Avengers #68 — Nick Peron

Feb 14

Feb 14 Avengers #68

… And We Battled for the Earth!

21 21 02 14 %h 42 27 c420a.png — Credits

Ultron-6 has returned to his hideout to set off a nuclear explosion that will destroy the entire city. However, when he throws the switch nothing happens. Before he can find out how his plan failed, the Avengers come crashing into the room. Seeing no point in battling the Avengers now, Ultron flees to figure out his next move against humanity. That’s when the Vision enters the room. Although he is responsible for the resurrection of Ultron, he explains the was the victim of a pre-programmed command. He made up for this by disabling the reactor before Ultron could use it to destroy the city.

However, the Vision had to fight through SHIELD’s Suicide Squad to do so and he collapses to the ground. The Avengers race him back to the mansion where they get him back in working order. While recharging, the Vision is unable to speak but knows how to defeat Ultron. Using a mind probe, Yellojacket learns that a matter-arrangement device is the only thing that could be used to stop Ultron-6 now that his body is made out of Adamantium. They put in a call to Myron McLean the inventor of Adamantium who tells them that the device was stolen along with the metal.

Coming up with a plan, Yellowjacket calls their teammate the Black Panther. T’Challa is in Wakanda helping his people fight off mercenaries invading his country. Taking the call from Pym, he agrees to send the Avengers a supply of Vibranium. Next, Malcolm McLaren is asked to publicize that he will be making an address to the United Nations. This reaches Ultron who knows that this is a trap being set by the Avengers but decides to go anyway. He intends to use McLaren’s genius to build an army of robots to help him wipe out humanity.

The Avengers are stationed outside as Malcom McLean addresses the UN. That’s when Ultron arrives, having upgraded himself to a new form he calls the Ultimate Ultron. The robot is still able to withstand every attack the Avengers throw at him. He then approaches McLean and uses a mind probe to steal his intelligence. However, what he picks up horrifies Ultron that he decides to overload himself, intending the sudden explosion to destroy the city. That’s when Thor uses a shield constructed out of Vibranium to smother the blast. The gambit pays off and Ultron is destroyed without any loss of life. In the aftermath of the battle, the Wasp races to “McLean” who is actually Hank Pym in disguise. Hank explains that he hypnotized himself into believing that he was the real Malcolm McLean. Knowing Ultron would try to use a mental probe on him, Pym was conditioned to repeat “thou shall not kill” over and over in his mind.[1]