Issues #1 and #2 of Vision and the Scarlet Witch are in the bag – review-wise. And, I’m loving them as much as I did the first (through 30th) time I read them. Even though it’s been about two decades since the last time I read this series, I’m still madly in love with the craziness of Marvel mini-series from the 80’s.
Coming into the third issue of this four-issue miniseries, we’ve come to expect a pretty even split of action and family drama from the Vision and the Scarlet Witch mini-series. “Blood Brothers” doesn’t disappoint.
The issue opens with another odd snapshot of a superhero – this time it’s Wonder Man – having a fairly mundane experience in the suburbs. Simon Wiliams, a.k.a. Wonder Man, is super strong, near invulnerable, and rocks red glasses and a red sports coat over his mock turtleneck. And, even though the caption’s clearly state that he’s in a big hurry to get to the hospital, he’s riding the subway.
When we last saw Vision, he defeated a nuclear powered villain, but at a grave cost. He had cut off his own arm with his solar beam. As “Blood Brothers” opens, Wonder Man is rushing to the hospital to help the dying Vision. Well, “rushing is an overstatement”.
As the Vision’s “brother” (we’ll get to that in a minute), Wonder Man might be the only one who can help. When he gets there, many Avengers are already assembled at the hospital. Yet, they couldn’t even spare a quinjet to go pick up Wonder Man, leaving him to ride the subway and then catch a cab as the gathered Avengers gab in the hallway.
I love that Thor – a Norse god with the power of flight – gets all passive-aggressive with how long it took Wonder Man to show up.
Is it any wonder I love this series? Marvel’s wiki lists the supporting characters in this issue as:
- Hawkeye (Clint Barton)
- Iron Man (Tony Stark)
- Thor
- Captain America (Steve Rogers)
- Wasp (Janet van Dyne)
- She-Hulk
Because, while Vision lies, comatose in the hospital, ALL OF THEM just chit-chat in the lobby. Not a single one of them wonders why a hospital in New York is equipped to handle the needs of a badly damaged synthozoid. At one point, someone even mentions that Hank Pym knows more about the Vision’s physiology than anyone, so why not take Vision to Hank’s lab. I’d have to check my continuity, but I have to speculate that in 1983, The Wasp’s restraining order is still in effect.
In true Marvel fashion, they take some time to talk about their personal lives. At one point, Thor even whispers his secret identity to Captain America. You know, in case Cap forgot. Hope no one overheard.
Thus begins a series of episodes bouncing back and forth between the Vision’s deathbed delusion dreamworld and the hospital room, where a cockamamie scheme to transfer some of Wonder Man’s wonder energy into the Vision’s body. See they have the same mind, so it’s obvious that even though they share none of the same physiology, the wonder juice will revive Vision.
I mean, you can trust this guy, right? He put on scrubs so that the Vision’s completely android body wouldn’t get an infection from an errant cough. So he completely and fully understands synthozoids and is not just a wackjob trying a random procedure that looks like a blood transfusion on a completely artificial life form.
Vision’s nightmare world is actually well-written (if over-written) and gives new readers a complete history of the Vision. It’s kind of complicated, but he’s got a few fathers. Phineas Horton created the original Human Torch – who was a robot. Eventually, he died.
Also, Wonder Man died. Ultron reused the Torch’s body and combined it with the mind of the dead Wonder Man to create the Vision.
In a previous post, I mentioned that Magneto is the Scarlet Witch’s father. And, Ultron is Vision’s father. What was that wedding like? I need to commission an artist to do a piece at SDCC 2014 for me. If I can get that, I win San Diego Comic Con (again) this year.
Heck, I’d love to just see the wedding invites.
The other important thing to know is that Simon Williams has a brother – the Grim Reaper. He believes Wonder Man is not really his brother since he came back from the dead – an understandable position. He also hates the Vision, an android with all the memories of his brother. So, even though Simon William’s mind lives on in two bodies, he believes both are dissing the memory of his brother and wants them dead with a white-hot passion.
After the Avengers all take off (maybe for a round of golf or something), Grim Reaper sneaks into the hospital and disables the Scarlet Witch by charging his scythe-hand with mutant energy from the mountains of Wundagore and reversing her hex powers.
Just kidding… he totally goes with the chloroform.
