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Quote1 Once I imagined -- perhaps hoped that in some way I was Simon Williams! I AM NOT! What difference if I have the same brain waves! I AM UNIQUE! I am THE VISION -- ! And thus...I am content! Quote2
Vision

Appearing in "...The Trial!"

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Synopsis for "...The Trial!"

Following their battle against Graviton, a number of the Avengers depart on their personal business: Iron Man is taking the Whizzer back to the hospital for his heart condition, Yellowjacket and Wasp back to Henry Pym's lab, Thor off to personal business and Captain America to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Left behind are the Vision, Black Panther, Beast, Scarlet Witch, and Wonder Man, none of them are aware until it's too late that their base has been invaded by the Grim Reaper, the mad brother of Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man.

Shocked to see his brother is a costumed villain, he is told by the Vision that the Grim Reaper has had a vendetta against the Avengers, blaming them for his supposed death and once even attempted to coerce the Vision into helping him as it was the brain patterns of Wonder Man which the Vision's mind was based on. Although Wonder Man is reluctant to strike at his own brother, the other Avengers attempt to counter attack and find themselves easily defeated as the Grim Reaper knocks them all out, including his brother Wonder Man.

When the heroes come around they find themselves bound to shock bracelets and forced to sit at the Avengers' meeting table. There the Grim Reaper informs them that he is putting Wonder Man and Vision on the trail to learn which one is really his brother Simon Williams. He "appoints" the Black Panther to be the "council" of his mock trail and to have the final decision on which being is the true Simon Williams.

First the Grim Reaper demands that the Vision tell his origins, and the synthezoid complies: He explains that he was created by the evil robot Ultron from the inert body of the original Human Torch, and on the brain patterns of Wonder Man, whom everyone thought was dead at the time, and based on this he could be considered a being like Simon Williams. The Grim Reaper butts in and tells all gathered of the time that the Vision agreed to allow the Grim Reaper and the Space Phantom to attempt to capture Captain America so that they could put the Vision's mind in Cap's body, and how he had shielded the Grim Reaper from an assassination attempt by Hydra.

The Black Panther interrupts and has the Vision tell the real reason for going along with the plan: That the Vision was aware that Captain America was sneaking up on the Grim Reaper and only played along as a distraction. He then goes on to explain that the Vision has gone on to have his own life including marrying the Scarlet Witch. The idea that his brother could marry a mutant disgusts the bigoted Grim Reaper, and he then turns his attentions to Wonder Man. When the Scarlet Witch asks the Vision why he is not defending himself, the Vision responds by saying that he is not Simon Williams and he would not wish a second death upon a man who has suffered so much already.

When Wonder Man is asked to tell his origins, he explains how he was manipulated by the Masters of Evil to be exposed to Baron Zemo's ionic device. He then explains how he was used in a plot to get revenge against the Avengers, and tells his brother that the Avengers had nothing to do with his death, but it was a 24 hour mortality the experiment Zemo put him through that killed him in the end. He then explains about his subsequent resurrection how he came around and smashed out of a crate planted at Avengers Mansion and how he had been manipulated by the likes of Black Talon and the Living Laser.

With the testimony over, the Black Panther points out that he can sense something different about Wonder Man that he is more than the man he used to be. Admitting it, Wonder Man takes off his goggles revealing that his eyes are crackling with ionic energy. The Vision then denounces being Simon Williams and despite the fact his mind was based on Wonder Man's brain patterns he is a distinct individual. When the Grim Reaper attempts to execute Vision, Wonder Man steps in, completely immune to the Grim Reaper's weapons he destroys his brother's techno-scythe and knocks him out with a single punch.

With the battle over the Avengers are freed and leave Wonder Man alone to ponder over the day's events.

Notes

  • Colours: Slifer and Kraft credited as Sliferkraft.
  • Letters (story pages): Saladino (uncredited) page 1, Wohl pages 2-17.
  • This issue contains a letters page, "Avengers Assemble". Letters are published from R.J.J.B., Edward B. Via, and Brian Pgol.

See Also

Links and References

Avengers #160 at Mike's Amazing World of Marvel Comics

References

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