American Update: Avengers Assemble! Mighty Marvel Firsts: Avengers #57 (1st Vision) and #58 (origin Vision)
*Marvel: A significant latecomer to Marvel in the Silver Age was the enigmatic synthezoid, the Vision, who premiered in Avengers #57 as a pawn of the evil Ultron. Rapidly being discovered to be in Ultron’s thrall, the Vision was offered membership the next issue, in one of the most rapid reforms ever, and became a mainstay of the Avengers and the MU in general, particularly through his convoluted relationship with the Scarlet Witch. Based on a Simon & Kirby character from the 1940s, author Roy Thomas’ love affair with all things Golden Age stood him in good stead, as the Vision captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide… though the exquisite art by John Buscema didn’t hurt! Those of us old enough to be around at the time have indelible memories of the impact Vizh made, as something genuinely out of the ordinary in super-heroics, and these two issues, his debut and induction into the Avengers, represent the work of Thomas and Buscema at their peak. With the increasing prominence of the Vision in Marvel’s cinematic universe, demand for his earlier appearances has spiked – and if you’re going to have two, these are the two to get! Issue #57 is a sound, bright VG, small spine ‘ticks’ and one faint diagonal crease at right cover corner, bisecting the Wasp (sorry, Jan). A cents copy with no UK pence price or overstamp, on sale at £90. Issue #58 is an attractive FN p, clean and unimpaired cover scene, at £50. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD