Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)

Rita DeMara was a skilled thief and electronics expert who successfully infiltrated Avengers Mansion to steal Hank Pym’s decommissioned Yellowjacket technology. After modifying the suit to suit her own needs, she initially utilized the mantle for criminal gain, joining Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil during their brutal siege of the mansion. However, Rita lacked the cold-blooded nature of her teammates; she was frequently overwhelmed by fear and eventually defected from the group, even assisting the Avengers during the evolutionary crisis known as the Evolutionary War.

Her path to true heroism began when she was accidentally transported to the 31st century, where she encountered the original Guardians of the Galaxy. Embracing a fresh start away from her criminal reputation, she officially joined the Guardians as a stalwart defender of the future. During this era, Rita mastered the use of Pym Particles for shrinking and became a master of the suit's "disruptor" stings. She developed deep emotional bonds with the team, particularly with Vance Astro, and evolved into a confident, selfless warrior who fought against threats like the Stark and the Badoon.

Seeking to warn her former peers of a looming disaster, Rita eventually returned to the 20th century during the event known as The Crossing.

Appearance: Yellowjacket has fair skin on her exposed lower face. A tight cowl covers the top and sides of her head, featuring a wide black stripe running down the center flanked by yellow sections. Two thin black antennae rise vertically from the crown of the head. Large silver goggles with reflective oval lenses completely cover her eyes. She wears a form-fitting yellow bodysuit that clings tightly to her breasts and torso. A black stripe forms a deep "V" shape down the center of her chest, terminating in a downward-pointing arrow on her abdomen. A star-shaped badge with horizontal blue, white, and red stripes is positioned on her left breast. Large, rigid black structures resembling insect wings rise high behind her shoulders. Her arms are encased in the yellow fabric of the suit. She wears long, glossy black gloves that extend up her forearms and feature wide, flared cuffs. A pale purple belt with a small circular buckle sits low on her waist. Black briefs cover her pelvis and hips. The yellow material continues down her upper thighs. She wears tall black boots.

Personality: Rita DeMara is defined by a deep-seated reluctance to embrace villainy, even when she began her career as a thief. Unlike many of her peers in the Masters of Evil, she lacked a malicious streak, often characterized by a palpable anxiety and insecurity when faced with the violent reality of super-crime. This inherent goodness made her a permanent outsider among villains; she was a woman driven by a desire for technical challenge and self-improvement rather than a need for power. Her early days were marked by a "fake it 'til you make it" bravado that frequently crumbled into genuine concern for the lives of those caught in the crossfire.

As she matured and joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rita’s personality evolved into one of fierce loyalty and newfound self-assurance. The acceptance she found in the future allowed her to shed her criminal shame, replacing it with a dry, survivalist wit and a sharp, analytical mind. She became a woman of action who, despite her lingering self-doubt, would not hesitate to put herself in the line of fire for her teammates. Ultimately, Rita is a survivor who transitioned from a fearful opportunist into a selfless hero who valued the truth and the safety of her friends above her own life.

Rita DeMara is a talented electronics expert with a specialized skill for adapting and modifying complex technological devices. Her primary asset is the Yellowjacket suit, a sophisticated rig consisting of a helmet and costume that utilizes Pym Particle technology. Unlike the original creator, Hank Pym, who eventually learned to change size at will, Rita’s transformations are reliant on the cybernetic controls integrated into her helmet. This gear is designed to grow or shrink alongside her, maintaining its integrity throughout size shifts. While the suit's manual override can be manipulated by others in close proximity—as once demonstrated by the Wasp—it serves as the core of her tactical versatility.

The mechanics of her size alteration involve the release of Pym Particles stored within her helmet. Upon her mental command, the helmet releases these subatomic particles, which penetrate her skin and interact with her brain's electrical impulses to generate a body-wide reducing or enlarging field. When shrinking down to a minimum height of one-half inch, her physical mass is not compressed but is instead shunted into an extra-physical dimension. Conversely, when she chooses to grow, she reclaims this mass. However, Rita rarely utilizes her giant-stature capabilities, as the immense physical strain of growing significantly taxes her heart. When she does reach her maximum known size, her augmented musculature grants her the strength to lift at least 50 tons.

For offensive maneuvers, Rita’s costume is outfitted with electric "stinger" gloves that fire high-intensity disruptor stings. These electrical blasts are powerful enough to severely damage armored vehicles and neutralize superpowered opponents with concussive force. Beyond her offensive output, the suit grants her the ability of flight, likely powered by internal anti-gravity devices that allow her to maneuver effectively at both microscopic and giant scales. Although it is unknown if her modified helmet retains the original capacity to communicate with insects, her technical improvements focused on maximizing the suit’s combat efficiency and energy projection, making her a formidable combatant in any era.