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The Vision is the name of three fictional comic-book characters in the Marvel Comics universe.

The first was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (Nov. 1940), published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the 1930s-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.

The second and most longstanding is an android (referred to as a "synthezoid" in the comics) who was a member of the superhero team the Avengers. He was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema in The Avengers #57 (Oct. 1968).

This Vision appeared to be destroyed in The Avengers vol. 3, #500 (Sept. 2004). A new Vision, adapted from the original by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung, was introduced in the series Young Avengers.

Golden Age

During the 1940s, Marvel predecessor Timely Comics published an unrelated superhero called the Vision, who was an alien from an alternate dimension.

Silver Age

Publication history

The Vision was created by writer Roy Thomas and penciller John Buscema, and first appeared in the superhero-team series The Avengers #57 (Oct. 1968). He became a member of the team and appeared on a semi-regular basis until #500 (Sept. 2004), when the character was presumably destroyed.

The Vision starred with fellow Avenger and wife the Scarlet Witch in the limited series Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1-4 (Nov. 1982 - Feb. 1983), by writer Bill Mantlo and penciller Rick Leonardi. This was followed by vol. 2, #1-12 (Oct. 1985 - Sept. 1986), written by Steve Englehart and penciled by Richard Howell. A decade later, the Vision appeared in a solo limited series, Vision vol. 1, #1-4 (Nov. 1994 - Feb. 1995), by writer Bob Harras and penciller Manny Clark. Nearly a decade after that came a four-issue second volume (Oct. 2002 - Jan. 2003), written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis.

Fictional character biography

The robot Ultron is the creator of the Vision, a type of android he calls a "synthezoid", for use against Ultron's own creator, Dr. Henry Pym (Ant-Man/Giant Man/Goliath/Yellowjacket) and Pym's wife, Janet van Dyne (the Wasp) of the superhero team The Avengers. The Wasp is the first to encounter the synthezoid, and describes it as a "vision" while trying to escape. The Vision is convinced by the Avengers to turn against Ultron and becomes a member of the team. The Vision becomes a core member of the team for many years, and eventually forms a relationship with the Scarlet Witch, who he later marries. The pair have twin sons, but suffer a personal setback when it is revealed that their children are in fact two missing shards of the soul of the demonic entity Mephisto. This drives the Scarlet Witch insane, and while eventually recovering she and the Vision separate.

Aside from the Vision's partnership with the Scarlet Witch, he has been involved in four significant events that have impacted on the Avengers. The first was the belief that the Vision's body has been created from that of the original Human Torch, but this is later proved to be false when the Human Torch returns. On one occasion, however, the time lord Immortus uses the power of the Forever Crystal to split the original Human Torch into two separate entities:one remains the original Torch while the other is rebuilt as the Vision by Ultron.

The second event begins when the Vision attempts to penetrate a null-field erected by the villain Annihilus, and simply "shuts down". Some weeks later, the Vision regains consciousness but is still paralysed. Assuming a holographic form and able to take control of computer technology to assist the Avengers, the Vision eventually regains control of his body, but has been "unbalanced" by the incident and attempts to take control of the world's computers. With the aid of the Avengers, the Vision is restored to his normal self, but is now being closely monitored by the governments of the world.

The third event occurs some months later when the Vision is abducted by a coalition of the world governments and dismantled to ensure that he is no longer a threat. Although rebuilt, a now conscious Wonder Man refuses to have his brain patterns used again as on the first instance it was done without his consent. Due to the this and extensive damage to the Vision's synthetic skin, he is recreated as a colourless, emotionless synthezoid. The Vision eventually regains his emotions by adopting the brain patterns of the deceased scientist Alex Lipton, and gains a new body that resembles his original. Simon Williams's brain patterns also gradually reemerge and meld with Lipton's patterns, fully restoring the Vision.

Shortly after a reformation of the Avengers, the Vision sustains massive damage in the final battle with the sorceress Morgan Le Fey, but is eventually rebuilt and recovers.

The fourth and final event is orchestrated by the Scarlet Witch. Driven insane once more over the thought of her lost children, she uses her magic to rewrite reality, causing the Vision to crash an Avengers quinjet into their mansion. The Vision then emerges from the rubble and regurgitates five spheres - an act that shuts him down - that become versions of Ultron and attack the Avengers. Although the Avengers defeat the robots, She-Hulk becomes enraged and shreds the Vision's corpse. The Avengers later speculate that Ultron may have put a command in the Vision that would have been activated by the Avengers' Code White alert. It is unknown as to whether Wanda's magic or Ultron's command was responsible.

Powers and abilities

The earliest stories describe the Vision as, although artificial, physically identical to a human being in every other respect. As explained in his debut, "He's every inch a human being — except that all his body organs are constructed of synthetic materials". This changes when a near-microscopic Ant-Man travels inside the Vision's body to conduct repairs, and sees synthetic organs that have little in common with those of a human being.

The modern Vision is powered by solar energy absorbed via a gem on his forehead. In addition to his ability to discharge this energy via high-intensity solar-powered optic blasts, the Vision possesses the ability to manipulate his mass and density, which at its lowest allows flight and intangibility and at its highest provides superhuman strength and diamond-hard durability. On one occasion the Vision uses this extreme durability to render unconscious the villain Count Nefaria. The Vision often uses his ability to alter his density against foes, by phasing an intangible hand through them and then partially rematerializing it - a process he describes as "physical disruption." This effect typically causes great pain and results in incapacitation, as is the case when used against the Earth-712 version of the hero Hyperion. The Vision is also capable of self-repair and of interfacing with other technology.

