Conquering Vision

On the Pacific Coast, Mockingbird is getting some flight time in a Quinjet when she catches a boat of drug smugglers trying to flee the Coast Guard. Repelling a descent cable, she quickly disarms the smugglers with her athletic abilities, giving the Coast Guard enough time to catch up and make an arrest. With this out of the way, Bobbi returns to the West Coast Avengers compound for a team meeting. When the team has assembled — sans Iron Man — Simon Williams shows off his new Wonder Man costume before they get down to business.

In Arizona, the eastern Avengers have been assisting the United States Army secure the former hideout of Thanos. This mission was made dangerous when two technicians inadvertedly used one of the machines to teleport the Blood Brothers on site. With the two aliens defeated, Starfox prepares a Symbio-Nullifier to disable their symbiotic powers. Hercules, having borrowed a pair of fatigues after his costume was ruined in the battle, helps load the Blood Brothers into the machine. He is disappointed that the battle ended so quickly, but hopes his return to the Avengers will bring him the satisfying battle he is craving.[1]

The situation is being monitored from Avengers Mansion by the holographic projection of the Vision. The android has created distractions that would take his teammates away from their headquarters so he can initiate his ultimate plan. What he did not expect was the return of Dane Whitman — aka the Black Knight — and has since restrained the former Avenger to prevent him from interfering. Dane is very confused by the situation he has found himself in and asks the Vision to explain what’s going on.[2] The Vision reveals that he is about to make the Earth a safer place by taking total control of it. Whitman thinks this idea is insane, convincing the Vision that he was right in not telling his teammates his plans. His holographic projection then goes to another part of the mansion where his physical body is hooked up to a device that will allow him to take control of all the world’s computer systems.

However, the Vision still finds himself hesitating to finally go through with it. This prompts ISAAC the world computer from Titan to contact him and ask what is keeping him. The Vision remarks how he hates giving up his physical body, even though it has often been commandeered by others.[3] However, the android reminds himself that this mission is more important than his own wants and plunges into cyberspace to complete his final task. In quick succession the Vision takes over the computers at the Pentagon, NORAD, the SHIELD helicarrier, and the Leader’s massive Omnivac computer.[3] From there, the Vision easily takes over various satellite networks which allow him to start taking over the computers in Russia as well.

While bouncing around from computer network to computer network, the Vision discovers another intelligence inside the network with him. It turns out to be the entity called Quasimodo. Quasimodo explains that he was created by the Mad Thinker as a sentient computer that was soon abandoned after his creation and how he was later given mobility by the Silver Surfer. However, his consciousness has been trapped in cyberspace since his recent battle with Iron Man and pleads with the Vision to free him.[5] The Vision is well aware of Quasimodo’s past criminal activity and refuses to help him. Furious, Quasimodo attacks and the two find themselves fighting across computer networks. As the battle is destroying bits of data, the Vision realizes he must end the battle as quickly as possible lest someone detect his presence and stop his mission before it is completed.

Back in the real world, Dane Whitman can’t break free from the cylinder that he has been imprisoned in. He then remembers that he has a connection with his Ebony Blade and begins focusing on the weapon in the hopes he can compel it to help him get free.[6] While in deep space, Captain Marvel continues her mission to Thanos’ abandoned space station, Sanctuary II which has been left in orbit near Pluto. Unaware that she was sent on a fool’s errand by the Vision, she is determined to secure the space station. While in cyberspace, the Vision manages to overpower Quasimodo in battle and banishes his consciousness into space via satellite transmission.[7] By this time, Dane Whitman has managed to make his Ebony Blade teleport into his prison through sheer force of will. With weapon in hand, he is finally able to break free.

Meanwhile, in Arizon, Captain America picks up a radio call from Hawkeye, who is trying to locate Iron Man. To Cap’s surprise the West Coast Avengers were not busy on another mission like the Vision told them. Both teams are surprised that the Vision would lie about something like that. Cap and the Scarlet Witch then race to their Quinjet to get in touch with the Vision. The android admits that he deceived them and explains his plan to end all war by taking command of every computer on Earth and assures them that he is sacrificing himself for the greater good. Telling Wanda that he loves her always, the Vision terminates communication. Realizing that the Vision has gone mad, both Cap and Wanda agree that he must be stopped.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Hercules, Vision, Starfox, Captain Marvel), Avengers West Coast (Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Tigra, Mockingbird), Quasimodo, Black Knight, ISAAC, Blood Brothers

Continuity Notes

1. Hercules mentions how he rejoined the Avengers while they were defending New York from Surtur’s demonic horde, this was in Avengers #249 and Thor #350. He also mentions the battle with the Blood Brothers which happened last issue, obviously.

2. Dane mentions that the last time he fought alongside the Avengers, the Wasp was the team leader. This was in Avengers #225-226. Janet Van Dyne became chairwoman of the Avengers in issue #217. She later stepped down in issue #243 when the Vision petitioned to take over for leadership.

3. Specifically, the Vision mentions the times that his body was taken over by Ultron, the Mad Thinker, and Necrodameus. Ultron once took control of the Vision to steal Adamantium in Avengers #66-68. The Mad Thinker took him over the Vision in Marvel Two-In-One #38-39. Lastly Necrodamus took over the Vision’s body in Marvel Team-Up #130. Next issue it is revealed that these possessions were all possible thanks to a control crystal implanted into his brain when the Mad Thinker rebuilt the Android Human Torch into the Vision. (For more on the Vision’s creation see Avengers #135)

4. Readers are reminded that the Leader’s Omnivac was last seen in Incredible Hulk #284.

5. The Mad Thinker built Quasimodo in Fantastic Four Annual #4. He was given a physical body by the Silver Surfer in the following year’s annual. His more recent battle with Iron Man happened in Fantastic Four #201-202.

6. Dane Whitman mentions how he recently had the curse on his Ebony Blade removed. The blade thirsted for blood and compelled its owner to kill. The urge came more frequently with time. This curse was seemingly removed for good in Doctor Strange (vol. 2) #68-69. However, this proves to be short-lived and the curse will return in Avengers #295.

7. This is not the end of Quasimodo is seen again in Nova #25, when he stows away on the computer aboard Nova’s ship.

Topical References

• A lot of the computer networking jargon in this story was written during the pre-Internet days. As such some of the technical specifications in this story and depictions of computer technology should be considered topical. Particularly, the depiction of computers with CRT computer monitors.

• Russia is referred to as the Soviet Union here. This should also be considered topical as the Soviet Union was toppled in 1991.