The Avengers’ Deadliest Foe Reveals His “Vision” [Review]

At long last, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! introduces my all-time favorite Avenger. Click “More” to read our review!

S2, Episode 14: Behold… The Vision!

During an attack on the Weapon X facility, a vision in green and gold makes short work on the guards to obtain adamantium. Meanwhile, the Avengers are in Wakanda to fix Cap’s shield. Black Panther is asked to rejoin the Avengers in their hour of need, but he declines. Back at Avengers Mansion, Janet is being treated by Jane Foster when they are attacked by the same being that attacked Weapon X. Jane tells the being that Cap’s shield has been taken to Wakanda. It lands in Wakanda and begins its new objective – to acquire vibranium. It cuts down the Wakandan army and accesses the vibranium mine. Panther, Cap, and Thor face off against what is discovered to be a machine. It tries to make sense of why the heroes continue to fight despite what it believes to be a lost battle. After taking down Hawkeye, it closes in on his final objective, Cap’s shield. Panther fuses Cap’s broken shield together again, which damages the machine. It escapes before the Avengers could finish it off. Panther rejoins the Avengers. The machine returns to its master – Ultron.

The Vision is, not counting Cap, Thor, or Iron Man (Avengers with their own series and lives outside the team), my all-time favorite Avengers. Created by Ultron to destroy the team, he learns the value of standing against a seemingly unbeatable foe and the bonds they all have with each other. After joining the team, Vision would be a longtime member and becomes a cornerstone that makes his absence from the team at any point in Avengers history hard to swallow. As a long time Avengers fan, my copies of Avengers #57 and 58 are my two prized possessions in my collection.

So, much like including Beta Ray Bill into this series, seeing Vision have a chance to shine in what appears to be at least a two-part story (the second part to come later) is purely awesome. You get everything you need to know about him in this episode alone. He’s created by Ultron to be the mechanical villain’s perfect vision of the future. He’s sent after the Avengers. He witnesses the Avengers stand up against odds that would make most run in fear. Oh, and he’s powerful as all get out. His amazing power set includes tangibility manipulation (going intangible to as massive as a mountain), stealth, and a laser that beams out of a gem in his forehead.

All that makes him easily able to stand up to an army, and even a thunder god. The episode focuses entirely on him as well. Much like the Beta Ray Bill episode, this isn’t so much about the Avengers, until they are able to gain the upper hand in the end, but more about this new character. That’s what makes this episode cool. The Avengers are a major part of this story, but also take a backseat to this new character. Some things are progressed (like Jane Foster’s adoration of Thor, Cap’s shield being repaired, and Panther rejoining the team), but, for the most part, Vision is the star. You get heavy doses of how he logically thinks and how he can use his powers, and, through which, you get to know him a bit. Considering how big of a deal he is to the Avengers historically, I’m so very happy he gets the starring role in his first episode and not forced to the background of these other stories.

Again, the series uses classic stories to introduce characters and ideas that makes older guys like me happy, but also interests the younger viewers. It continues to give us some nice Easter eggs (like Weapon X and Ultron’s soon-to-be-completed adamantium body), but keeps its focus on great storytelling.

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