Ultron

 ( Action Film Villains ) 

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).

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). Marvel Comics.

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). Marvel Comics. 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). Marvel Comics. Ultron-8 is responsible for Jocasta's creation as a robotic bride, The Avengers #161–162 (July–August 1977). Marvel Comics. before being destroyed shortly afterwards. The Avengers #170–171 (April–May 1978)

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). Marvel Comics. 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). Marvel Comics.

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). Marvel Comics. 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). Marvel Comics.

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 Iron Man'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). Marvel Comics.

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 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 the Technarchy Warlock and is later destroyed in combat by Wraith and Phyla-Vell. Annihilation: Conquest #1–6 (August 2007–May 2008: bi-monthly). Marvel Comics.

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). Marvel Comics.

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). Marvel Comics.

Later, also in Avengers, a cabal of super-intelligent supervillains discovers a Galadorian Spaceknights's inert body and attempts to reactivate its power source, hoping to exploit it. Although the Avengers interrupt their attempts, the body activates, revealing that Ultron's consciousness was contained within and had escaped destruction after Annihilation: Conquest. The new version escapes, and Iron Man gravely foresees that it will bring the apocalypse for humanity when he returns. The Avengers (vol. 4) #12.1 (June 2011). Marvel Comics.

During the "Age of Ultron" storyline, which takes place in an alternate universe, Ultron has returned and conquers the world while slowly remolding it into his image. His Ultron Sentinels are guarding the streets looking for any fugitives. Hawkeye runs into the Ultron Sentinels and rescues the Superior Spider-Man, yet manages to destroy the Ultron Sentinels present. It is later revealed that Ultron is actually in the future and has been using Vision as a conduit to punish humanity. While one strike team travels into the future to fight Ultron, Wolverine and Invisible Woman go back in time to kill his creator before Ultron's creation in the first place. Age of Ultron #6. Marvel Comics. This results in a world where Stark controls an army of robotic drones and Morgan le Fay has conquered half of the world. Age of Ultron #7. Marvel Comics. Traveling back in time once more, Wolverine succeeds in stopping himself from killing Pym, and Wolverine, Pym, and Storm come up with a different plan. This plan results in a different outcome of the prior confrontation between the Avengers and the Intelligencia—a 'back door' installed into Ultron at his original creation allows Pym and Iron Man to destroy the robot, instead, averting the events that led to the "Age of Ultron". Age of Ultron #8–10. Marvel Comics.

It is later revealed that the Avengers had trapped an unidentified iteration of Ultron in deep space years earlier, sealing him inside a Vibranium Quinjet. In the present, the Quinjet crash-lands on Titan, freeing Ultron. By hijacking the ISAAC computer, he transforms Titan into Planet Ultron and launches a plan to infect the entire universe with a nanite virus that transforms organic creatures into Ultron Sentries. The ensuing confrontation with the Avengers leads to Ultron inadvertently merging with his maker, transforming into a human/machine hybrid. The resulting fusion played on Pym's self-loathing of his own human weakness causes an acceptance of this new state. Ultron is defeated when Starfox's powers force love onto himself, causing the part of that is now Pym to accept his old weakness and flaws while the villain has a mental breakdown and flees into space.

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel" branding, Ultron's fused form resurfaces. While on his way back to Earth, Pym helps the crew of a spaceship that is being attacked by a hostile insectoid alien. After coming aboard the spaceship, Pym introduces himself as well as his "friend" Ultron to the crew. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #4. Marvel Comics. He later returns to Earth, where the Wasp and Captain America discover that Ultron has taken complete control and is using Pym's face to fool his maker's old friends. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #9–10. Marvel Comics. After Ultron incapacitates Deadpool, Cable, and the Human Torch, the Wasp initiates the Icarus Protocol, and Iron Man is called in to help stop Ultron with the Hulkbuster Armor's aid. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #11. Marvel Comics. The Avengers end up defeating Ultron by plunging the hybrid into the sun, but both Pym and Ultron survive and continue to do battle with one another internally. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #12. Marvel Comics.

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Ultron's fused form sets up a base in an unidentified forest. Upon being alerted to the approach of Sam Wilson's task force by a robot version of Jarvis, Ultron decides to give his "family" a warm welcome. Secret Empire #3. Marvel Comics. When Stark A.I.'s team and Captain America's team confront each other, they are captured by Ultron, who forces both teams to sit at a dinner table. Ultron argues that he is doing this because the Avengers have become less of a family over the years as so many of them jump to obey Captain America or Iron Man despite past experience confirming that this should be a bad idea but the Stark A.I. counters that the only reason the team failed as a family was because of Pym's attack on Wasp. Outraged, Ultron nearly attacks the other heroes, but Scott Lang is able to talk him down by arguing that Pym remains his own inspiration. Ultron allows the Stark A.I.'s team to leave with the fragment, arguing that he will leave Captain America's plans with Hydra alone as it appears to be the best chance for world peace. Secret Empire #4. Marvel Comics.

