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Hello and welcome back to another week in Marvel Snapshot! In this week’s edition, we’ll take a look at the wild, crazy, and often confusing origin of the Vision. This character spotlight is a little difficult to follow, so try and stay with me! From his Avenging days on both coasts, to his marriage to Wanda, and then his demise (somewhat), we will cover it all! Let’s get to it!

Alright, well, first off, I know there are actually three versions of the Vision, but for today, we’re going to focus on the Roy Thomas and John Buscema version that appeared in 1968 (Avengers #57). This version was actually the creation of Ultron, and was conceived with the motive of murder in mind. Ultron wanted to kill his creator, Hank Pym, and so he created a “synthezoid.” The Vision has the brainwaves of the then presumed dead Wonder Man, and this is something that will plague him for a while. Vision initially goes after Janet van Dyne, and tries to kill her. His programming fails, though, and he eventually becomes a member of the team. Once a member of the team, he slowly becomes attracted to, then eventually marries, Wanda (Scarlet Witch). They have two children (yeah, I know, he’s a robot), and are happy for quite some time.

Vision is then put through some very hard times. Being controlled by Ultron again, getting shut down in a battle with Annihilus, and even hacked into and controlled by the government. After being dismantled, then revived, Vision is without the original brain patterns of Wonder Man, which leads to him being distant from his wife and teammates. This is all the doing of Immortus, though, and we’re then told that quite a few things in Vision’s “life” have been clouded by his machinations. The Vision is actually the body of the original Human Torch (android, built by Dr. Phineas Horton), but this was also a bit of a mystery due to Immortus and his meddling. The Vision was always a valued team member, though, but in Avengers Disassembled, Vision, who seems to have once again been hacked, releases some spheres that form into Ultron. She-Hulk then goes into a fit of rage and tears Vision to pieces. This is the beginning of an end for the Avengers, who then also see two team members die (Ant-Man, Jack of Hearts). All of this is what leads to the Scarlet Witch going crazy (House of M, M-Day).
As usual, here’s my recommended reading list and some great pics to fill your eyes with some double-Vision (sorry, I couldn’t resist). See you next week!
Recommended Reading
Avengers: Ultron Unleashed – Tpb
Avengers: Celestial Madonna – Tpb
Avengers: Kree/Skrull War – Tpb
Avengers: The Korvac Saga vol. 1 & 2 – Tpb
Avengers: Disassembled – Tpb

Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net