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It was one of the most original and entertaining graphic novels of 2007. "Irredeemable Ant-Man: Low-Life Digest" collected the first six adventures of Eric O'Grady, a low-level security guard who stole a high-powered superhero costume, and then ran off to have fun with it!

Eric and his friend Chris had been ordered to watch the door outside a secret laboratory - but their jobs soon become a lot more exciting. When Chris tries on the super-powered suit, he's accidentally shrinks down to the size of an ant, and winds up trapped in an air ventilation duct. He finds his way back to Eric, only to die in an attack on their complex. In a panic, Eric puts on the shrinking suit in order to escape. But then he decides to keep it. And unfortunately, it turns out that Eric O'Grady is a very irresponsible young man...

There were a lot of talented people behind this book. It was written by Robert Kirkman, who'd already proven he could dream up dialogue and enjoyable young characters when he created the "Invincible" book for Image comics. There's some fantastic pencil work of Phil Hester with inking by Ande Parks. They give the stories a slick and modern look, with lots of metallic blues and purple shadows. Sometimes Hester even manages to cram 16 different panels onto a single page. This graphic novel collects all their work on issues 1 through 6 of Marvel's "Irredeemable Ant-Man" comic book, which ended after just 12 issues.

But the real attraction is the playful "what if" scenario that the book offers. Yes, Eric's a jerk, but his enthusiasm is genuine. When Eric sees a threatening stranger about to hit a woman, he can't resist flying to the rescue - only to discover that punching a guy with an ant-sized fist just creates a deep puncture and a lot of blood. Special agents dispatched to reclaim his special suit, but he's got an advantage with his new shrinking abilities. At one point, Eric even shrinks down to ant-size in his girlfriend's apartment, so he can surreptitiously watch her showering. "He's a pretty crappy superhero," admits the ant who narrates the introduction to each issue.

In fact, the book's tagline promises "the world's most unlikable superhero," reminding readers that the costume has fallen into the hands of ordinary young jerk. Each of the first three issues opens with Eric trying to talk his way into a date with a single woman. ("I'm not going to have sex with you," the third issue begins. "Tonight - or ever?" Eric asks...) The book ends with Eric sitting on a curb chowing down on an enormous peanut while asking himself "Where am I going to sleep tonight?" as he scans the woman in the crowd. ("Too fat. Not fat enough. Wedding ring...") Still on the lam with his special shrinking abilities, he ultimately stows away in the purse of an attractive blonde walking by.

It's only when he's in her purse that he discovers he's inadvertently hitched a ride with Ms. Marvel!

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