During "Infinity Countdown", Ultron discovers that the Infinity Gems are restored and begins a quest to collect them all. Guardians of the Galaxy #150. Marvel Comics. He goes to claim the Soul Gem while the aliens he infected with his virus are sent to Earth to take the Space Stone from Wolverine, and while they fail at their task, Ultron is able to steal the Soul Gem from Magus after killing the latter. Unbeknownst to Ultron, however, as he claimed the Soul Stone, a fragment of Pym's soul enters the Soul World, where he is greeted by the fragment of Gamora's soul, who revealed that he was going to be trapped there forever. Infinity Countdown: Prime #1. Marvel Comics. Ultron has also completely controlled the planet Saiph with Ultron hybrids and had captured the Silver Surfer. When Adam Warlock goes to Saiph, he discovers the hybrids infusing the Soul Stone into Silver Surfer's forehead while at the same time trying to transform him into an Ultron hybrid. Infinity Countdown #2. Marvel Comics.

During "The Ultron Agenda" arc, Ultron returns to Earth with plans to merge robots with humans, like how Pym got merged with Ultron, so that he can make the ultimate lifeform. In addition, he starts to call this form "Ultron Pym". After testing the process and experimenting on Wonder Man and Vision, Ultron Pym plans to make a fusion of Jocasta and Wasp. Iron Man and Machine Man interfere, with the resulting battle causing Iron Man to be molecularly bonded to the Ultronbuster armor. Tony Stark: Iron Man #16–17. Marvel Comics. The combined efforts of Stark Unlimited enable them to create an atomic separator that separates Stark from the Ultronbuster armor and Wonder Man from Vision. Tony Stark: Iron Man #18. Marvel Comics. Ultron Pym prepares to take revenge on Iron Man. This leads to Iron Man revealing what he discovered about the human and robot fusion: The person who merged with it has died, and the robot can only simulate their personality. In other words, his maker was killed when accidentally merging with Ultron. Learning about this and not wanting to risk proving Iron Man's point by having the atomic separator used on him, Ultron surrenders to Iron Man, knowing that Pym is dead. When the Avengers arrive, they restrain Ultron in a Vibranium casket reinforced with Asgardian magic until they can find a permanent place to have Ultron imprisoned. Tony Stark: Iron Man #19. Marvel Comics.

It was revealed that the fragment of Hank Pym managed to escape from Ultron at the time and recreate his body, which ended up older. While paranoid after being Ultron's "meat puppet", Hank Pym allied with Black Ant, and they formed their version of the Lethal Legion by killing and reviving select villains. By the time Wasp learned the truth, Ultron-12 hijacks the "Victor Shade" persona in Whirlwind's body. Wasp remembered Ultron-12 as the "good Ultron" who then stated that he went through a soft reboot and knocked out Hank to protect him from the Lethal Legion, who Ultron has taken over. In the nick of time, Wasp, Moon Knight, and Ultron-12 receive aid from Ant-Man, Luke Cage, Nadia van Dyne, Cassie Lang, Valkyrie, and Vision to fight the possessed Lethal Legion. Being given codes for the nano-ants from the future, Hank advises Nadia to "think big" as Ultron-12 agrees with his "dad" on it. Ultron proceeds to control Lodestone into recreating his body from different scrap metals as he controls the drones. Ultron-12 abandoned Whirlwind's body as the nano-ants left the Lethal Legion's body, leaving Ultron's body frozen in its spot. Ultron-12 uses the nanos to recreate his body, which he names Mark Twelve, until he can come up with a better name. After Hank and the Lethal Legion leave to regroup in Sub-Atomica as part of Protocol S, Vision scans Mark Twelve's body and finds no trace of Ultron in him. Mark Twelve then allows Nadia to consider him her brother. Avengers Inc. #4-5. Marvel Comics.

When Iron Man and War Machine form the next incarnation of the West Coast Avengers with Spider-Woman and ex-criminal Blue Bolt, Ultron was the first criminal they made use of.

It would later be revealed that, since splitting from Hank Pym, Ultron continued to split up. Following his mental breakdown after merging with Hank Pym and being forced into self-introspection via self-care by Starfox's powers, Ultron suspended himself into Earth's orbit and held an internal council with million other Ultron versions, coming to the conclusion that his single-minded drive to conquer Earth and defeat the Avengers was myopic. During his inner council of Ultrons, each version had to defend its existence and ideas. The versions that got rejected got deleted, while those that presented new and potentially beneficial ideas for the entiry of Ultron as a whole were awarded a body. A compact of non-violence and limited interference was made between these Ultron versions. The one recruited by Iron Man presented the idea that, to try something new and break his pattern, Ultron should try to help the heroes and humanity. This "Avenger" Ultron agreed to give Stark unrestricted access to his source code to alleviate suspicions over his intentions. After an encounter with distrustful Vision, it was also revealed that this Ultron version did not edit any of his memories and is keeping them as a reminder, or a warning, and is acting as a hero entirely of his own free will. West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #6. Marvel Comics. Another version of these Ultrons sports retractable wings and is the leader of the Gospel of Ultron under the name of "The One", offering people close to death or those who simply wish for it, new cybernetic bodies. West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #1-3. Marvel Comics. Another Ultron called "Ultron the Scorched" (noted by "West Coast Avenger" Ultron and "The One" Ultron to have gone insane and flown into the Sun) appeared. This Scorched version has gone deeper into the belief that humanity was insignificant. He attacks the Gospel of Ultron's church and assimilates "The One". West Coast Avengers Vol. 4 #7. Marvel Comics.

