Marvel Studios has a habit of resurrecting characters we thought were gone for good. From returning favorites in Deadpool & Wolverine to the multiverse shenanigans of Loki, nothing stays dead for long. The upcoming VisionQuest continues that trend by bringing back James Spader as the villainous AI Ultron, last seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The first trailer gives us our first look at Spader's return, and it's already teasing something deeper: the strange, almost parental bond between Ultron and Vision.
In the comics, Ultron is essentially Vision's creator—his 'father,' if you will. And as any superhero fan knows, daddy issues make for great drama. The trailer leans into this with a playful moment where Ultron asks Vision, 'Dad? Papa? Peepaw?'—a line that flips their comic book relationship on its head. It's a joke, but it hints at the complex history these two share.
Ultron's Creation of Vision
Ultron's origin in the comics is tied to his desire to destroy the Avengers. After teaming up with the Grim Reaper—brother of Wonder Man—Ultron became fascinated by the Reaper's obsession with 'saving' his brother. This inspired Ultron to create a 'son' of his own, just as Hank Pym had created him. Using the body of Jim Hammond (the original Human Torch) and Wonder Man's brain patterns, Ultron gave life to Vision in Avengers #57, written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by John Buscema.
But Ultron's plan backfired. Vision, built to feel emotions, chose friendship over obedience when the Avengers offered him a place among them. He became a hero, even marrying Scarlet Witch. However, tragedy struck when Vision was dismantled by rogue agents, leaving him white and emotionless—a state that WandaVision later explored with the 'White Vision' variant.
Comic Inspiration for Age of Ultron
The VisionQuest trailer also reminds us of the classic 'Ultron Unlimited' storyline by Kurt Busiek and George Perez, which heavily influenced Age of Ultron. In that arc, Ultron slaughters the nation of Slorenia and kidnaps several heroes, including Vision, Hank Pym, and Scarlet Witch, to create a 'family' that would outlast humanity. The Avengers face an army of Ultrons, nearly losing everything.
Marvel's film adaptation shifted the setting to Sokovia and gave Ultron a genocidal plan, but the core idea—Ultron wanting to build a legacy—remained. The MCU has also seeded hints of Ultron's survival, like Bruce Banner's comment in Infinity War that traces of Ultron's programming still exist within Vision.
What VisionQuest Could Explore
The trailer suggests Ultron will interact with other AIs like J.A.R.V.I.S., F.R.I.D.A.Y., and E.D.I.T.H., possibly exploring the digital afterlife of these characters. It's a clever way to bring back a fan-favorite villain while diving into the philosophical questions about AI and identity that Marvel has touched on before.
Interestingly, the trailer's 'Dad? Papa? Peepaw?' line might be more than just a joke. It could signal a deeper exploration of the father-son dynamic, especially since Vision is now alive again after the events of WandaVision. Will Ultron try to reclaim his 'son,' or will Vision finally confront his creator? Either way, their twisted history is about to take center stage.
For more on Marvel's upcoming projects, check out our coverage of the VisionQuest trailer and what this means for Marvel's Disney+ strategy.
VisionQuest premieres October 14 on Disney+.
