AVENGERS ICONS: THE VISION #2
"Eye of the Beholder"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Ivan Reis
Inks: Joe Pimental
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Paul Tutrone
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.99 US/$4.75 CAN |
The Vision is a character with a long history, and a rather complex one at that. Fortunately, Geoff Johns offers up a thoroughly accessible story that will appeal to longtime comics readers and new ones alike. Reis is really on his game when it comes to the art, and he and the writer present a tense story that puts one in mind of monster horror movies like Alien and The Evil Dead.
The Vision has lost all but his earliest memories, and he's coldly seeking out answers... answers he hopes to find from the family of his creator, Phineas P. Horton. Unfortunately, he needs them quickly, as a mysterious force that can control machines remotely is frantically trying to destroy the synethezoid. With a curious young boy named Danny in tow, he flees New York, looking for Horton's next of kin.
This book is easily the best work that Ivan Reis has produced in mainstream comics to date. Before, I didn't really see him as much more than a simply capable fill-in artist, but from now on, this is the level of work that people in the industry and readers will come to expect from him. This script seems to have brought out the best in his work. I've never seen a more innovative and effective portrayal of the title character. Reis's interpretation of the Vision's half-phased body captures the character's dichotomous nature as a spirit and a machine. Reis's interpretation of the story's villain's abilities, especially in this issue's climactic closing scene, is thoroughly chilling as well.
The title character's ghostly powers and cold, technological origins have always made for an interesting combination, allowing writers to explore humanity through what was essentially a hollow shell. That non-human -- not inhuman, but empty -- quality is further enhanced here with his memory loss, making the Vision even more of an aimless spirit.
Truthfully, it's not the plot that really captures the reader's attention; we've seen this sort of living machine antagonist thing before, be it in 2001: A Space Odyssey or Virus or even Avengers and the villain Ultron. No, what makes this book a worthwhile read is the eerie atmosphere that Johns and Reis have established. Supernatural and creepy technological tones come together to make for an involving and entertaining read.
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