Marvel
Comics have been advertising recently that they are ‘all-new’ and
‘all-different’; one of the series that actually delivers on this promise is
‘The Vision’. In my view, the first four issues of this series are some of the
best Vision stories ever.[1]
For this series, writer Tom King had the somewhat unusual idea of having the
Vision try and settle down in the suburbs with a family of Vision-like
synthezoids – wife Virginia, and children Vin and Viv. The Visions want to fit
in, but not all of their neighbours are welcoming. And when the family comes
under attack, things start to become even more complicated.
The Vision almost takes a
backseat here to his heretofore unfamiliar family. Long-time Avengers readers
will know that the Vision has
tried to settle down for a quiet life in the suburbs with his family before, back when he was married
to fellow Avenger the Scarlet Witch. So I did wonder a bit why they didn’t just
use Wanda here, but created the new character of Virginia instead. The
Scarlet Witch has shown a dark side in the past as well, so it seemed like one
could just as well use her. But on further reflection, a difference is that,
while we have seen an ‘evil’ Scarlet Witch before, readers probably feel like
they know her limits by now. Virginia on the other hand is an unknown to us –
we’re not sure yet what lengths she will go to.
Similarly for Vin and Viv. One
of these characters suffers badly early on in the series, and it’s
heartbreaking to watch. After that one isn’t sure quite how they will react to
that incident, plus the difficulties they face fitting into their new school.
They seem to vacillate between wanting to fit in, and being ticking time-bombs that
will show those silly, narrow-minded humans what is what. In a country plagued
by school shootings and violence, there is a not wholly unreasonable basis to
their neighbours’ fears.
Distrust of a family that is
different has been done before, but King keeps throwing curveballs into the plot
that significantly change the story’s course. Four issues in then I still don’t
have a strong view how the Visions’ attempts to fit in will end – in failure or
success? This set-up though has made the Vision more interesting than he has been
for years. Marvel has surprised me with this one.
[1] The others: Roy Thomas’ ‘Behold The Vision’ and ‘Even An Android Can Cry’, which were the Vision’s first two appearances, and Bob Harras’ one-issue examination of the Vision in ‘Avengers’ #348.
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