Victor Edges closer to his Ultron programming in Runaways No. 20
By Alex Widen
Can Victor Succeed Where He’s Failed Before?
Yet most of the angst, and focus, of this issue is on Victor. He’s tried to juggle his terrible legacy with Ultron with a strong moral center and a love of superheroes. For a brief time, he even got to be an Avenger and fight alongside legendary heroes like the Vision and Ant-Man. Unfortunately, he also accidentally killed the Vision’s son, Vin, and has been struggling to control his electromagnetic powers ever since. Yet is the lack of control something mechanical, or his own corruption?
Image by Marvel Comics
His ally and peer, Doombot, found himself torn asunder by the Gibborim. Like Gert, he was another friend who Victor was too weak to help. Out of fear of losing control and hurting his friends, Victor was content to merely remain a head. He only allowed Chase to build him a rudimentary mechanical body out of obligation, and a way to get closer to Gert. Yet now his frustration with being unable to protect those he cares about is clashing against his fear of losing control.
Image by Marvel Comics
Writer Rainbow Rowell has formed such a delicately imaginative voice and world around the Runaways. It is very evident that she is a fan, especially of their founding material. Yet she is also willing to push the envelope a bit and take the cast in different directions. She also isn’t afraid of organic progression, even if it may seem predictable. It was inevitable that Victor would relent and want to rebuild his full body and powers but, after so much time, it feels earned.
Image by Marvel Comics