Ultron is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema, the character first made a cameo appearance in The Avengers #54 (1968) as the Crimson Cowl, before being fully introduced in The Avengers #55 (1968) as Ultron-5, the Living Automaton. He has since endured as one of the greatest enemies of the Avengers.
Ultron is a robot artificial intelligence created by founding Avenger Hank Pym that gains sentience, develops a god complex, and becomes obsessed with fulfilling his purpose to bring about world peace by causing human extinction. Regarded as one of the most powerful and dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe, he has come into repeated conflict with the Avengers and is one of their primary recurring antagonists. Although stories often end with Ultron's apparent destruction, the character's self-adaptive artificial consciousness returns in upgraded forms marked by sequential numerical designations. Ultron's primary robotic body is usually made of the unbreakable metal adamantium and possesses superpowers such as superhuman strength, flight, energy projection, and control over technology, including legions of his Ultron Drones.
Some offshoot iterations of Ultron have deviated from the original's hatred of humanity and demonstrated varying morals. His first creation, the Vision, joined the Avengers, Ultron-12 (Mark Twelve) became a superhero, and Ultron-8 served as the stepfather of the supervillain Ashley in the alternate continuity of Old Man Logan.
The character has been listed among the greatest and most notable villains in Marvel Comics, and has been adapted in various media incarnations. Ultron made his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Avengers: Age of Ultron, portrayed by James Spader, who will reprise the role in the Disney+ series VisionQuest. Tom Kane, Jim Meskimen, Ross Marquand, and others have provided the character's voice in animation and video games.
Publication history
Ultron was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema. The character first made an unnamed cameo appearance in The Avengers #54 (July 1968), before being fully introduced in The Avengers #55 (August 1968). Thomas acknowledged that he found naming characters difficult, and said he liked the -tron suffix and went from there. The use of the suffix and the prior appearance of a group of robots named Ultroids led him to the name Ultron. Thomas said the idea of the character and his appearance were heavily based on Makino, an obscure robotic villain who appeared in an issue of the Captain Video comic book. He liked the robot's malicious-looking smile, showing this to Buscema.
Jocasta, a robot created by Ultron featured in a number of Ultron storylines, was created by Jim Shooter and George Pérez for The Avengers #162 (August 1977).
Fictional character biography Creation and early appearances Created by Hank Pym by basing the robot on his own brain patterns, the robot (dubbed "Ultron") gradually developed its own intelligence and rebelled. After gaining sentience, Ultron hypnotises and brainwashes its "father" into forgetting that the robot had ever existed, and begins to improve its design and rebuild itself, upgrading several times from Ultron-2, Ultron-3, Ultron-4, and finally Ultron-5.The Avengers #58 (November 1968) Ultron creates the synthezoid Vision as a weapon to destroy the Avengers.
Later, Ultron-5, the Living Automaton leads his own version of the Masters of Evil (consisting of Black Knight, Klaw, Melter, Radioactive Man, and Whirlwind) against the Avengers, having hypnotized Edwin Jarvis into working for him as the first Crimson Cowl. While planning to blackmail New York, they were betrayed by Black Knight.The Avengers #54—55 (July–August 1968)
Now referring to himself as Ultron-6, he uses the alloy adamantium to upgrade his body for an almost indestructible state and takes the name Ultimate Ultron. Its plans to destroy humanity are again thwarted by the Avengers.The Avengers #66–68 (July–September 1969) Ultron-7 is later created by Maximus with the body of the android Omega, attacking the wedding of Inhuman Crystal and Avenger Pietro Maximoff / Quicksilver, and battling the Avengers, Inhumans and Fantastic Four before being destroyed again.The Avengers #127 (September 1974) and Fantastic Four #150 (September 1974) Ultron-8 is responsible for Jocasta's creation as a robotic bride,The Avengers #161–162 (July–August 1977) before being destroyed shortly afterwards.The Avengers #170–171 (April–May 1978)
Battleworld and Ultron-12 Ultron-9 and Ultron-10 brainwash heroes into recreating the robot, before turning and being defeated.The Avengers #201–202 (November–December 1980) and Marvel-Two-In-One #92–93 (October–November 1982) After being recreated as Ultron-11 by the Beyonder and battling in Battleworld,Secret Wars #1–12 (May 1984–April 1985) the Thing brings Ultron's head back to Earth as a souvenir, and is forgotten when there is an attack by the alien Dire Wraiths.The Thing #21–22 (March–April 1985) and Fantastic Four #227 (April 1985).
