The Wasted Potential of AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON

[@OwenLikesComics]

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[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

When I read RoU I gained a new and deeper appreciation for Ultron and Hank Pym. This comic really went all out with their characterization and it frustrates me to no end how All-New All-Different Marvel wasted the new oportunity for development.

[@shinyocelot04archive]

Looking forward to this. The Marvel Original Graphic Novel line could have been a great way to bring in new fans, with stories that could be picked up right after seeing the movie.

[@MLPRainbowFantasy]

They actually did do that but they were called "*team/character title*: Season One" OGN's

[@shinyocelot04archive]

@@MLPRainbowFantasy Oh yeah I remember those

[@Cdr2002]

I would love to see a story where Ultron is contrasted to Nadia: Hank’s two children, one assuming the legacy of a hero, embodying her father’s desire to help others and fix everything even at a cost to herself, the other embodying his father’s rage and resentments, taking massive extremes to express his rage at the cost of everyone else

[@josephkilker6154]

Yeah, I was disappointed how in her run Pymtron was only really mentioned when older characters made a point of hiding his existence from Nadia

[@Cdr2002]

@@josephkilker6154 yeah that’s lame, she deserves to know the truth

[@pious83]

I think Pymtron was the most poetic resolution to both characters, to be honest. This book added so much depth to both characters. In contrast, the most impactful moment of Bendis' Age of Ultron was Black Panther tripping down a flight of stairs and unceremoniously breaking his neck.

[@danielchampion2982]

For real, Age of Ultron was such a let down.

[@TriviaClub]

I'm enjoying how Al Ewing is choosing to continue the threads of this Pym/Ultron, actually. With the anniversary mini-series of both Ant-Man and Wasp both leading towards Avengers Inc. and this complex set of characters.

[@Emir_969]

He ruined it by reviving Hank.

[@JudasPriest6515]

I always liked Hank Pym as a character, believe it or not. The trial of Yellowjacket is one of my favorite Avnegers stories because the writers actually make Hank do something really serious(kill a villain the team was fighting as well as slap his wife) and face very serious consequences for it. It is a fantastic story about how far a hero can fall and one of the first instances of sueprhero deconstruction if I am not wrong. I really loved how after that story, the theme around Hank has always been pretty much "Can He redeem himself? Can he change? Will the other heroes accept him?". I feel that the Rage of ultron story is the culmination of this entire character arc that can be interpreted both ways: Either Hank's worst mistake from his past(ultron) ultimately killing him, meaning that he never forgave himself for anything he did or that Ultron and Hank fusing is a way of saying that Hank has forgiven himself and has come to terms with his past, before dying by the hand of Ultron. Great video!

[@kingofhearts3185]

Perhaps a bit of both, in the same way Hank himself is of 2 minds, as Ultron's existence has always showed. Part of him made peace, but the other did not, and was destroyed by the merger. Creating a new being, now at peace, reflecting the best part of them both. Even if Hank really is dead, he inspired Ultron.

[@mttylerdurden9]

Rick remender was also an animator who worked on movies like Anastasia, Titan A.E and Iron giant. He also co wrote the DEAD SPACE video game and wrote BULLET STORM

[@nmj1937]

This story legitimately gave me insight into my own depression, I’m not even joking. Imo, Ultron is Hank Pym’s “shadow,” in the Jungian sense.

[@juliiju0484]

I really do like this comic, but for me, the best Ultron comic will always be Kurt Busiek and George Perezs' Ultron Unlimited. It's not only the best Ultron comic, but one of the best Avenger stories ever told.

[@kerry-j4m]

AGREED.That run by Perez and Kurt was-GREAT !!! Perez's art was at it's finest and Busiek layed the hammer down on his writing.

