The world is learning what Avengers readers already know: Ultron is the most evil robot in fiction and the most relentless, maybe greatest Avengers villain.
Before Hal, Terminator, Fembots, Roy Batty, Megatron and a legion of metallic monsters there was Ultron attacking the Avengers for more than six decades of comics.
Director Joss Whedon and actor James Spader are bringing the artificial intelligence to cinematic glory in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Tony Stark’s great invention to better protect the Earth becomes an engine of destruction obsessed with the extinction of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the human race.
As we learn Ultron is more than a deadly robot. This artificial intelligence’s human connection is what drives the emotional conflict within it. This sentient being comprehends pain, anger, rejection and returns after every defeat with a vengeance. This artificial being makes is personal and painful when it comes to the Avengers.
Here are some of the greatest Ultron stories:
It all started in Avengers #54 by legendary Roy Thomas and John Buscema when Crimson Cowl pulled back his hood to reveal the cold metal visage of Ultron who leads a Masters of Evil.
Behold a Vision! Thomas and Buscema make Marvel history again with the creation of the Vision. In a freaky father fixation, Ultron creates Vision to infiltrate and destroy the team but the “son” would defy his “father” and become a fan-favorite member of the team. In a flashback we learned Hank Pym created the A.I. and the monster developed a deranged Oedipal fixation with killing his “father” and fell for Hank’s love Janet Van Dyne, Ultron’s “mother.”
Bride of the Monster! The Oedipal complex took an even more bizarre turn when Ultron created his own bride. Jocasta was a metallic mistress with the brain patterns of Janet aka Wasp. Like her “brother” Jocasta broke her programming, turned against Ultron and joined the team.
Ultron Unlimited! Legendary creators Kurt Busiek and George Perez ignited a new era with the Avengers Reborn/volume three. Ultron slaughters the entire population of Slorenia and transforms his victims into his drones in a bizarre hybrid of Doctor Who Cybermen and zombies. Our heroes are tested like never before as they witness what the monster A.I. did to an entire nation.
Age of Ultron! What happens when evil wins? Ultron conquered time itself in this epic by Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Hitch and more all-star artists. Wha’ts left of the Avengers, Fantastic Four and X-Men are in hiding as Ultron slaughter any organic life on the planet after going into the future to conquer the present. Two teams of heroes go into the past and future to change history but end up shattering the barrier between the Marvel multiverse.
Rage of Ultron! Avengers from two eras in a battle by Rick Remender and Jerome Opena. When the A.I. conquers Titan (the home of Thanos and the Eternals) how can Earth’s Mightiest Heroes defeat Planet Ultron? This original graphic novel features monumental moment for Hank Pym as Father and Son unite in a bizarre reckoning in space.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is now playing.
By Editor