (Universe-616). He changed it by traveling to the past and altering historic moments to keep the heroes under his thumb. That left some protagonists never existing (Carol Danvers doesn’t become Captain Marvel) and others becoming villains (Bucky becomes Red Skull). This universe has also shown that even the best of the best can become evil.
Back in Ultimates No. 12, readers learn that there’s a traitor in their midst, and it’s none other than Janet Van Dyne, aka The Wasp. It was a shocking revelation since she’s one of the most honorable characters in Marvel Comics. However, that’s the thing about alternate realities. The characters you love aren’t the ones you know. That becomes clear in Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion No. 2, where we could be seeing the most vile version of The Wasp since she was a vampire in The Exiles: Avengers Forever.
At first, this writer thought that the Wasp was only using her status as an Ultimate to protect herself and her husband, Hank Pym (Ant-Man). However, something weird happens in Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion No. 2 that changes everything.
During the issue, Hank Pym says that Janet is his first memory (he doesn't remember anything before the brain injury). That's important, but not the most crucial part. What's key to this theory is that, during the flashback, in the doorway before the incident, there appears to be a silhouette of Janet. This can’t be a coincidence.
Considering how much everything has changed in this universe, she may be the abuser in this relationship instead of Hank. If she was tipped off that Hank would abuse her, she may have been told that she needs to ruin his intellect to save their relationship and her life. This could be why she has been patient with him. She may feel bad about destroying his life. However, it has to be acknowledged that she was also protecting herself from Hank's future attacks.
It’s easy to guess that Maker is behind this. He’s been strategic with which heroes and villains needed to be taken off the board, who should be on his side, and how to make both happen. Showing Janet a possible future was the perfect decision.
Janet may have wanted to ensure that her marriage remained happy, and the only way to do that was to bash him in the head. It’s sad, but like Pym said in the Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion No. 2, “What do we do for the people we love? Anything. We do anything.”
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