Marvel’s Latest “Avengers” Movie Introduces the Famed Supervillain to the Big Screen
The Avengers: Age of Ultron premiered in Los Angeles on Monday, with expectations high for the second film in Marvels Avengers series. From what has been leaked, it looks like the gangs all back. Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye are all present and accounted for. Two new…
The Avengers: Age of Ultron premiered in Los Angeles on Monday, with expectations high for the second film in Marvels Avengers series. From what has been leaked, it looks like the gangs all back. Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye are all present and accounted for. Two new characters siblings, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, are introduced, along with Ultron’s newest creation Vision. I have not personally had the privilege of screening this blockbuster, so I am not going to speculate on the plot twists or the edge of your seat finishing scenes. However, let’s take a deeper look into the history and past appearances of the super villain whose name is included in the title, Ultron.
Director Joss Whedon did some explaining at the 2013 San Diego Comic Con where he made a few enlightening statements. In the comic books, Ultron makes his first appearance in Avengers #54. In following issues, it is revealed through flashbacks that Hank Pym created the A.I. self- teaching, self- learning robot Ultron. Director Joss Whedon stated at the expo that the Avengers: Age of Ultron, would not follow that storyline. A new movie set for July release was already deeply involved with the Hank Pym character. Pym turns into superhero The Ant Man, which is the title of the Edgar Wright directed film. To say the least Whedon said it was an issue he took the most heat from, but explained Pym and Ant-Man is Wrights baby. He decided to wrap it up nice and clean for the masses, by making Ultron an Avengers creation, therefore making them responsible for the end of the human race if they do not stop the super villain.
Ultron has a plethora of powers and abilities. Although some abilities differ with varying rebuilds of the super bot, some common powers include superhuman levels of strength, speed, stamina, and durability. Ultron can also take flight at subsonic speeds. A major weapon he uses is a type of ray called an “encephalo-ray”, which places victims in a coma state. It is in this state Ultron can mesmerize and mind-control enemies with subliminal hypnotic suggestions to be used later on. He can convert radiation into energy, and has a super human intellect that helps him analyze and calculate with amazing accuracy. He is a genius with robotics and artificial intelligence. His armor is composed of adamantium, a fictional alloy, which is almost damage proof.
The proper history of Ultron begins back in afore mentioned Avengers #54 (1968), with scientist/inventor Hank Pym creating the A.I. robot. He is introduced as the Crimson Crowl, and plays a big role in creating The Masters of Evil. As events unfold, Ultron learns manipulative powers like brainwashing and hypnotism. Before long he is turning against his creator by brainwashing him into forgetting, he ever created the super intelligent bot. He learned how to rebuild himself, turning himself off and on and upgrading five times. Ultron-5 built an android using the brain patterns and body of two other Marvel heroes, Wonder Man and The Human Torch. This android would become Vision, a tough opponent for any superhero inn his own right. In later issues, Vision turns against Ultron, having developed a conscious and turning against his own creator, Ultron. Appearing in Avengers #66-68 (1969), an upgraded robot emerges calling himself Ultron-6. Here it is explained Ultron used Vision to steal adamantium, the super strong impenetrable fictional alloy, also used in Iron Man. Ultron-6 with his super strong alloy body is actually defeated by the Avengers, although his head remained intact giving him the ability to come back again as Ultron-7. Evil Maximus took his still useable head recreated Utron-7. He had a huge body but it was not cast from adamantium. His battle with the Fantastic 4 ended in failure. The Ultron character next makes an appearance in Avengers #161-162 (1977) as Ultron-8. He takes control of Hank Pym’s mind and created Jocasta. He wants to make her his wife and uses the thought patterns of Pym’s own wife, the Wasp to help him. The Scarlet Witch subsequently defeats him. Through the 1980’s, Ultron-9 and 10 are brought to life to only be defeated by the good guys again. Ultron-9 (created by a hypnotized Iron Man), was knocked into a vat of adamantium, where he cooled and was encased in it forever. The Machine Man. takes out Ultron-10, in the next few issues. Ultron-11 was created by the Beyonder, but is taken out by the Thing during the Secret Wars. The Secret Wars shows that Ultron-11 actually created Ultron-12 to help defeat the West Coast Avengers. This is also, where Doctor Doom make his appearance in the Avengers. Ultron -12 befriended Hank Pym, and works alongside him and Wonder Man to defeat Ultron-11. The twelfth version of the robot then deactivates, leaving us to wonder if Ultron did actually choose to be evil or was naturally hard wired that way. The 1990’s bring us Doctor Doom, the creator of the next Ultron. Doctor Doom uses the previous personalities of Ultron but adds a high amount of Ultron-12, hoping he can keep the robot under his control and subservient. An epic failure ensues with Ultron splitting into multiple personalities and decapitating himself. Daredevil and others finish him off cutting his neck cables. By now, you get the idea there is a recurring theme when it comes to Ultron. The super intelligent robot always has a way to rebuild himself or has hypnotized and brainwashed other highly educated individuals to do it for him. As the story progresses to near present day issues of the Avengers, a group of Phalanx, who take him to their parent world, banishes Ultron into the depths of space where his signal is picked up. Here he merges with the Phalanx and grows his world of minions. It is here in deep space Ultron hones his craft and perfects his upgrades. The Age of Ultron in the comic books tells the story of how with the help of Spider-Man the Avengers do finally defeat Ultron, even with his mind-controlled army, when he comes to settle the score with his nemesis, The Avengers.
I hate to assume things, but the back-story on Ultron could be a whole movie itself, which is why director Joss Whedon decided to simplify the villain’s creation. Well that and Hank Pym and the Ant-Man were already claimed by fellow director Edgar Wright, in his upcoming movie with said title character, as stated above. In the movie, the Avengers are in need of some calmer times after destroying S.H.I.E.L.D. Tony Stark, with the help of fellow scientist Bruce Banner, decides to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, Ultron. This is how the audience is introduced to Ultron. The plan backfires and Ultron is hell bent on destroying the human race.
The abilities of director Joss Whedon and promise of big budget special effects, make this a must see for every demographic. If the Age of Ultron can replicate the first Avengers movie, there should be no mention of the length of the movie or any negative comments. Of course there will be moaning from purists on the movie version creation of Ultron, but I feel his history is too complicated for the millions of people that are not as knowledgeable with the Avengers. I would venture to guess the director did not want people with limited knowledge spending the whole movie asking others “what’s going on?” or “I thought Ultron died already”. The Avengers: Age of Ultron premieres worldwide on May 1, 2015
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