Familial Connections

The Black Knight and Crystal enter the Avengers training room to find the Vision and the Scarlet Witch kissing each other. This, however, is merely a holographic projection of the Vision’s memories brought to life thanks to Reed Richards’ encephalo-helmet.[1] The Vision apologizes for bringing the startling image to life, but explains that he was trying to see if seeing images of his past would re-awaken his long lost emotions.[2] He reports that while he can recall these events to the minutest details, his emotional connection to those memories are no longer present. Hearing this makes Crystal sad and she tells the synthezoid that she’s always there if she needs to talk. When Crys goes off to check to see how Carol Danvers is doing in the infirmary, the Knight pulls Vision aside and asks him to be careful with Crystal, as she herself is going through a lot right now.[3]

On his way out of the training room, the Vision is approached by Marilla, the nanny for Crystal’s daughter Luna, she tells the Vision that there is a woman to see him. The Vision heads upstairs and discovers that it is Laura Lipton, whose father-in-law the Vision recently helped.[4] Laura is glad that Vision remembers who she is, especially when she is technically his husband.

Later that evening, the Black Knight and Hercules have gone out to a local bar for some drinks. Dane is concerned about how their recent in mission in Hala, which ended with Dane executing the Supreme Intelligence, will impact the team, particularly since Captain America opted to leave upon their return home.[5] That’s when Hercules spots a woman leaving the bar that looks exactly like their foe Magdalene.[6]

Back at headquarters, Crystal is visiting Carol Danvers, aka Binary, in the infirmary.[7] When talking about the Vision’s loss of emotions, Carol can totally relate as she her mind and powers were stolen by Rogue.[8] Hearing this embarrasses Crystal, who feels bad for bringing it up and leaves. One she is gone, Carol asks the Black Widow if she’s certain if the Inhuman is Avengers material. The Widow assures her that Crystal has what it takes as she and Captain America have total faith in her.

Meanwhile, Laura Lipton has come to tell the Vision that her father-in-law, Miles Lipton is dying of cancer. Since he doesn’t have much time left, she was hoping that the Vision could visit him and since he now carries the brain engrams of her late husband and Miles’ son, Alex. The Vision tells her that while this might be the case, Alex’s personality and memories are inaccessible to him and he tries to let her down gently. This deeply upsets Laura, who begins to cry. Luckily, Crystal is happening by, and she convinces the Vision to go and see Miles as it is the right thing to do.

Across town, Hercules races out of the bar to confront the woman he thinks is Magdalene. This woman — named Marissa Darrow — has no idea what Herc is talking about. Suspecting he’s up to something funny, Marissa warns him to back off before she sues him for harassment. By this time, Dane Whitman has caught up and smooths things over and promises that they’ll leave her alone. However, Hercules can’t let go of the woman’s uncanny resemblance to their foe.

By this time, the Vision and Crystal have arrived at the Lipton home on Long Island. There, they find Miles watching old family movies of his son Alex. Crystal notices when the Vision is observing the playbacks very closely. Miles is happy to see the Vision and explains that he has come up with a means of awakening his son’s personality engram so he can talk to his son one last time. He assures the Vision that it is only temporary. Still, the Vision calculates that this program won’t work, but is convinced to go through with it by Crystal, who points out that there is nothing to lose from trying. The Vision then changes his mind, much to the delight of the Lipton family.

Back in Manhattan, Marissa Darrow arrives at her apartment still flustered over her encounter with Hercules. Inside she is greeted by Magdalene and Proctor. The two women are surprised to see that they are identical. Proctor assures Magdalene that after he is done, they won’t have to worry about Marissa Darrow anymore.[9] Outside, Hercules and the Black Knight have followed Marissa back to her apartment, much to Dane’s disapproval because he fears that they are just going to land themselves in more hot water. Suddenly, they hear Marissa scream from her apartment. Hercules goes charging in, smashing through the door to get inside. Inside, they find the apartment in shambles and filled with smoke, but otherwise deserted, leaving them to wonder what just happened.