Modern Age

Publication history

The series Young Avengers, which ran 12 issues cover-dated April 2005 to August 2006, introduced a new Vision, who is a combination of the synthezoid Vision and the armor of the hero Iron Lad.

Fictional character biography

The newest incarnation of the Vision is in fact a fusion of the old Vision's operating systems and armor of adventurer Iron Lad. On arriving in the present, Iron Lad finds the Vision's mangled remains and downloads the operating system into his armor. With this information, Iron Lad is able to access plans the Vision had created in case the Avengers were ever rendered inactive and uses these plans to assemble a new team of Young Avengers. When Iron Lad is forced to remove his armor to stop the villain Kang the Conqueror from tracking him, the Vision's operating system causes the armor to become a sentient being.

When Iron Lad leaves the time period, he leaves the armor behind with the Vision's operating system activated. Upon Iron Man's examination, it is determined that although the Vision has all of the physical and emotional potential of the original, he lacks the first Vision's vast experience. Moreover, whereas the first Vision's brain patterns were based on Wonder Man, the new Vision's brain patterns are based on those of Iron Lad.

While more advanced than the original, the Vision is unable to join the reformed Avengers due to their concern that he is still being controlled by Kang. The Vision then acts as a mentor to the Young Avengers, and also changes his appearance from his Iron Lad-like appearance to that of the original Vision to comfort Iron Lad's former crush, Cassie Lang, the Young Avenger known as "Stature" and daughter of Scott Lang. During the events of Civil War, the Vision opposes the new Superhuman Registration Act and sides with Captain America by joining the Secret Avengers. Vision plays a major role in the final battle, disabling Iron Man's armor.

Powers and abilities

The Vision of the Young Avengers is able to use Iron Lad's neuro-kinetic armor to recreate the former Vision's abilities and is also capable of energy and holographic manipulation; shapeshifting; and time-travel.

Mainframe

Mainframe is an alternate universe version of Vision from the 31st century who acts alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy. In this future, Mainframe is the chief operating system of an entire planet and controls everything from climate to planetary stability, and when first encountered, the guardian of the shield of Captain America.

MC2

An older version of the modern Vision appears in the MC2 universe. Returning from retirement, the Vision joins the young heroes of the superhero team A-Next.

Ultimate Vision

In the Ultimate Universe, members of the Ultimates and the Ultimate X-Men discover a damaged, sentient robot, who states that the closest English translation to its name is "Vision". The robot warns of the coming of an invader from space - Gah Lak Tus, Eater of Worlds. After being repaired, the apparently feminine Vision assists the heroes by presenting a plan to repel Gah Lak Tus. After successfully repelling the invader, the Vision leaves Earth but en route is tricked and disabled by A.I.M. The Vision later escapes and stops a Gah Lak Tus module that A.I.M intended to use for their own purposes.

In other media

Television

• The first android Vision is one of several Avengers to make cameo appearances in the mid-90s Fantastic Four syndicated animated series.

• The first android Vision appears in Fox Kids' Avengers: United They Stand animated series (thirteen episodes in 1999 - 2000). The Vision was voiced by Ron Ruben.

Video games

• The first android Vision appears as a playable character in the 1991 arcade game, Captain America and the Avengers, developed by Data East.

• The first android Vision is a NPC (playable in the Gameboy Advanced version) in the videogame Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Roger Rose.

Footnotes

1. The Avengers #57 (Oct. 1968)
2. The Avengers #108
3. Giant-Size Avengers #4 (1975)
4. Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12 (1985)
5. West Coast Avengers #51-52
6. Hinted at Avengers vol. 1, 116 + 118
7. Avengers West Coast #50
8. Avengers Forever #1 - 12 (1998 - 2000)
9. The Avengers #233, 238, 242-243, 251, 253-254
10. West Coast Avengers #42-45
11. Vision #1-3(1994)
12. The Avengers vol. 3, #4
13. The Avengers vol. 3, #12
14. The Avengers #500
15. Avengers #57 (Oct. 1968)
16. Avengers #93 (Nov. 1971)
17. The Avengers #166 (Dec. 1977)
18. The Avengers #141 (Nov. 1975)
19. Young Avengers #1-5 (April-Aug. 2005)
20. Young Avengers #1-7 (April-Oct. 2005)
21. Young Avengers #11 (May 2006)
22. Civil War #2-3 (Aug.-Sept. 2006)
23. Civil War #7 (Jan. 2007)
24. Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (Oct. 1990)
25. Spider-Girl #94 (March 2006)
26. Ultimate Nightmare (2004); Ultimate Secret (2005) and Ultimate Extinction (2006)

References

• Greg Theakston at Grand Comics Database: Marvel Mystery Comics #13
• The Vision at Don Markstein's Toonopedia
• Jess Nevins' "Pulp and Adventure Heroes of the Pre-War Years": The Golden Age Vision
• The Invaders profile on the Golden Age Vision

• Fictional characters who can turn intangible
• Robot superheroes
• Marvel Comics characters who can fly
• Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
• Marvel Comics robots
• Marvel Comics superheroes
• Marvel Comics titles