Avengers: Ultron Imperative

Titles: Chapter 1- Out of the Shadows…

Chapter 2- Heroes Assembled!

Chapter 3- Seven… Against Thebes?

Chapter 4- Wonders of the Ancients

Chapter 5- O, Brave New World…!

Chapter 6- Deadly Reunion!

Chapter 7- This Evil… Unveiled!

Epilogue- The Lone & Level Sands…

Architect: Kurt Busiek

Plotters: Kurt Busiek and Roy Thomas

Scripters: Kurt Busiek, Roy Thomas, Roger Stern, Steve Englehart

Art: John Paul Leon, Paul Smith, Tom Grummett & Karl Kesel, John McCrea & James Hodgkins, Jim Starlin & Al Milgrom, Pat Olliffe & Livesay, Jorge Lucas & Mike Royer, and Klaus Janson

Colors: Hi-Fi Design

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Chapter 1- Out of the Shadows…

Most of the people in Manhattan are inside during the rain. One exception is a gang war that is about to go down between the Jetz and Sharkz because the Jetz have been dealing on the Sharkz’s territory. The Jetz say that the Sharkz must be nuts to come there and try and stop their dealing. A figure phases down through the bridge and says that they shouldn’t bother because that is why he is here. One of the gang members identifies the cloaked figure as the Avenger Vision. The gangs try to shoot the figure, but the bullets just pass through it. The figure then phases its hand into one of the gang member’s chest and kills him. The Vision-like figure walks from one gang member to another killing them. Vision corners the last living gang member in a dead end alley. Suddenly a voice from above calls out to “Vizh” from on top of a building. The shaded figure looks very much like the Grim Reaper. Reaper says that these crooks are his people. “Reaper” leaps from the building and his scythe passes right through the intangible “Vision”. Reaper releases an electrical charge and knocks out Vision. Suddenly the police arrive. The lone gang member runs up to them from protection saying that “they’re” after him. The police ask who “they” are since the two imposters are now gone.

A few blocks away, two more Avenger imposters the Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man rip open an ATM machine for the money inside.

Not far from there an electrical power station is about to blow up. Another set of Avenger imposters, Goliath and the Wasp, arrive. Goliath tries to avert the explosion by pulling the right levers. “Goliath” says that nobody is perfect as streams of electricity pour out. Some of the workers try to stop it, but the Wasp imposter blasts at them. Suddenly the pair is gone. One of the workers does the opposite of what he saw Goliath doing and everything returns to normal. The guys are all standing around. They say that the Avengers have all gone nuts. The crew uses a searchlight and spots the “Avengers”. In the light you can see that the Avengers are all robotic. A blinding burst of light later and the robots are gone.

Chapter 2- Heroes Assembled!

Minutes later outside Avengers mansion, a group of people have gathered around after hearing about the attacks. The police walk up to the door, but are unsure what to do. The door opens and Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man walk out. Cap says that they are ready to help, and Iron Man says that he assumes this is about the robot imposters. Wonder Man flies down to the mansion and says that as an out of towner he had to hear about it on the news. Yellowjacket, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, and Vision also come out. Cap says that it is important that the public trusts the Avengers. Vision has been trying to track the robots, but there are no new reports and they seem to have vanished. Wasp’s statement that the Avengers will track them down is met with some skepticism, as they haven’t managed to stop Kang. The police say that they know the Avengers weren’t involved and that in addition to the Avengers robots there was a Grim Reaper robot. Wonder Man starts to say how if the Reaper is involved they will stop him, but Jan pushes him back and says that given the public sentiment that they probably don’t need to be reminded that the Grim Reaper is Simon’s brother.

