VISION #1 - #4

"DREAMS AND MADMEN" | "IMPAIRED VISION"
"VISIONARY DREAMS" | "CHANGING VISIONS"
Writer: Bob Harras | Penciler: Manny Clark | Inker: Mike Machlan
Additional Inkers: Al Vey, Steve Alexandrov, Charles Barnett,
Johnny Greene, & Rich Perrotta | Plot Assist: Ben Raab
Letterer: Bill Oakley w/NJQ & Jeff Powell | Colorist: Linda Gilmore
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Mark Gruenwald

The Plot: (Issue 1) Vision dreams of his wife and children, then stops a mugging on a pier. Deathcry finds him there and the two speak of dreams before returning to Avengers Mansion. There, Vision confides in Jarvis that he started dreaming a week ago. The next morning, Vision undergoes tests conducted by Giant-Man, but abruptly leaves when his fellow Avenger raises the subject of his dreams. Homing in on a mysterious beacon, Vision arrives in New Orleans, where he finds Ultron drunk inside a local bar. Ultron tells Vision that he started dreaming as well, and then a skirmish breaks out between the two. Ultron defeats Vision and leaves. Later, Vision awakens in a motel room with the Gatherer version of Jocasta. She calls Vision Simon, and then the two embrace and kiss.

(Issue 2) Four weeks later, Crystal and Deathcry arrive in Chicago in search of the Vision. They enter the office of "Simon Williams, Private Detective", to find Vision playing the role of a 1930s P.I., with Jocasta as his gal Friday. A fight soon breaks out, but Vision falls unconscious. Briefly, he dreams again of his wife and sons, then awakens, back to normal. Vision tells Crystal that he believes someone has "infected" various synthetic beings with dreams and emotions. A moment later, Vision and Jocasta detect the same beacon that drew Vision to New Orleans, and then the Gatherer android, Tabula Rasa, arrives with Ultron his prisoner. Tabula kidnaps Deathcry and Jocasta and departs, while Vision flies into a rage and turns on Crystal.

(Issue 3) Laurie Lipton arrives at her beachhouse on Long Island, where Vision, in the persona of her late husband, Alex, is waiting. But Crystal and Giant-Man show up a moment later and try to convince Vision of who he is. Giant-Man stuns Vision with a stasis ray. Elsewhere, Deathcry, Ultron, and Jocasta sit in a cell. They are confronted by Tabula and his master -- the Anti-Vision; the Vision who once served Proctor and who now resides in the real Vision's white body. Meanwhile, Vision dreams again of his wife, an amalgamation of Wanda Maximoff and Laurie Lipton. He awakens and battles Crystal and Giant-Man. Back in the cell, Tabula changes to resemble the Kree warrior Dylon Cyr, and then begins to crush Deathcry. On Long Island, Vision takes out Giant-Man and then fights Crystal. But suddenly, he is called away by a signal from the Anti-Vision. Elsewhere, Tabula abruptly lets Deathcry go. She tries to convince Ultron and Jocasta to attempt escape, but suddenly Vision arrives, now apparently in the service of the Anti-Vision.

(Issue 4) Vision again dreams of his wife, while Anti-Vision brags to Deathcry, Jocasta, and Ultron that the "wife" is actually a Trojan Horse he planted in Vision's brain to erase his memories and personality, freeing up space for Anti-Vison to move in. Anti-Vision tested the program on Ultron, Jocasta, and Tabula, and has now placed the perfected version inside Vision. Meanwhile, Giant-Man, Crystal, and Laurie are searching for Vision when they detect Deathcry's life readings and set course toward her. In his hideout, Anti-Vision prepares to kill Deathcry. In his dream, Vision is confronted by the personifications of the two men who make up his mind -- Simon Williams and Alex Lipton -- and they convince him to turn away from his "wife" and save Deathcry. Vision reactivates, the Trojan Horse program disabled, and attacks Anti-Vison. Meanwhile, Ultron and Jocasta battle Tabula. Vision reveals that his emotions have returned, and nearly kills Anti-Vision until Giant-Man, Crystal, and Laurie arrive and stop him.

Vision leaves Anti-Vision and Tabula with the Avengers, then resigns from the team, taking Ultron and Jocasta with him so they can explore their newfound emotions together.

AVENGERS #369

"BLOODTIES: THE FINALE: OF KITH AND KIN"
A tale of the Mighty Avengers & the Uncanny X-Men brought to you by:
Writer: Bob Harras | Pencilers: Steve Epting & Jan Duursema
Inker: Tom Palmer | Colorist: Mike Rockwitz | Letterer: Bill Oakley
Editor: Ralph Macchio | Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

The Plot: The SHIELD helicarrier approaches Genosha, with Nick Fury in command and the Avengers aboard. Meanwhile, a force field has sprung up around Genosha, created by Exodus's psionic powers. In the sewers beneath Hammer Bay, Exodus takes Luna from Fabian Cortez, then kills him. He then stuns the heroes present - Quicksilver, Crystal, Scarlet Witch, and Jean grey -- and departs. Above, in the city, the Avengers and X-Men link up and join forces. Storm and War Machine investigate the force field and determine it is psionic in nature.

Just then, Professor X telepathically summons both teams to his aid, for beneath the city, he, Beast, U.S. Agent, and their allies are hopelessly overrun by Genoshan Magistrates. The combined X-Men and Avengers burst in and turn the tide, then begin to mop up. Meanwhile, Exodus begins to shrink the field over Genosha. The Avengers aboard the helicarrier realize that he plans to crush Genosha with the field. Exodus emerges from beneath the city with Quicksilver, Crystal, Jean, and the Scarlet Witch in his thrall, then he mentally influences the mutates of Genosha to attack and kill all humans present.

The X-Men and Avengers divvy their forces to both hold back the mutates and attack Exodus. The Unforgiven appear to attack the group dealing with the mutates, while the team against Exodus is pushed back by his psychic power. The force field continues contracting, while Exodus prepares to kill Luna. Professor X blasts him with a mental bolt, allowing the Black Knight to sneak up and stun him with his neural sword.

In the aftermath of the battle, the force field dissipates and Xavier appeals to the Genoshans to lay down their arms, then chides Exodus for overextending his powers in battle. Exodus blasts Quicksilver and then takes off in retreat. Black Knight performs CPR, saving Quicksilver's life. The next morning, as the helicarrier makes it final approach with relief supplies, Captain America and Professor Xavier dwell on all they have been through.