Nadia’s having bipolar disorder is something Whitley discussed with his editor, Alanna Smith, early on. In doing his research, Whitley said in a telephone interview, he learned that bipolar disorder can be passed along genetically. “I thought it made sense that she would most likely deal with it at some point,” he added.

Image In Issue No. 4, the heroine experiences a manic episode. In this panel, as she tinkers with a walkie-talkie, she cannot remember if she was taking it apart or assembling it. Credit... Gurihiru/Marvel

In the January issue, Nadia was shown running on fumes, refusing to sleep or eat until her work was done. She also lashed out against her friends.

The confrontation continues in the new issue as Nadia retreats into her miniature laboratory. In that subatomic environment, where time moves more quickly, Nadia goes into a depressive phase. One of her friends follows her, and the two have a powerful moment (better experienced than spoiled here).

Whitley said he heard from family members of people with bipolar disorder who recognized the manic behavior in the previous issue. They “could see what was happening before anyone said anything,” he said.

His goal, he said, was to make sure the condition was treated respectfully, and he consulted with psychologists on the subject. He said he “also wanted to reflect the reality of the situation: Bipolar disorder is not something you can cure,” though medicine and therapy can help. He hopes that coping with the disorder remains an important part of the Wasp’s character, but not her entire being: “For real people, there’s so much more to their lives and personalities than this one thing.”