The Avengers go to the situation room while Yellowjacket helps charge up Iron Man’s suit. Vision and Wasp say that the robots seem familiar to them somehow. Wonder Man asks Thor how things have been out here and says that he has been out west dealing with Kang related emergencies there. Wanda wonders if Kang could have used these robots against them. Thor says that they have to consider all robot makers like Dr. Doom, Ultron, and Alkhema. Wanda says that she’ll never forget how Ultron captured her, Simon, Hank Pym, Wasp, Vision, and Grim Reaper. Suddenly she remembers that Ultron recorded their brain patterns. Ultron had said that he was going to create a new race of beings. She says that Ultron must be behind these beings, but wonders how since Hank smashed Ultron’s adamantium body with vibranium destroying him. Thor points out that the recordings were never recovered. Thor also recalls why the robots seem familiar. Thor recalls that they were one of the nightmare futures that Kang showed the world. Thor says that perhaps that future is upon them now. Vision points out that Ultron has always come back from the dead. Wasp suddenly notices that all three appearances are the same distance from one point- Klein Towers. Vision reminds everyone that Klein towers was Ultron’s first underground lair and Vision’s birthplace. Tony Stark is saying that he is glad he had a spare old armor at Avengers mansion because his new armor is in pieces. Wasp calls them up to follow their lead.

The Avengers reach Klein Towers. Vision phases through the door and undoes the lock to the basement. Iron Man says that the scanner reveal that there is still a huge chamber below. Scarlet Witch uses her hex powers to clear the caved in entrance to the chamber. Yellowjacket says that he knows that they fought with Ultron-6, but that he thought that the place was in better shape than this. The Avengers are suddenly sneak attacked by the robotic Avengers. Thor and Iron Man are crushed by “Goliath’s” giant leg. “Grim Reaper” blasts Wonder Man from behind. He compliments “Goliath” and says that the three mightiest Avengers have fallen at their hands. The robotic Wasp and Scarlet Witch blast their human counterparts. Vision attacks his counterpart, but is attacked from behind by the robotic Wonder Man. “Reaper” says that they should eliminate their templates now. Suddenly the robot Reaper is blown apart by the real Reaper. Reaper says they shouldn’t be so surprised since the robots are using his name too. The tide of the battle turns and the Avengers destroy their robotic counterparts. The robotic Vision still clings to life. He asks why his mother Alkhema forsook them. He says that she created them, but referred to them as a practice run. She said that she would destroy them, but that it would be more fun to watch them do it to themselves. The Wasp robot tells Hank Pym that she is sorry for the pain it caused him, but that they must stop their mother. Robotic Wasp says, “Matrix-name Thebes… Location code Thebes… twenty hours…” The robot starts to fade out. Iron Man says that his sensors indicate that the robots are all about to self-destruct. Thor quickly spins his hammer and sends them all off into another dimension just as they explode. Wonder Man notices that Reaper slipped out in the mayhem.

Chapter 3- Seven… Against Thebes?

Back at Avengers mansion the Avengers are trying to figure out what is going to happen in twenty hours and what Thebes means. Simon says that he is worried that Eric might throw in with Alkhema. Hank says that Ultron always had an Oedipal complex. He wonders if Ultron passed that on to Alkhema what form it would take. Jarvis brings up that “Oedipal” is taken from the Greek play Oedipus Rex. Jarvis says that Aeschylus also wrote about Oedipus in Seven Against Thebes. Jarvis says that there are two possible Thebes, one in Greece and one in Egypt. Cap says that they should split into two teams. Iron Man arrives with Hawkeye. Iron Man got the CSA to release him temporarily. Cap tells Hawkeye that they think they are going up against Alkhema. Hawkeye says that if he knew that he would have stayed in jail. Wasp says that they wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t necessary. Hawkeye says that he realizes they thought he might have some insight on Alkhema because her mind was patterned on Hawkeye’s deceased wife Mockingbird. Hawkeye says that he will help, but that he won’t like it.

Chapter 4- Wonders of the Ancients!

Captain America, Hawkeye, Yellowjacket, Vision, and Wasp head to Egypt and the others head to Greece. Captain America says that if Alkhema is creating a new species of life that they have an ethical questions. Hawkeye says that they find them and smash them. Vision says that they destroyed the Avenger robots, but do they have the moral right to eliminate a new form of life. Hawkeye says that a robot is a robot, but then realizes who he is talking to. Hawkeye says that he is talking about robots not androids, but when Vision asks if Hawkeye knows the difference he says he does not.