[@pay7232]

Yes!💯

[@SpiritxEnigma]

It took me forever to find that comic at a good price, but I finally got it. It’s not one you can just buy on Kindle. I plan to read it after I read Busiek’s Marvels. I loved his Avengers Forever run with Kang The Conqueror/Immortus. I’m gonna read his work on The Kang Dynasty too, followed by the 2021 Kang series. After Ultron Unlimited, I’ll probably end up reading Rage of Ultron & Ultron Forever. I loved both Kang & Ultron in the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes cartoon.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Agree. Busiek is really the ONLY writer that made me tolerate Kang! Kang is so convoluted and nonsensical. The Kang Dynasty should have been the FINAL Kang story! It really did feel like the end of his story .

[@kerry-j4m]

@@matthewschwartz6607 I've also felt the same way about KANG,now I have no interest in his character,at all.I haven't seen the latest Antman film,but,I was curious how they used KANG tho.

[@outpostalpha]

I never knew that Rage of Ultron was meant to kick off a new Avengers run by Remender. Would have been interesting to see him continue on with the team following the events of this story.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Was this supposed to be the final Hank Pym story?

[@LowellLucasJr.]

Ultron: I hate my own father...because I AM MY OWN FATHER!!! How embarrassing! Therapist: There, there, Ultron.❤ Ultron: I used to be his wife!!!

[@SirsasthNigam.]

Jocasta was one with Janet's brain

[@LowellLucasJr.]

@@SirsasthNigam. Nah I'm talking about when Ultron turned Tony into Hank Pyms ex wife. Frank Cho's sexy art btw. 😘

[@yeez13]

Tom King’s The Vision felt like a more complete examination between Hank Pym and Ultron…while still being more about Vision’s inner conflicts about being a hero that’s never appreciated much by his peers or the world at large. King even manages to make it feel like generational conflict with how it’s something that started with his grandfather (Hank), was literally born of it (Ultron), and the ultimate fate which Vision and his brother (Victor Mancha) went separate paths against. A shame that Chelsea Cain never got to make that sequel series that centered around Viv Vision 😢

[@colbymclemore7642]

I’m so tired of Marvel completely disrespecting Hank as a character. I’m bipolar and I really appreciated the reveal of Hank being the same. It made him far more relatable than the vast majority of heroes yet Hank is constantly depicted as a piece of shit when he’s anything but. Hank as Wasp in Avengers Academy is one of the best heroes period.

[@MLPRainbowFantasy]

You should check out his daughter Nadia AKA the Unstoppable Wasp. They had a whole issue where they explored her bipolarity aswell since she inherited it from her father!

[@ultramagnus1859]

I'm so so glad to see a video singing this story's praises! I've been preaching to literally anyone who'll listen how great this story is since it came out so long ago, it's a shame so few people seem to know about this story at all, let alone appreciate it. Actually one of the best written AND illustrated stories in Marvel's catalogue of the last decade.

[@alexandervelez2774]

Hank Pym has had good runs. It seems the writers can't let go of Hanks worst moments. But he was a genius. He wanted to help young heroes in Avengers Academy, he led a good team of Avengers himself. Marvel has always treated Hank disrespectfully and not with the same respect of other founding Avengers. Rick Remander is a great writer and who know what he would have ultimately done with Pym/Ultron but what we eventually got was formulaic which rendered the entire thing a waste of a great character and founding father of the Avengers.

[@jonathongibson7895]

Hank pym is generally one of my favourite characters he might not be the most likeable but is always interesting to me.

[@owensreviews625]

Man, this is a story that I haven’t heard of in a LONG time. It also makes me wonder what future stories Remender would’ve told if he hadn’t left Marvel.

[@pious83]

AXIS was definitely his lowest point though.

[@tari111090]

Remender was my fave writer at the time, if not 2nd to Hickman. It's a shame he didn't continue with this. I love what Remender built up throughout his books. I got into Marvel via Remender's Uncanny X-Force.

[@CosmicNerdStudios]

This reminded me that one of my favorite moments from secret empire was when Pymtron came back to earth to make all the avengers have a giant dinner together so he could say they are assholes.

