The Highlight Reel: Even An Android Can Cry!

One of the most striking covers of Marvel's Silver Age has to be Avengers #57 (1968), featuring the looming, crimson-hued threat of The Vision.

Modified from the android body of the original Human Torch, the Vision was sent by the malevolent robot Ultron to destroy the Avengers. As it turned out, a nearly identical plot appeared simultaneously in DC's Justice League title (featuring the Red Tornado), but the Vision's story was by far the more compelling of the two android assassins.

You see, the Vision's master wasn't just a dime-a-dozen evil robot...Ultron was essentially the "son" of his creator Henry "Hank" Pym, a.k.a. Giant Man of the Avengers. In a sort of ultra-accelerated Oedipus Complex, Ultron attempted to kill Pym within minutes of his activation, then escaped to plot future attacks on Daddy Dearest and his Avengers teammates.

However, things didn't quite go according to Ultron's plan. The Vision resisted his original programming, befriended the Avengers, and ultimately destroyed his creator Ultron (well, at least that version of him).  A month later in Avengers #58, the newly-independent Vision requested membership in the Avengers, and was met with some justifiable skepticism considering how his past was a complete mystery...even to himself!  Therefore, the Avengers assisted the Vision in filling in the blanks....culminating in an impromptu (yet important) team meeting. 

The result of the meeting?  Only one of the
most touching scenes in Avengers history...

(click on the pages for a larger view)

Note how it was Hank Pym who provided the insight into the Vision's emotional breakthrough...spoken with the pride of....a grandpa?  Okay, I guess that part's a little unsettling, but that full page shot of the Vision in the grip of new-found emotion?  An obvious addition to the Highlight Reel.

Comments

[George C]

I believe that period of AVENGERS was Roy Thomas' zenith as a writer.

[Mark Engblom]

You may be right. While his Avengers run showed early signs of his later weaknesses (pedantic preoccupation with Golden Age figures, a sameness of character dialogue styles, etc.), it's definitely some of his greatest and most inspired work.

His Conan stuff was pretty nifty, too.

[Hube]

One of my fave all-time issues, and probably my most valuable remaining Silver Age issue in my Marvel collection.

I loved Roy Thomas; however, Mark is dead-on when he brings up "sameness of dialogue." Remember when Ultron (under the guise of the "Crimson Cowl") recruited several baddies (Radioactive Man, Living Laser, et. al.)? They ALL talked the same -- much like Thomas's Hawkeye... full of smart alec comments. I cracked up, but why would these guys all speak the same way?

[Mark]

"One of my fave all-time issues, and probably my most valuable remaining Silver Age issue in my Marvel collection."

"Remaining" issue of your Marvel collection? Sounds like a story behind that. Have you been selling it off...or did your mom toss them out once upon a time (a common tragedy hitting comic fans of my generation)?

Just curious.

Remember Roy writing Nazi characters in books like Invaders or All-Star Squadron? Have you ever heard so many Germans yell "Gott Im Himmel!" ("God In Heaven") than in Roy's stories?

[Rich]

I just read Avengers Forever, and was tickled to see the scene of Vision crying appear briefly in a flashback. I've never read the actual issue, unfortunately.

[Lauren]

I have read the reprints of both. Usually I am primarily a DC fan. But the Marvel Comics of that era blows away the DC comics of the same era.

The Vision story is about the Robot that is trying to find his humanity among Superpowered people. His story made the Avengers come to terms with their own "human" foibles. I like that twist on the story.

The Red Tornado story has a special place for me because I love the JLA/JSA team up stories.
I am so excited that Earth 2 is coming back, when I saw the promo posted on your site I think my heart fluttered for a second.

I learned many a exclamatory German phrase frm Mr. Thomas.
I'm sure that if I met a German and put my Roy Thomas German to use the German person would think I need to be medicated.

[Hube]

"Remaining" issue of your Marvel collection? Sounds like a story behind that.

The [then-new] wife made me get rid of some to make room in the [then-new] house. I gave -- GAVE!! -- them to some 8th grade students of mine. Ugh.

Much of the remainder was sold on eBay in order to complete my IRON MAN collection. I have the complete IM run now, sans TALES OF SUSPENSE.

[Mark Engblom]

"I just read Avengers Forever, and was tickled to see the scene of Vision crying appear briefly in a flashback. I've never read the actual issue, unfortunately."

Wow! Avengers Forever...a great, epic story...but man, it kinda gave me a headache at times! Kurt Busiek (bless his heart) is a human continuity encyclopedia, and he really put it to great effect for Avengers Forever. I think he tackled every single time/alternate reality paradox the Avengers were ever involved in...including (to my delight) the Human Torch/Vision connection. As I recall, John Byrne established that they did NOT share the same android body at different points in time....but then Busiek came along and "fixed" it, so that the Vision was, indeed, an "upgraded" version of the Torch.

Hmm...I feel that headache coming back....

[Mark Engblom]

"I have read the reprints of both. Usually I am primarily a DC fan. But the Marvel Comics of that era blows away the DC comics of the same era."

Absolutely. Marvel stories seem to be light years beyond what DC was doing at the time...with a few exceptions (like the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams Green Lantern and Batman stories). In addition to the generally superior character development, the scale and scope of Marvel's stories consistently surpassed DC's.

