Vision (Timely Comics)
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- This article is on the original 1940s Vision. For the modern-day comic-book character, see Vision (comics)
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The Vision (Aarkus) is a fictional superhero created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby during the 1930-'40s Golden Age of comic books. He first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (Nov. 1940), published by Timely Comics a predecessor of Marvel Comics.
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[edit] Publication history
One of Timely's successful second-tier characters, the Vision starred in a generally seven-page feature in Marvel Mystery Comics #13-48 (Nov. 1940 - Oct. 1943) and in an eight-page story in Kid Comics #3 (1943, no month given; previous issue dated Summer 1943). He also starred in a text story, "The Vision Speaks", by Stan Lee, in Marvel Mystery Comics #23 (Sept. 1941), in which the ruler of Smoke-World was revealed as The Law-Giver.
His only major appearance in modern comics is in The Invaders, Vol. 2, #3 (July 1993), in which he was summoned to Earth and manipulated by Battle Axis into attacking the Allies. He realized his mistake and soon returned home.
Marvel writer-editor Roy Thomas, a fan of the Golden Age character, used the Vision as a visual template for the modern-day Vision, but the characters are otherwise unrelated.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Aarkus either lived in or was native to another dimension. On his planet, known simply as Smoke-World, the Vision was a "Keeper of Law". He was asked by an Earth scientist to come to Earth to act as a super-powered guardian over humanity. The Vision possessed vaguely defined powers, including flight, matter transmutation, and the ability to travel through dimensions via smoke.
A simulacrum of the Vision was temporarily created from the mind of Rick Jones, along with those of the Blazing Skull, the Fin, the Patriot, and the Golden Age Angel, to aid the superhero team the Avengers during the Kree-Skrull War.[1]
[edit] Trivia
- An anecdote states that the Vision was inspired by the cigar-smoke-filled office in which his creator was sitting, trying to think up new characters.[citation needed]
[edit] Reprints
- The Golden Age of Marvel Comics, Volume 2 (Marvel, 1999) ISBN 0-7851-0713-4
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- Untitled origin story: Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (Nov. 1940)
- Marvel Mystery Comics #1 (Dec. 1999)
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- Untitled story beginning "From the frozen wastes"; villain Khor, the Black Sorcerer: Marvel Mystery Comics #22 (Aug. 1941)[2]
- Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1, #13 (March 1968) [and]
- The Golden Age of Marvel Comics (Marvel, 1997) ISBN 0-7851-0564-6
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- Untitled story (a.k.a. "The Book of Sorcery"): Marvel Mystery Comics #25 (Nov. 1941)[3]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ The Avengers #97 (March 1972)
- ^ Title erroneously listed as "Vs. Khor" in "The Timely Comics Super-Hero Index (1939-1957)", by Mike Nolan a.k.a. Michelle Nolan, Alter Ego Vol. 3, #57 (March 2006).
- ^ Original publication source per the Grand Comics Database listing for it. The Nolan index cited lists the story as from Marvel Mystery Comics #24.
