Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #7
Batteries Not Included!
On the eve of Yule, the Vision pays a visit to Avengers Mansion.[1] There, Captain America and the Sub-Mariner are in the middle of a training session. The Vision has come to see them after their visit on Thanksgiving where they asked if he remembers his past life as the original Human Torch. Having no memory of these events, the Vision has come to find out more about his forgotten past.[2][3]
The Sub-Mariner looks forward to talking about the past, and tells how he often fought with and alongside the Human Torch.[4] Namor recounts the first time he and the Human Torch fought one another back in the 1940s, although his accounting of events are coloured so he looks like the better person.[5] The Vision learns that, despite being an android, the Human Torch was an emotional being with a strong sense of patriotism — the reason why he fought against the Nazis during World War II. He ate and drank and formed friendships, such as when he took on his partner Toro, and later joined the Invaders alongside Captain America and Namor.[6] The Vision struggles to try and remember these events, but can’t do it. Unsure of what he was trying to accomplish from hearing these stories, he tells his friends that he thought he might be taking his new emotions to lightly. Now hearing how the Torch acted more human than he did, he’s even more confused than ever.[7]
Meanwhile, in Leonia, New Jersey, the Scarlet Witch has taken on an apprentice named Holly LaDonna and is teaching her witchcraft in an effort to sharpen her own skills. She is educating the girl on the Pegan tradition of celebrating Yule when they are visited by Crystal, the wife of Wanda’s brother Quicksilver. She has come down from the moon to see if Wanda needs help decorating the house for Christmas since she finished doing so back home. Wanda thanks her for the consideration but tells her that she and Holly are about to engage in a private ritual. Crystal understands and decides to walk around the neighborhood, despite Wanda’s insistance that she can wait inside.
Later, at Project PEGASUS, the Vision has arranged to see the androids of the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants that the Toad recently used to attack his home.[8] Raymond Sikorski, the Avengers liaison, takes Vision down to see the androids.[9] The only android still functional is the one based off Mastermind and the Vision asks that it be reactivated so he can speak with it in private. Once alone, the Vision begins asking questions about its autonomy and emotional range and discovers that its not a sentient being like himself, but programmed artificial intelligence. Suddenly, a failsafe installed by Toad kicks in and the Mastermind android breaks free from its shackled by increasing in size. The Vision tries disabling the automation by phasing his hand through the construct, but its interiors are powered by anti-mater and ends up amputating his hand. He does manage to rip the enemy android in half but is surprised when its severed lower body gets up and leaps into the ventilation system to find its master.
The Vision then exits the room and warns Raymond and the Guardsman of the escape attempt. The trio then head to the elevator and make their way down to the cell block where the Toad has been held prisoner since his earlier defeat. They arrive just as the Toad’s android sacrifices itself to destroy the energy bars keeping the Toad in his cell. Free from confinement, the rogue mutant is then pulled up to his waiting starship via a tractor beam. The Vision flies after it and just barely manages to grab hold of the craft before it takes off for space.
Back on Earth, the Scarlet Witch continues teaching Holly the traditions around Yule when suddenly she notices that the Vision isn’t back yet and begins to worry about hi,. She brushes it off as emotions brought on by her pregnancy.
However, her concerns are valid, as the Vision is passed out inside the Toad’s craft. He dreams about various androids and robots he has encountered in the past including the Mad Thinker’s Awesome Android and Doctor Doom’s Servodroids before waking up. Heading to the control room, where he finds the Toad gloating over his mastery of the Stranger’s alien technology.[10] The Toad is pleased to see the Vision on board as he intends to kill the android and claim the Scarlet Witch as his lover. The Vision tries to explain that Wanda would never love him. The Toad reacts by activating a device in his chair that surrounds him in a powerful energy exo-skeleton and attacks his foe. However, the Vision quickly turns the battle into a stalemate by increasing his mass to 70 tons. Seeing that he can’t win the conflict, the Toad uses his ship’s tractor beam to eject the Vision from his craft. He then takes off for deep space, vowing to return and getting his revenge.
Stranded half a million miles away from Earth, the Vision channels the surrounding star light into his cells and uses his solar gem to propel him back to Earth at great speed. Surviving re-entry, the Vision then returns home much to the relief of his wife. The Vision tells her that he was out doing some soul searching to figure out who he is, and he discovered he’s nobody else but the Vision. Holly LaDonna soon leaves so Vision and Wanda can have some time alone. On her way home, Holly spots Crystal hanging out with Norm Webster — the man who sold Wanda and Vision their home — and is shocked to see them kiss.[11]
Recurring Characters
Vision, Scarlet Witch, Toad, Captain America, Sub-Mariner, Crystal, Raymond Sikorsky, Holly LaDonna, Edwin Jarvis, Norm Webster, Guardsman
Continuity Notes
This story is stated as happening at the start of Yule (December 21) and occurring about a month after the events of last issue which took place on Thanksgiving. This puts it at odds with the Sliding Timescale. No explanation for these discrepancies have been provided. I theorize that the Scarlet Witch has created a pocket of “real time” while she is pregnant.
Here it is stated that the Vision has retired from the Avengers. He and the Scarlet Witch had left the group to focus on their marriage. They left the team in Avengers #255 (this story cites Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #1, which is technically right, I guess.)
As revealed in Avengers #134-135, the Vision was created out of the inert body of the Human Torch. Using the brain patterns of Simon Williams — aka Wonder Man — Ultron erased the Human Torch’s persona with the Vision’s personality. Although this story presents the idea that the Torch is lost forever, this is not the case. As revealed in Avengers Forever #8, the time traveler created a chronal duplicate of the Torch as part of a complex scheme to shape the destiny of the Avengers. This chronal duplicate was buried in a grave in Sub-Mariner #14 and will be revived in Avengers West Coast #50.
Captain America recounts to himself that he and Namor have both survived the many decades since World War II by extraordinary means. Namor ages slower than a human due to his Atlantean physiology, while Cap himself was frozen in ice for decades until he was freed in Avengers #4.
The Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch first fought in Marvel Mystery Comics #8-10. This story references Marvel Super-Heroes #1, which featured a reprint of that tale.
Toro became the Torch’s sidekick back in Human Torch Comics #2, while the pair joined up with the Invaders in Giant-Size Invaders #1.
Up until Avengers #254, the Vision had a control crystal implanted in his mind that kept his emotions subdued. Since removing it, the android has begun acting more human with a full range of emotions.
This all happened last issue.
Sikorski apologizes for how the Vision was treated the last time they met. At the time, the Vision had been trying to take over the world’s computers in a misguided attempt to bring about world peace. After it failed, Vision was taken to PEGASUS for questioning by the government. See Avengers #253-254 and Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #1.
The Toad and Magneto spent an extended period of time as prisoners of the Stranger from X-Men #11 through 18. This allowed Toad to get access to the Stranger’s advanced technology. Since then he has taught himself on their use.
This is the start of a secret affair between Crystal and Norm. It will get exposed in Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #10, ruining Crystal’s marriage in the process.
Topical References
World War II is stated as happening 40 years prior to this story. This should be considered a topical reference as the Sliding Timescale pushes the Modern Age of the Marvel Universe forward in time, making the years increase over time.
Wanda thought the Vision was only going to Macy’s. This should be considered topical as this is a real world department store.
