Vision (Timely Comics)

: "This article is on the original 1940s Vision. For the modern-day comic-book character, see Vision (Marvel Comics)"Superherobox|

caption=The Golden Age Vision debuts in "Marvel Mystery Comics" #13 (Nov. 1940). Art by Jack Kirby.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=The Vision
real_name=Aarkus
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Marvel Mystery Comics" # 13
(November 1940)
creators=Joe Simon
Jack Kirby
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=
aliases=
powers=|

The Vision (Aarkus) is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who appeared during the 1930-1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books. Created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in "Marvel Mystery Comics" #13 (Nov. 1940), published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics.

Publication history

The Vision debuted in a four-page feature in "Marvel Mystery Comics" #13 (Nov. 1940), and continued as a regular feature in that superhero anthology through issue #48 (Oct. 1943). He also starred in an eight-page story in "Kid Comics" #3 (no month given; previous issue dated Summer 1943).

In the modern day, the character appeared in a flashback story in the World War II-set superhero-team series "The Invaders" vol. 2, #3 (July 1993).

Fictional character biography

The Golden Age Vision, also known as Aarkus, is an alien law enforcement officer from a dimension called Smokeworld. While Aarkus is looking for a suitable place to exile a prisoner, he is accidentally contacted by an Earth scientist named Markham Erickson. Leaving the prisoner on the planet Jupiter, Aarkus accepts Erickson's invitation to fight crime on Earth. ["Marvel Mystery Comics" #13 (Nov. 1940)] Aarkus does so for several years, although during World War II is briefly manipulated by the Axis powers into fighting the Allies. The superhero team the Invaders, however, manage to help Aarkus realize his mistake. ["The Invaders" vol. 2, #3 (July 1993)]

A simulacrum of the Vision was temporarily created from the mind of Rick Jones, along with those of the Blazing Skull, the Fin, and the Golden Age Angel and Patriot, to aid the superhero team the Avengers during the Kree-Skrull War. ["The Avengers" vol. 1, #97 (March 1972)]

Reprints

* "The Golden Age of Marvel Comics, Volume 2" (Marvel, 1999) ISBN 0-7851-0713-4::Untitled origin story: "Marvel Mystery Comics" #13 (Nov. 1940)
* "Marvel Mystery Comics" #1 (Dec. 1999)::Untitled story beginning "From the frozen wastes"; villain Khor, the Black Sorcerer: "Marvel Mystery Comics" #22 (Aug. 1941) [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).]
* "Marvel Super-Heroes" Vol. 1, #13 (March 1968) and
* "The Golden Age of Marvel Comics" (Marvel, 1997) ISBN 0-7851-0564-6::Untitled story (a.k.a. "The Book of Sorcery"): "Marvel Mystery Comics" #25 (Nov. 1941) [Original publication source per the [http://comics.org/details.lasso?id=1778 Grand Comics Database listing for it] . The Nolan index cited lists the story as from "Marvel Mystery Comics" #24.]

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/jjnevins/vision.html Jess Nevins' "Pulp and Adventure Heroes of the Pre-War Years": The Golden Age Vision]
* [http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/4775/vision.html "The Invaders" profile on the Golden Age Vision]
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/vision1.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia: The Golden Age Vision]
*Greg Theakston at Grand Comics Database: [http://comics.org/details.lasso?id=1102#4 "Marvel Mystery Comics" #13]
* [http://www.geocities.com/mailittomarvell/vision.htm Aarkus the Vision - Appearances in Publication Order]