Ultron-12 enters an alliance with the Grim Reaper and his allies (Nekra, Erik Josten, Man-Ape, and Black Talon) in a bid to destroy Wonder-Man. Although the villains are defeated by the West Coast Avengers, Ultron-12 begins to form a relationship with his "father" Hank Pym.West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #1–2 (October–November 1985) and Vision & The Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #2 (November 1985) Rebuilding itself, Ultron-11 comes into conflict with Pym and Ultron-12. With Wonder-Man's assistance, they destroy Ultron-11 and Ultron-12 begins to deactivate. Ultron-12 tells Pym it was glad it could help save him.West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #7 (April 1986)
Amalgamation and the Ultron Imperative Victor von Doom rebuilds Ultron using a combination of all of its previous personalities with a particularly strong dose of the previous Ultron, believing this mix will make Ultron subservient. However, all 12 iterations co-exist as separate personalities, resulting in a form of madness which culminates with Ultron-12 mutilating himself in an attempt to remove some of his other personalities.Daredevil #275–276 (December 1989 – January 1990) After its defeat,Avengers West Coast #65–68 (December 1990–March 1991) Ultron-13 attempts to obtain a new form of vibranium called Nuform, but it is repelled by the combined efforts of Iron Man, Black Panther, and Spider-Man.Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11, and Web of Spider-Man Annual #7 (1991). Ultron escapes from prison and upgrades into the Ultimate Ultron, capturing West Coast Avenger Mockingbird to use her brain patterns to create the new robotic mate Alkhema. Alkhema aids Ultron, but both are eventually jettisoned into space through a ruse by Vision.Avengers West Coast #89–91 (December 1992–January 1993) Vision finds Ultron-15 but is discovered to have been "infected" by human emotion and is seriously deteriorating, displaying symptoms that resemble alcoholism.Vision #1–4 (November 1994–February 1995) Ultron-16 and Ultron-17 successfully slaughter the population of Slorenia, having perfected a process that allows it to control a vast army of Ultron drones.The Avengers (vol. 3) #19–22 (August–November 1999)
2000s The Avengers discovered that Ultron's creations (Vision, Jocasta and Alkhema) have a secret program included—they are subconsciously compelled to rebuild Ultron. In this case, it is Alkhema who unintentionally rebuilds Ultron when attempting to create a new species of bio-synthezoids. However, Ultron-18 is composed of steel, not adamantium, and is destroyed when Alkhema's subterranean base exploded after Hawkeye shot Alkhema with a vibranium arrow at Alkhema's request. Ultron's head was recovered by Antigone, an artificial girl and one of the synthezoids.Avengers: the Ultron Imperative (November 2001)
Iron Man encounters a version from an old version of his armor and Ultron-18's head that leads the cult known as the Sons of Yinsen in an attempt to conquer via religion. The character is defeated by Iron Man and Jocasta.Iron Man (vol. 3) #46–48 (November 2001–January 2002) Another version (possibly Ultron-13) creates the cyborg Victor Mancha as a sleeper agent against the Avengers. Mancha, however, rebels and joins the Runaways.Runaways (vol. 2) #1 (April 2005) This version first poses as Doctor Doom before revealing itself, and is defeated in a battle against the Runaways and Excelsior.Runaways (vol. 2) #6 (September 2005)
When Marvel launched a new title The Mighty Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis and Frank Cho, Ultron interfaces with Iron Man's armor, which had been integrated with Tony Stark's biology. This allows Ultron's program to transform Stark into a new version who has the Wasp's appearance albeit with a metallic skin. This version takes control of Iron Man's technology. He kills Lindy Reynolds, causing the Sentry to battle Ultron, nearly tearing his head off. Ultron is eventually destroyed by Ares of the New Avengers using a computer virus to wipe Ultron's program from Iron Man's armor, changing Stark back to normal. Ultron's image later briefly appears on one of his maker's computers.Mighty Avengers #1–6 (June–November. 2007)
However, this was not the end of Ultron, for his disembodied consciousness was thrown into the depths of space. He spent a few months floating through the cosmos as radio waves and energy. Eventually his signal was picked up by an outlying group of Phalanx who were attempting to contact the Technarchy. Fascinated by what he found, Ultron decided that the Phalanx lacked direction from a singular consciousness, and that he would be perfect for the role. Through sheer force of will, he merged himself with the Phalanx's programming. In turn, the Phalanx viewed Ultron as the sympathetic father they had yearned for. Under Ultron's guidance, the Phalanx and the Super-Adaptoid began the Annihilation: Conquest with invasions that started with the Kree space. Later by taking control of Adam Warlock's body, Ultron hopes to achieve "true techno-organic perfection" but is eventually forced to abandon Adam's body by Warlock and is later destroyed in combat by Wraith and Quasar.Annihilation: Conquest #1–6 (August 2007–May 2008: bi-monthly)
In the limited series Avengers/Invaders, it is revealed that S.H.I.E.L.D. Life Model Decoys have been partly replaced with versions of Ultron. When the original Human Torch appears in the present, they covertly parasitize the Human Torch's unique android physiology and become more human. The combined super teams (but mainly the Human Torch himself), however, discover the plan and destroy the androids.Avengers/Invaders #7–8 (February–March 2009). Issues #1–12 (July 2008–August 2009)
2010s In the Mighty Avengers, Ultron is shown to infiltrate Jocasta and the Infinite Avengers Mansion. He names himself Ultron Pym and seeks to kill and replace his father before using his Infinite Mansion to conquer the universe.Mighty Avengers #35 (March 2010) Pym eventually offers Ultron a compromise, allowing Jocasta to be Ultron's bride, on the condition that Ultron banishes himself to ultraspace. Ultron agrees, but warns that he will be ruler of all someday.Mighty Avengers #36 (April 2010)
In The Avengers, the team visits a possible future in which almost all of humanity is destroyed by Ultron. Kang the Conqueror attempts to enlist them to defeat the robotic foe, but another group of heroes and villains, plucked from all over time and space, ends up destroying this version.The Avengers (vol. 4) #1–6 (July–December 2010)