[@mttylerdurden9]

10:00 so I guess Rick remender is the James Gray (film director of Lost city of Z and Ad Astra) of comics. James Gray also has themes of father/son conflicts in his movies.

[@dizqord]

Loved this book, and Remender's Marvel output as a whole. It was Unhinged, felt dangerous and alive with ideas in nice contrast to Hickman's oeuvre.

[@ChainSawKillerTV]

While I like this story on its own, retrospectively I hated that it allowed Marvel to paint Hank Pym as a straight up villain in the next 5 years since Rage of Ultron. It's very frustrating because it feels like Hank Pym can't just be redeemed he has to be always villainized. As Hank Pym fan, I want more complex stories about him which takes his baggage into acount but that isn't his 15th redemption arc and not a goddamn Pymtron or Lets-do-the-slap-again story. Hank Pym fans cant have anything nice in this world except for flashback stories.

[@AkiDave]

Such an amazing video! I remember seeing the motion comic ad on KZbin years ago. What a neat story

[@walterobrien8045]

Drink every time the phrase dark reflection comes up.

[@OwenLikesComics]

please don't, that sounds dangerous

[@rclark777]

This comics' themes of fatherhood, mental illness, and creation really remind me of Tim Burton's Batman, where Joker and Batman technically created each-other, and Vicki Vale points out that Batman is just as crazy and weird as Joker is. I like it.

[@cesarrattoni8490]

Great video

[@OwenLikesComics]

Thanks!

[@iamme4494]

TBH I fear Ultron but I fear Pymtron more 😮

[@SpiritxEnigma]

I plan to read this, Ultron Unlimited, & Ultron Forever soon. I really wish the MCU didn’t turn this villain into a quippy Iron Man 2.0. The way the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes cartoon adapted him was much better IMO with the classic face design, & Hank still being his creator except collaborating with Stark on the tech.

[@Emir_969]

Agreed.

[@enocescalona]

While i enjoyed what i read of Ultron Unlimited, ROU to me feels like it pierces the psychology of the characters more. I loved, loved, loved this comic. Both are great but somehow i felt this decided to look further, deeper into how Ultron was made from Hank's memories. Thanks for appreciating it, i really do as well. The "WE ARE ULTRON" is my favorite speech in all comics i'd read.

[@jesusfernandez974]

Absolutely awesome video dude 💯.

[@OwenLikesComics]

Appreciate it!

[@Reverse_Hood]

I'm mad that there isn't a story of Nadia saving Hank bringing the cycle of paternal abuse to an end

[@rolandoalvarado2979]

Very amazing breakdown to the character of Ultron

[@PharaohDom]

Annnnnd you just convinced me to get that copy i saw at my Ollie's!

[@cavotiscomics3423]

It is the definitive Pym / Ultron great video

[@Actlikeali]

14:23 I’m just upset that this robot has abs, DEFINED ABS at that, and I don’t… 😅 back to the gym I go

[@jasonguinn6075]

Yeeeeesssss.. I'm absolutely an ULTRON fan. I love Hanks journey as well

[@PoloDavey]

love remender man. low is great and deadly class is one of my fav runs of all time.

[@Jacob-ee8ux]

I would actually argue that Remender is more of a flash in the pan. Uncanny X-Force is one of my favorite X runs of all time, Seven to Eternity is also quite good, and his first 5 or so issues of Agent Venom are also very good, but all of his other writing just falls flat to me. His other work in Marvel felt a lot like "why does any of this matter?" or characters just acting so out of character that it feels like he didn't do his homework. Deadly Class is a book where I don't like or care about any of the characters, and most of what happens doesn't matter.