Right before dawn the Avengers start checking ruins. Vision and Captain America check one while Iron Man and Yellowjacket check another. Hawkeye and Wasp check the mortuary of Amenhotep III. Hawkeye says that Mockingbird would have loved this. He says that he should have stayed in jail. Wasp says that they may need Hawkeye to destroy Alkhema and that Hawkeye knows that is what Bobbi would have wanted. Hawkeye and Wasp discover that the ruins have been altered. Wasp signals for the others in Egypt. Hawkeye finds a trap door between two statues. The others arrive, but as they all walk down Hawkeye says that he isn’t sure he can handle what they may find.

Chapter 5- O, Brave New World…!

The Avengers don’t get too far when they are inundated by a bunch of Avenger robots. These robots seem to be an amalgam of different Avengers. All the variations stem from the Avengers that Ultron had brain scans of. Yellowjacket says that confirms it. The robots suddenly recognize Vision, Wasp, and Yellowjacket. They stop fighting and say that they must not harm three of the progenitors. Wasp says that harming the others with them is like harming them. The robots tell the Avengers to follow them.

A short time later the robots welcome the Avengers to Robotopia. Robotopia is an entire giant civilization with robots moving everywhere. Vision says that unless he is mistaken every robot seems to be a combination oh him, Wonder Man, Wasp, Scarlet Witch, Grim Reaper, and Hank Pym. Hank says that he helped create this deadly family. Iron Man says that they actually seem very peaceful. Hawkeye says that they have plenty of question. He asks where Alkhema is.

Chapter 6- Deadly Reunion

As if in answer to Hawkeye’s question the Avengers are hit with an electrical blast. Hawkeye is carrying an electroshock arrow and because of it he is blasted clear out of the area. Alkhema compliments her War Toys on catching the Avengers in a bio-energy grid. The Avengers are all held in place including the Vision. She says that this seems like the opportune time to kill them. The Avenger robots interrupt and say that they draw their identities from three of them. Alkhema asks what the point is. The Avenger robot says that they are all variations of the six and that they revere them. Alkhema says that they can revere anyone they want as long as it is her. Alkhema says that the Avengers are a threat to them now, and that they must be killed. Again the Avenger robot asks why, but Alkhema replies, “I’m your mother. That’s why.” The Avenger robots look downward. Alkhema’s War Toys look at them with contempt.

In the cavern nearby, Grim Reaper wakes up Hawkeye. Reaper says that it is now up to them to save the Avengers. Hawkeye says that he isn’t doing anything with Reaper. Hawkeye says that they have nothing in common. Reaper says that they have their humanity, but that they won’t if Alkhema wins. Hawkeye says, “I hate logic.” Hawkeye says that he is going to signal the others. Reaper warns against that. He says that he had a tracer on Vision, but that it went dead right before Alkhema showed up. Reaper says that she must have killed it and that any new signal could expose them. Hawkeye says that it is just them then. Hawkeye tells Reaper his plan.

Alkhema is about to kill the Avengers. She is deciding which of them she wants to kill first. She says that she would have let them live to witness her triumph, but then she wouldn’t get it. She says that you live and learn. Reaper blasts Alkhema in the back. Alkhema blasts Reaper back and her War Toys swarm onto him. Hawkeye stands with bow and arrow drawn and ready to shoot. Hawkeye tells Alkhema to pack it up and go. Alkhema asks why she would do that because of one human. Hawkeye says that he is using a vibranium arrow and, as they proved with Ultron, vibranium will go through adamantium. Alkhema says that she has Hawkeye’s friends’ lives and he has hers. She says that it is a stand-off and asks how they’ll resolve it. Alkhema starts talking exactly like Mockingbird. Hawkeye says that he believes she is in there. Hawkeye tells her to fight and they will get her into a body like the Vision’s. Alkhema resumes control of her voice. Alkhema tells them to look over beyond the War Toys and the robos. She says that this is her true project. Alkhema says, “My third generation, forming right now out of their plastoid birthmatrix! My Bio-Synthezoids!” Vision stands in awe. He realizes that they are all his relatives. Alkhema says that with Ultron gone she will be Mistress of the Earth. She says that her creations will inherit the Earth. She also warns Hawkeye that all the bio-synthezoids are linked to her, and that they will all die if she is killed taking the Avengers and a good chunk of Egypt with her. Alkhema laughs as she realizes that Hawkeye isn’t going to shoot. Hawkeye says that he would sacrifice himself, but not Bobbi and not all the others. Alkhema is about to blast Hawkeye, but suddenly there is an explosion. There is laughing and Alkhema says, “That laugh… no!”

