How am I supposed to write this review? Vision is an
incredible comic book, almost certainly the best series Marvel is currently
publishing. It is such a strange, experimental book that, were it not for the
familiar characters, you’d believe came from a much smaller and more daring
company than Marvel.
Vision #8 continues the amazing trend started by its
predecessors. The first arc ended two issues ago, and its cliffhanger gave us
the promise that the Avengers would be stepping in to find out exactly what was
going on in the android suburban “utopia”. The next issue took a break from all
that to give us a heartbreaking tribute to the romance between Vision and
Scarlet Witch, and what became of it in the end. However, this issue brings us
back to the main story line, and kicks off a new arc properly.
A recurring theme throughout the series has been for the
writers to take ordinary suburban experiences and tropes, and twist them into
something far more creepy and grotesque. Take the Vision family’s dog, Sparky
(a name chosen by fans, as it happens). An adorable pooch who shares their
power of phasing through objects… made from the reanimated remains of a
neighbor’s dog who died of electrocution after stumbling across the corpse
buried in the Vision’s garden.
This issue continues that trend with the introduction of
Victor Mancha to the series. The book handily provides Victor’s backstory to
the unaware: he’s another creation of Ultron, and was destined to one day
destroy the world. Vision also sees him as a brother, and invites him to stay
with his family.
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| And now I can never read Ultron's lines in James Spader's voice ever again |
So, it’s the typical ‘Uncle comes to visit’ storyline. He
tells hilarious jokes about Grandpa Ultron over a food free dinner. He has
fun playing the piano badly with Virginia… until she begins to glitch again, a souvenir from the trauma of the past issues. He
has a conversation with Vin about what vexes all teenage boys: an obsession
with Shakespeare. When Viv visits the grave of her recently deceased friend Chris
(who, unbeknownst to her, was killed partly as a result of her mother’s
actions) and phases into the ground to see the corpse, he comforts her.
The dialogue is absolutely fantastic, and a scene where Vision and Victor talk about family at an art gallery is a highlight.
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| It's more than just creepy synergy, that's a very real painting |
Basically, everyone loves Victor. At least until, by
accident, Vin stumbles across him contacting the Avengers, promising to get the
info about the mysterious goings-on. And the comic ends with Victor using his
powers to hold Vin back, all the while attempting to explain what’s going on,
while the narration details what lies in Victor’s future: a heroic death as he
tries to stop the Vision from destroying the world…
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| It's especially surprising because you wouldn't expect these Avengers to be this competent |
Once again, I'm finding it tough to express how good this is. It's tightly plotted, suspenseful, creepy, and the art matches those themes beautifully. Seriously, just read it.