[@IkanTheNo-One]

This novel has always felt weird to me because I can tell that there are good themes behind it and an interesting story in it but everytime Pymtron appears feels like "oh that happened" maybe is because of the time and my circle selling it as bad Movie Promotional material which kinda created this weird haziness in my mind. I want to highlight the art, it works for the most part except for Pepe Larraz which feels shoehorn in for him. Anyway good book, me bad reader 😅

[@jamesinzeo7726]

Thanks. Now I'm going to read this!

[@OwenLikesComics]

Hope you like it!

[@Tokumastu1]

Such a shame Rick Remender never got to his follow up. Marvel shuffling their writers around is always a problem.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

the weirdest part of Rage now is that Sabertooth is an Avenger

[@pious83]

I think, aside from AoA and Exiles, Creed just doesn't work on a hero team. They tried it in X-Men. When Xavier attempted to reform him. That ended with Psylocke being gutted. Much like Mystique, neither are good people. Or even "anti-heroes". Both are self-serving murderers with zero remorse or morality.

[@MLPRainbowFantasy]

That's actually not weird if you'd been reading since the Marvel NOW! launch prior. The AXIS event turned Sabertooth into a hero and he joined the Uncanny Avengers team before Rage of Ultron released.

[@Tuckbro]

Hey Owen! Loved the video! Keep up the good work! PS can you do a video on Grant Morrison's Multiversity? Its the most underrated thing to come from the New 52 and some of Morrison's best work the

[@Tuckbro]

tbh

[@markmetz9167]

I really don’t understand the hate for Hank Pym. No matter how much time writers put into “repair” him he’s constantly turned into this broken character.

[@MLPRainbowFantasy]

Some things just can't be repaired man

[@markmetz9167]

@@MLPRainbowFantasy that’s the thing. He was. Avengers West Coast and Busiek & Perez’s run brought him all the way back. Then Chuck Austen became the writer and let his personal issues cause him to throw all of it away. All that work by so many writers and he nuked it in 2 or 3 issues.

[@samuelcarrasquillo4590]

Pym: "Stark, GO!" Ultron: "Father, Kill The Avengers!!" Pym: "Avengers...Take Care Of My Wife And Daughter... Please Forgive Me--! Tell Scott... I DIED AS A HERO!!!"

[@MLPRainbowFantasy]

Crazy you forgot to mention his Infinity Countdown appearance which through the Soul Stone saw the release of Hank Pym's soul from PymTron's body.

[@Frankoman64]

Is it ever explained by Ultron says "SKRAWWK"? Is it supposed it be a generic "robot noise" or is it his catchphrase?

[@felipeaguena5289]

Frankly, If you wanted to make actual justice to the character the Age of Ultron movie should have been a gigantic event like Infinity War

[@sawkchalk6966]

Here from Drake's new vid :D

[@TevyaSmolka]

Pymtron the fusion of ultron and Hank pym in my personal opinion had potential but god almighty the execution in itself form other writers really no idea what to do with him to the point I would rather see Pym tron never comeback to just have hank pym aka antman just be free from his monster literally and have ultron just go away and never comeback at least in my opinion.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

I believe that Remender was also the inker for the Kurt Busiek Avengers.

[@russellsmith1605]

Al Vey

[@benjaminburrows7697]

I always thought that this story spun more out of Ultron’s role in Annhilation Conquest than Age of Ultron

[@davids2427]

Outstanding review I'm definitely going to track this gem down it deserves a place right next to my copies of the Dark Knight returnes and the Infinity gauntlet and watchmen consider me Subscribed ! 🌀

[@diegodreossi1458]

Ultron merged with Hank is a interesting idea.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Thanks for doing this. I’m a HUUUGE Ultron fan. This one was okay, it had it’s good parts. But it seems that they watered Ultron down after this. I prefer The Ultron who was a real threat. The Pym version seems a lot weaker .

[@hoomakoa]

First of all it’s an awesome title for a sequel

[@Emir_969]

What sequel?!