While on Long Island, the Vision allows Miles Lipton to run his machine and it seemingly works as the synthezoid is now speaking and acting like the late Alex Lipton. Miles is happy to get the chance to talk about old times once more. Vision then remains by Miles’ side until he finally succumbs to cancer. Moments later, the Vision seemingly returns to normal and tells Crystal that Miles died happy. Before the Inhuman can say anything, the Vision excuses himself because he sees Laura crying outside. Going out to see her, the Vision starts acting like Alex once again and explains that he wanted to spend some time with her before his personality returns to normal. Overjoyed Laura asks “Alex” to kiss her and he does. However, as the Vision’s personality returns, she can tell and thanks the synthezoid for everything he has done. Although losing her husband a second time breaks her heart, Laura thanks the Vision for giving her one last opportunity. The Vision offers his condolences and as he leaves, Laura tells him that her father-in-law loved the Vision as well, in his own way.

When the Vision returns to Crystal she has figured out that Miles’ program did not work and the Vision was merely pretending to be Alex after studying the video footage the Liptons were watching earlier. She is touched that he would pretend like that in order to give Alex’s family some closure. However, the Vision refuses to confirm or deny this. Instead he sheds a single tear as the sun begins to rise before suggesting they go back home.[10]

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Hercules, Vision, Black Knight, Black Widow, Crystal), Luna Maximoff, Binary, Miles Lipton, Larua Lipton, Marilla, Proctor, Magdalene

Continuity Notes

1. The Encephalo-Helmet, keen eyed readers will note, was first seen way back in Fantastic Four #27.

2. The Vision has long been married to the Scarlet Witch dating back to Giant-Size Avengers #4. However, more recently, the Vision was disassembled by an agency called Vigilance. When put back together, poor Vizh was turned ghost white and his had his emotional capacity completely erased as seen in Avengers West Coast (vol. 2) #42-45. The Vision became estranged from his wife since, leaving her side following the events of Avengers West Coast #53.

3. Crystal is going through her own marital problems. She has been married to Scarlet Witch’s brother Quicksilver since Fantastic Four #150. More recently, she got into an affair in Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #6-12. She and Quicksilver have been trying to reconcile since Fantastic Four Annual #21. Job made much harder since Quicksilver joined X-Factor in X-Factor #71 and Crystal joined the Avengers in Avengers #336.

4. The Vision helped Miles Lipton uncover the truth that Roxxon was responsible for the death of his son, Alex. While doing so, Lipton helped repair the Vision’s damaged mind by downloading the brain engrams of his deceased son.

5. This was during Operation: Galactic Storm which was chronicled in Captain America #398-400, Avengers West Coast #80-82, Quasar #32-34, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #7-9, Avengers #345-347, Iron Man #278-279, and Thor #445-446. The Supreme Intelligence was seemingly killed in Avengers #347, however he cheated death and will resurface in Imperial Guard #3. Captain America left the Avengers in Captain America #401. However, his departure will be short lived as he will be back in Avengers #360.

6. The Avengers previously fought Magdalene in Avengers #343-344.

7. Binary has been recovering at Avengers Headquarters ever since being injured in Quasar #34.

8. Ms. Marvel lost her powers and memories when Rogue used her absorbing powers on her for an extended period of time, as detailed in Marvel Super-Heroes (vol. 2) #11 and Avengers Annual #10. While Professor X was able to retore Carol’s lost memories, her emotional connections could not be restored.

9. What’s going on isn’t explained until Avengers #355-356, 362-363, and 372-375. In a nutshell: Proctor and Magdalene come from alternate realities. They are members of the Gatherers, a group of former Avengers whose realities were destroyed. Proctor has been gathering them to destroy the Earth-616 Sersi, because Proctor blames her for leaving him in his native reality… Yeah I know, I know… Anyway, the process in which the Gatherers travel dimensions causes physical and mental strain on individuals who have counterparts in another reality. In order to stop this, they in turn must destroy their counterpart.

10. The Vision shedding a single tear here is a call-back to Avengers #58 when he wept after being offered a spot in the Avengers.