Vision is still stuck in a coma, one arm badly burned and melted. Wonder Man’s life energy is draining into the Vision, and he can barely rise from bed. Plus, apparently there are no alarms in this hospital.
How will Wonder Man and Vision survive this threat in their weakened states? Find out in issue #3 of the classic Vision and the Scarlet Witch.
Coming into the third issue of this four-issue miniseries, we’ve come to expect a pretty even split of action and family drama from the Vision and the Scarlet Witch mini-series. “Blood Brothers” doesn’t disappoint.
The issue opens with another odd snapshot of a superhero – this time it’s Wonder Man – having a fairly mundane experience in the suburbs. Simon Wiliams, a.k.a. Wonder Man, is super strong, near invulnerable, and rocks red glasses and a red sports coat over his mock turtleneck. And, even though the caption’s clearly state that he’s in a big hurry to get to the hospital, he’s riding the subway.
When we last saw Vision, he defeated a nuclear powered villain, but at a grave cost. He had cut off his own arm with his solar beam. As “Blood Brothers” opens, Wonder Man is rushing to the hospital to help the dying Vision.
As the Vision’s “brother” (we’ll get to that in a minute), Wonder Man might be the only one who can help. When he gets there, many Avengers are already assembled at the hospital. Yet, they couldn’t even spare a quinjet to go pick up Wonder Man, leaving him to ride the subway and then catch a cab as the gathered Avengers gab in the hallway.
Is it any wonder I love this series?
While Vision lies coma-like in the hospital, the Avengers chit-chat in the lobby. Not a single one of them wonders why a hospital in New York is equipped to handle the needs of a badly damaged synthozoid. At one point, someone even mentions that Hank Pym knows more about the Vision’s physiology than anyone, so why not take Vision to Hank’s lab. I’d have to check my continuity, but I have to speculate that in 1983, The Wasp’s restraining order is still in effect.
In true Marvel fashion, they take some time to talk about their personal lives. At one point, Thor even whispers his secret identity to Captain America. You know, in case Cap forgot. Hope no one overheard.
Thus begins a series of episodes bouncing back and forth between the Vision’s deathbed delusion dreamworld and the hospital room, where a cockamamie scheme to transfer some of Wonder Man’s wonder energy into the Vision’s body. See they have the same mind, so it’s obvious that even though they share none of the same physiology, the wonder juice will revive Vision.
I mean, you can trust this guy, right? He put on scrubs so that the Vision’s completely android body wouldn’t get an infection from an errant cough. So he completely and fully understands synthozoids and is not just a wackjob trying a random procedure that looks like a blood transfusion on a completely artificial life form.
Vision’s nightmare world is actually well-written (if over-written) and gives new readers a complete history of the Vision. It’s kind of complicated, but he’s got a few fathers. Phineas Horton created the original Human Torch – who was a robot. Eventually, he died.
Also, Wonder Man died. Ultron reused the Torch’s body and combined it with the mind of the dead Wonder Man to create the Vision.
Here’s why that’s important to me. In a previous post, I mentioned that Magneto is the Scarlet Witch’s father. And, Ultron is Vision’s father.
Now you know why I’m trying to get Sara Richards to do a commission for me at the next San Diego Comic Con of the Vision and Scarlet Witch’s wedding. Heck, I’d love to see the wedding invites.
The other important thing to know is that Simon Williams has a brother – the Grim Reaper. He believes Wonder Man is not really his brother since he came back from the dead – an understandable position. He also hates the Vision, an android with all the memories of his brother. So, even though Simon William’s mind lives on in two bodies, he believes both are dissing the memory of his brother and wants them dead with a white-hot passion.
After the Avengers all take off (maybe for a round of golf or something), Grim Reaper sneaks into the hospital and disables the Scarlet Witch by charging his scythe-hand with mutant energy from the mountains of Wundagore and reversing her hex powers.
Just kidding… he totally goes with the chloroform.
Vision is still stuck in a coma, one arm badly burned and melted. Wonder Man’s life energy is draining into the Vision, and he can barely rise from bed. Plus, apparently there are no alarms in this hospital.
How will Wonder Man and Vision survive this threat in their weakened states? Find out in issue #3 of the classic Vision and the Scarlet Witch.
Casual Comics Guy 
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