[@Powherkrangunch]

As someone who grew up with the comics of the 2000s, Ultron Initiative became my classic Ultron story and I still love it. Rage is a good story too but not as good as the AOU comic. AOU is right up there with Initiative for me. they all have good points and bad points, but AOU and Initiative use their characters better in my opinion. I enjoyed seeing you discuss this story and it does have a lot of good themes but it will never truly be my favorite. Still love your channel.

[@adam1984pl]

Can you make video about essential Scarlet Witch comic books?

[@zemox2534]

I like this story but sadly Marvel wasted the potential of a follow up to it when they put Rick on X force. Shame. I would have liked to see Rick continue this Ultron fused with Pym plot thread.

[@nmj1937]

I think your timeline of events is way off. Remender did Uncanny X-Force before he did Rage of Ultron. RoU is one of the last things he did before he left Marvel. Marvel didn’t put him on anything after RoU.

[@TevyaSmolka]

Great job man on covering rage of ultron graphic novel as a whole and such a waste of potential this story was at least in my opinion.

[@joshuataylor7443]

What the idea Pymtorn because more sort of a ant hero, a character who can do good things as much as bad.

[@SuperGreg247]

I had never been so excited and then let down so fast when this came out. Marvel just has a hard time with graphic novels

[@mathieuleader8601]

this version of Ultron is so sinister

[@ozmasterofmasks5838]

27:07 waiiiiiit a sec, victor mancha aint murderous. sure there was a future where he was evil and there was that accident with vin vision but he aint an evil murder maniac like Ultron

[@NachoTeso]

I've really enjoyed this analysis of Rage of Ultron. I have fond memories of it and I've always felt it is underappreciated. Also, the new statu quo felt like something fresh and interesting, but I'm not sure it's been explored all that much, even if Pym Ultron has appeared here and there.

[@OwenLikesComics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Qhther]

Would be nice to see Ultrob become GOOD

[@Emir_969]

No, keep him evil. We had enough villains who turn good like mags, loki, doom etc. maybe just make him start more longer as a good guy in the new ultimate marvel universe.

[@hudsonadams9963]

Cool buddy

[@sahilhossian8212]

Lore of The Wasted Potential of AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON Momentum 100

[@alexnejako777]

Age of Ultron should have been the end of the character for 10 years. it's nice when they give a character a break

[@Emir_969]

It was a too much of a disappointment to be the end. This comic was needed, it was like what days of future was for the original fox xmen universe after the mess that was "the last stand".

[@Akkbar21]

Marvel felt a lot more silly and childish after secret wars 2015 to me.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Yeah definitely

[@samwill7259]

All of this from a single artist misinterpereting a single script and totally annihilating the reputation of a founding Avenger. For want of a nail...

[@gareckthetailor9918]

better than the age of ultron movie lol

[@yourfatboy5359]

Finally you made a video covering this storyline!

[@OwenLikesComics]

🙌

[@yourfatboy5359]

@@OwenLikesComics 🎉

[@iankeill6865]

I miss when Marvel comics were good

[@TripleCubedTriune]

🎯

[@marcusmcdowell7844]

Drake sent me.

[@johnbeal6114]

The MCU really dropped the ball with Ultron just being honest and I'm a big fan of James Spader

[@kadegetslaid634]

Marvel fans try not the mention the mcu adaptations on a video about the comics challenge *impossible*

[@pious83]

That was the only way Ultron could be portrayed without Hank Pym. Which has always been the problem with MCU adaptations. They haven't got the cast of the comics. So every story gets short changed.

[@yeahyeahwowman8099]

​@@kadegetslaid634Marvel not being brought up by DC fans everytime a new mediocre DC movie comes out in the comments section: impossible

[@Emir_969]

@pious83 They could've atleast made him threating instead of being a punching bag of the avengers, if you are going to make the villain crack jokes then make him intimidating. That's one of the reasons that made Health Ledger’s Joker and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin Great Villains, Iconic and Well Received, as they are funny villains yet scary and menacing at the same time.