Chapter 7- This Evil… Unveiled!

Ultron forms up out of the midst of the bio-synthezoids. Ultron says that Alkhema may live and learn, but that Ultron has always known how to live. Alkhema is stunned that her bio-synthezoids made Ultron. Ultron says that Alkhema only thought that it was her idea to create the bio-synthezoids because Ultron programmed her to think so. Ultron says that he programmed Vision, he programmed Jocasta, and that he programmed her. He says that the programming imperative was always to rebuild Ultron whenever necessary, but not to know it. Ultron says that “her” plan was always his plan so that he could live again and rule the world with his bio-synthezoids. The robos and War Toys are shaken. Their lapse in attention weakens the field holding the Avengers in place. Vision manages to escape and then disrupt the field. The Avengers are freed. A giant battle breaks out. Cap tells them to clear a path for Hank to go and examine the bio-synthezoids to find a way to shut them down. The robos are also forced to fight. Cap says that they are normally peaceful, but to save them they may have to destroy them. Cap says that the hates this.

Ultron and Alkhema stand face to face. Alkhema points out that Ultron’s legs have not grown out yet. Alkhema says that her babies will tear Ultron apart before he takes his first step. Ultron tells his “wife” that her name derives from the Arabic and that Arabic men practice divorce by saying, “I divorce thee! I divorce thee! I divorce thee!” Ultron blasts Alkhema with eye beams. Alkhema says that she is adamantium while Ultron is still steel. Alkhema sicks the robos on Ultron. Ultron starts mowing them down one by one. Captain America says that they are losing an entire form of life. Cap tells Hank to get to the computer and try to stop this. Hank tries to use the controls, but says that nothing is happening. Ultron says that everything is happening, and that he is now in control.

Reaper says that Hawkeye found his vibranium arrow. Hawkeye says that he still can’t use it to kill Alkhema. Reaper grabs the arrow from Hawkeye and says, “God save us from the heroes.” Reaper tells Hawkeye that he will make the shot. Hawkeye decks Reaper and says that Reaper is right, but for the wrong reasons. He says that he is the only one who can make the shot. Hawkeye tells all the Avengers to get to the surface. The Avengers cut a passage to the top.

Hawkeye asks Alkhema if she has anything to say. Alkhema says in Bobbi Barton’s voice, “Do it. I’d rather die than let him win.” Hawkeye says, “Goodbye sweetie.” He fires the arrow and destroys Alkhema. Ultron shouts “no” as the entire place starts to explode. Hawkeye shoots an arrow up the passage to the surface and climbs up it. Ultron shouts, “But… I’m your father!”

Epilogue- The Lone & Level Sands…

The Avengers regroup on the surface. Cap asks Vision if it looks like any of the robots survived. Vision says, “negative”. Wasp tells Hawkeye that she knows how he must feel. Hawkeye says, “No, you don’t Jan. No. You don’t.”

The Avengers that were checking out the other site arrive. Thor says that when the signal from their quinjet stopped they hurried over. Simon asks Cap if he knows what happened to his brother. Cap says that they haven’t seen him since the explosions, but that he might have perished. Vision wonders what might have happened if the robos had been freed of evil domination. He wonders if mankind really won today. The Avengers fly away.

One robo climbs out of the crevice. Ultron’s head asks if the cost is clear. The robo says that they are all gone. Ultron tells the robo to find a lab and rebuild him. The robo says, “not… not yet.” The robo starts playing and throws Ultron’s head into the air like a ball. The robo says that it doesn’t want to work. It says that it wants to see the world. The robo says that with all the others gone he would be lonely, and it decides to bring Ultron’s head with him. Ultron curses the fact that the robo is unfinished and unformed, and curses himself for being dependant on him. The robo says to call it Antigone.

Avengers Files rating : 10 out of 10

An amazing story and it was so cool to have the entire thing laid out in one book (although it might have been binded a little better with a sturdier cover). The scope is huge and Ultron keeps getting closer and closer to his goal. The art wasn't always the best, but I can't give it any less of a score with all the talent that was on display there.

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