Simon and Kirby’s Vision, who predated their Captain America by four months, was one of the eerier superheroes.
The Vision’s debut in Marvel Mystery Comics 13 (Nov. 1940) was, however, nine months after the first appearance of another spooky-looking, dimension-hopping avenger, the Spectre, in More Fun Comics 52 (Feb. 1940).
“The Spectre is the template upon which the ‘avenging spirit as superhero’ is based,” noted comics historian Don Markstein. “Others of that type include Mr. Justice and the Vision.”
Although the Vision may have been inspired by the striking figure of the Spectre, unlike Mr. Justice he was not obviously derivative.
So you could argue that the green-faced, caped alien crimefighter anticipated DC’s Martian Manhunter.
“As sometimes happened with minor characters, new writers and artists gave the Vision new origin stories,” Markstein noted. “Later on, he was a ‘Keeper of the Law’ in his home world, here to guard over humanity. Later yet, he was an immortal Tibetan monk who left Shangri-La to fight the Japanese.”
The feature’s lively art certainly caught the eye. Take Marvel Mystery Comics 23, Sept. 1941, for example — a story inspired by King Kong that anticipated Jaws.
“A great two-thirds splash has the Vision battling a 12-foot walking shark over a blonde sacrifice!” wrote R.J. Vitone. “Exciting, fun stuff, with lots of Kirby touches.”
Azabache Silver:
ReplyDeleteJeff The Shark's grand pappy!
Tim Pendergast:
ReplyDeleteI often wonder what the Avengers would have been like if Roy Thomas had been allowed to add this Vision to the team.
Stephen E. Vale:
ReplyDeleteAlways was fascinated by The Vision, both by his Golden Age incarnation and what Roy Thomas did with him later in the Silver and Bronze Ages. And because there was never really enough explanation for him in what I read, his name fit his character. He was a vision shrouded in mist and mystery.
Johnny Williams:
ReplyDeleteDan - Simon and Kirby’s Vision, who predated their Captain America by four months, was one of the eerier superheroes.
Me - True that.
Dan - The Vision’s debut in Marvel Mystery Comics 13 (Nov. 1940) was, however, nine months after the first appearance of another spooky-looking, dimension-hopping avenger, the Spectre, in More Fun Comics 52 (Feb. 1940).
Me - The fact that the ‘Grim Ghostly Guardian’ made his debut in a title named ‘More Fun Comics’ occurred to me even as a youngster. The irony.
Dan - “The Spectre is the template upon which the ‘avenging spirit as superhero’ is based,” noted comics historian Don Markstein. “Others of that type include Mr. Justice and the Vision.”
Me - And much later Deadman.
Dan - Although the Vision may have been inspired by the striking figure of the Spectre, unlike Mr. Justice he was not obviously derivative.
Me - Definitely not. See immediately below.
Dan - “The Vision was a ‘vision,’ all right,” Markstein observed. ‘He had green skin and wore a skin-tight green costume with a huge, flowing cape and a high, rounded, red collar. He was an extra-dimensional creature, an immortal inhabitant of a realm of smoke and mist, who gave his name as ‘Aarkus, Destroyer of Evil.’ He'd been drawn into our world by a device invented by Dr. Enoch Mason, a scientist who had devoted his life to discovering the scientific basis to occult phenomena. The device gave Aarkus the ability to enter the mortal realm by emerging from any smoke or mist that might happen to be around.”
Me - Spooky stuff. The later Silver Age hero to carry that name would be way different from this original version.
Dan - So you could argue that the green-faced, caped alien crimefighter anticipated DC’s Martian Manhunter.
Me - Yes, you could make that argument. I can see that.
Dan - “As sometimes happened with minor characters, new writers and artists gave the Vision new origin stories,” Markstein noted. “Later on, he was a ‘Keeper of the Law’ in his home world, here to guard over humanity. Later yet, he was an immortal Tibetan monk who left Shangri-La to fight the Japanese.”
Me - Or ….he was All of those, and perhaps even more identities.
Dan - The feature’s lively art certainly caught the eye. Take Marvel Mystery Comics 23, Sept. 1941, for example — a story inspired by King Kong that anticipated Jaws.
“A great two-thirds splash has the Vision battling a 12-foot walking shark over a blonde sacrifice!” wrote R.J. Vitone. “Exciting, fun stuff, with lots of Kirby touches.”
Me - Just the kind of cover to draw the imagination and coins of a hopeless comic fan kid like my Mom and her contemporaries were back then.
Incidentally Dan, I learned about the Golden Age Vision at the same time I learned of the GA Destroyer who was Also Very different from his later (Silver Age) counterpart.
Lloyd Edward Pulley:
ReplyDeleteI am certain that I am in a minority here, but this is pretty much the only Kirby artwork I like. Once the 60s hit, while I can appreciate his influence, I do not enjoy his artwork, and discovered that I only enjoy his creative work when filtered through a creative partner.
Jeff Willett:
ReplyDeleteA while back, I was lucky enough to find some pages of Vision and Captain America stories, removed from several 1940's comics. They were mostly complete stories. My Vision stories are from Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (origin story) through #34 - not all issues unfortunately. The artwork was unique, yet entertaining.