Thank you to Titan Books for sending a copy of Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie in exchange for an honest review.
Our next Marvel Cinematic Universe art book is Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie. Originally released in 2015 alongside the movie, Titan Books is re-releasing the art books for each movie in The Infinity Saga in a uniform reprinting. In Ant-Man, it’s necessary to adopt a laser focus for shots of the shrinking hero in action. However, it is disappointing that the art book opted for such a narrow focus, as well.
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie
After the epic scale of May 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, the next MCU movie scaled back — in more ways than one. Released in June 2015, Ant-Man is a more personal story told from the perspective of a street-level ex-con hero who shrinks.
But Ant-Man’s journey to the screen was more complicated than the story related in Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie. Way back in 2006, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead; Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) was hired to direct the movie and co-write its script with Joe Cornish. Over the next decade, Wright, Kevin Feige and even Stan Lee continued to confirm that the movie was still happening. In 2012, the year The Avengers arrived in theaters, footage from Wright’s Ant-Man was screened at San Diego Comic-Con.
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Wright was still in the director’s seat as the majority of the movie’s cast was announced, including Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas and even Michael Peña. However, in May 2014, Marvel and Wright announced Wright was departing from the project over “creative differences.” Peyton Reed subsequently took over directorial duties in June 2014. At the time, Feige commented that much of the movie would still be based on Wright’s version of the story.
However, Wright isn’t even mentioned in Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie, nor is the long road the movie had getting from there to here. Considering the highly publicized nature of the movie’s pre-production, this felt like a glaring oversight to me. Even a brief acknowledgment would have been better than nothing.
(Actual Size)
Unfortunately, Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie has other omissions, as well. But first, let’s talk about what is in the book. There are many, many possible costume designs for Ant-Man, Yellowjacket and the Wasp. Many pages are devoted to the various species of ants that appear in the movie. There is a decent amount of set and setting design, especially Hank Pym’s home and professional labs.
In addition, there are action sequence storyboards. Rounding out the included content are many two-page “keyframe” paintings. These most frequently depict Ant-Man in the “macro world,” often alongside his ant compatriots. A fair few of them are not scenes that appear in the movie. Instead, they are art pieces done to hash out the movie’s look and feel. The final chapter focuses on the promotional poster that debuted at San Diego Comic-Con 2014.
So, what isn’t in the book (aside from any mention of Wright)? There is no art depicting members of the supporting cast. This seems like an especially egregious omission when it comes to Peña’s scene-stealing turn as Luis, FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) or young Cassie Lang (Abby Ryder Fortson) and her weird, ugly stuffed animal. Luis’ van doesn’t get any attention, either. And the surprise cameo by Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)? Forget about it.
While the final chapter isn’t called “marketing” this time, it’s still disappointing to see that only the 2014 SDCC poster is highlighted there. Ant-Man’s marketing was very clever, with an especially memorable poster that depicted Ant-Man in his shrunken “actual size.” Promotional material so clever deserved to be included.
Available in April 2025
Of all the titles I’ve reviewed in the Titan Books re-release of the Infinity Saga art books, Ant-Man may feel the most incomplete. As I’ve stated before, I understand that these books were originally released contemporaneously with the movies. Thus, they are obliged to avoid spoilers.
But some of the titles have navigated the fine line between omission and spoilers well. However, Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie veers much too far into “omission” territory. Perhaps this is related to Reed replacing Wright just a year before the movie’s release.
That said, there is still plenty of material in the book to make MCU fans happy. It’s very interesting to see how much effort went into making a hero who evoked skepticism in the uninitiated MCU-ready. As with many initial character designs, it’s fun to see some of the wild possibilities that might have appeared on screen. This is especially true now that the final designs have become so familiar to fans.
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie was written by Jacob Johnston. It includes a foreword by Reed and a book design by Jeff Powell. The dust jacket art is by Andy Park. And the work of dozens of talented artists appears inside. Will you pick up a copy when it arrives in April?
Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga – Ant-Man: The Art of the Movie arrives at a local bookstore and/or public library near you on April 15, 2025.
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