"The Vision story is about the Robot that is trying to find his humanity among Superpowered people. His story made the Avengers come to terms with their own "human" foibles. I like that twist on the story."

I hadn't considered that angle before. What a great observation...and you're right, the Vision did tend to bring out the hang-ups of his human teammates by way of his trying so hard to be the "exemplary" human...never realizing that those around him fell far short of that high mark as well.

"The Red Tornado story has a special place for me because I love the JLA/JSA team up stories. I am so excited that Earth 2 is coming back, when I saw the promo posted on your site I think my heart fluttered for a second."

Yeah, I think mine did, too! It's great to see DC finally breaking their 20+ year "embargo" on talking about these characters and doing something with them in a big "meta" kind of way. If you're a regular visitor to Comic Coverage, you probably know that I'm also a gigantic fan of the JLA/JSA team-ups of old!

"I learned many an exclamatory German phrase frm Mr. Thomas. I'm sure that if I met a German and put my Roy Thomas German to use the German person would think I need to be medicated."

LOL! You're right. The other one I remember was the word "schnell!", which means "quickly!" or "hurry!".

[Mark Engblom]

"The [then-new] wife made me get rid of some to make room in the [then-new] house. I gave -- GAVE!! -- them to some 8th grade students of mine. Ugh."

"Ugh" is right! Ah, don't feel bad. I've sold portions of my collection I've later regretted getting rid of. One that comes to mind is my complete run of the Kurt Busiek/George Perez Avengers series. At the time, I was on an "eBay high" of selling stuff and making a nice pile of cash, which can definitely play tricks on your "rationalization" faculties. Before I knew it, the Avengers lot was sold, which I almost immediately regretted.

"Much of the remainder was sold on eBay in order to complete my IRON MAN collection. I have the complete IM run now, sans TALES OF SUSPENSE.

Congratulations! It's a blast finishing off complete runs (I've done it with a number of titles). I suppose you filled in the Tales of Suspence gaps by purchasing the Marvel Masterworks reprints? I did the same thing with my Barry Allen Flash collection. I only went back as far as #109, then bought the first Flash Archives, which covered his Showcase #4 debut through issue #108 (he resumed the numbering of the Golden Age Flash title with #105). There's simply no way I could afford that particular batch of issues.

[Brian]

I feel like the IM nerd on this board (not that that's BAD....) (:, but the Iron Man Omnibus that's coming out next month could catch y'all up on the Tales run (or at least most of it-- it goes through TOS #83) if you don't have it, or want it in color. It's not cheap (about $62+shipping on Amazon), but cheaper than tracing down the original back issues. I have the Essentials, too, and some of the original TOS issues in color, but I'm mightily tempted to pick up the omnibus, as I miss the color on the essentials.

Oddly, the color thing only applies for certain artists: I don't mind the B&W on Kirby essentials, or Romita's Spider-Man.

[Brian]

Mark, this is a little off-topic, but i just thought of it, and since this is called "Highlight Reel," after all...

Some of the earliest blog posts of yours I remember reading were really great pieces leading up to the Spider-Man 3 movie, then review of that film, and aftermath of discussion about it. Any chance of doing a movie post soon, maybe something previewing the superhero-or-related films you're looking forward to this summer, and why? I know you did that piece on the hulk awhile back, but a big ol' piece bringing that together might be a lot of fun, and it's certainly a (potentially) rich summer for comic book movies.

[Rich]

Re: the continuity craziness of Avengers Forever, you better believe I was glad to have a page every few chapters with notes and references. Did those appear in the single issues? I just have a TPB I stumbled across at the used bookstore.

[Rich]

On the movie front, note that J. Chris Campbell has a Movie Geef Reference Card on his site. Genius.

[Mark Engblom]

"Any chance of doing a movie post soon, maybe something previewing the superhero-or-related films you're looking forward to this summer, and why? I know you did that piece on the hulk awhile back, but a big ol' piece bringing that together might be a lot of fun, and it's certainly a (potentially) rich summer for comic book movies."

I'd love to do more on the various superhero movies coming our way, though just what form those posts might take are unclear at this point. Unfortunately, things at work are just hellaciously busy these days, with more overtime leading to less blogging time (obviously)...so I'll have to play it by ear on that one. Glad you enjoyed the Spider-Man stuff, by the way!

"On the movie front, note that J. Chris Campbell has a Movie Geef Reference Card on his site. Genius."

Yeah, that IS a great idea. It really hit me how much geek-friendly stuff is heading our way this summer! Man!

[Hube]

Did those appear in the single issues? I just have a TPB I stumbled across at the used bookstore.

Yep. The TPB collected AVENGERS FOREVER #s 1-12. The continuity notes were scattered among the issues (about every 4 issues or so).

I love AVENGERS FOREVER. But it sure helps to be a big Avengers fan to appreciate it. Casual fans might blow their stack trying to make sense of the whole back story.

[Mark Engblom]

"Casual fans might blow their stack trying to make sense of the whole back story"

I don't know, Hube...I'm a huge Avengers fan...and even I had trouble keeping my head in the game at various points. I think it was mostly when Busiek tried to reconcile the huge body of Kang/Immortus stuff...that's the kind of thing that really blew my circuits.

[Hube]

I think it was mostly when Busiek tried to reconcile the huge body of Kang/Immortus stuff

Yeah, but he did it so WELL!!! :-)