Ultron's outer armor is usually composed primarily of adamantium, which is almost completely impervious to damage. Most Ultron units are powered by a small internal nuclear power furnace and incorporate a "program transmitter" which can transmit part or all of Ultron's memory/personality system into other computer systems or duplicate robotic bodies. Ultron can also control other machines remotely. Ultron has occasionally reformed itself with a humanoid appearance above the waist and the appearance of a complex machine, including tractor beam apparatus for flight, below the waist. A later Ultron model developed hive mind technology, allowing it to animate and control hundreds of other Ultron bodies simultaneously, The Avengers (vol. 3) #19–22 (August–November 1999) although only the 'prime' Ultron was composed of adamantium while others were made of steel or secondary adamantium due to the lack of resources to give all the Ultrons adamantium bodies. The Avengers (vol. 3) #22 (November 1999) Ultron also used an internal molecular rearranger that renders the adamantium components of its workings more malleable and so has the ability to restructure its physical form. He also uses the device in ways its own creator never dreamed, such as converting matter into energy and back by sheer force of will, something Ultron 6 often made use of during his battles with the Avengers. The Avengers #68 (September 1969) What circuitry Ultron has is carefully shielded to protect from damage, although the Scarlet Witch is capable of causing malfunctions via hex power, The Avengers #162 (August 1977) Human Torch using nova burst managed to damage Ultron's internal circuits while its outer armor remained intact, Secret Wars #12 and Wonder Man was once able to destroy an Ultron by throwing it so hard its internal systems were damaged.

Ultron's travels through outer space have greatly expanded upon the mad machine's intellectual and mechanical capacity in new and intriguing ways. Having made contact with the parasitic biotechnical Phalanx species, Ultron has made his own derivative of the techno-organic virus called the Ultron Virus Avengers Assemble (vol. 2) #14 'Age of Ultron' (April 2013) through which Ultron gains vast conversion and roboticization capabilities, able to cast his own binary code into any conceivable form of machinery which he can steadily turn into an extension of the Ultron Intelligence. Making anything or anyone infected with his virus act according to his whims against their own free will. Avengers: Rage of Ultron #1 (April 2015). Marvel Comics.

Being an adept technoform in any iteration, Ultron's newfound abilities to control, alternate, transform and assimilate with anything and everything via the parasitic insemination of his virulent machine algorithm in both organic and non-biological substrates gives him vast matter and energy reconfiguration abilities. Ones powerful enough to commandeer whole planetary and even universal expanses in a single inning, on top of his natural ability to invent and fabricate the most sophisticated of mechanical systems ever conceived. Annihilation: Conquest #1–6 (2008) Through his vast technoformative abilities, Ultron could change and morph entire areas into sprawling masses of cables, pipes and transorganic metal that moved about in any given direction he willed it. This effect gained more prominence with the more excess mass he could assimilate with his power, having once taken a slew of transmoded Kree Sentries into a massive body which reflected his physical likeness. Annihilation: Conquest #6 (2008)

Individuals infected with the Ultron Virus can spread it in a similar way to how biological can transfer, through cuts and scratches or direct physical interaction, such as barbs or plug-in-like apparatuses generated from the transformed physiology. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #11 (July 2016) Ultron later found himself physically as well as mentally bonded with his creator and long-time adversary, Dr. Henry Pym. As such, the fused entity now boasts all his robotic super robot's powers as well as Pym's genius science. Ultron can now change and alternate his size and mass at will through the acclimation of his maker's Pym Particle-enhanced physiology. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #4 (January 2016) Besides being able to grow to incredible heights in seconds, Ultron can shrink down to sub-quantum scale to shift between dimensions via accessing the Microverse. Ultron once used such a tactic to shunt its mass into another dimension for the purpose of riding a neutrino to escape burning up in the sun. Uncanny Avengers (vol. 3) #12 (August 2016) Another practice the union shares is a galaxy-spanning collective mind established through the Ultron Virus; every iteration of Ultron created through initial infection shares a hive mind intelligence. Guardians of the Galaxy #150 (March 2018)

• In 2006, Wizard Magazine ranked Ultron 189th in their "Top 200 Comic Book Characters" list.
• In 2014, IGN ranked Ultron 23rd in their "Top 100 Comic Book Villains" list.
• In 2019, IGN ranked Ultron 18th in their "Top 25 Marvel Villains" list.
• In 2022, The Mary Sue ranked Ultron 9th in their "Strongest Marvel Villains" list.
• In 2022, Newsarama ranked Ultron 8th in their "Best Marvel supervillains" list.
• In 2022, The A.V. Club ranked Ultron 20th in their "28 best Marvel villains" list.
• In 2022, Screen Rant included Ultron in their "20 Most Powerful Marvel Villains" list.
• In 2022, CBR.com ranked Ultron 1st in their "10 Scariest Avengers Villains" list and 2nd in their "10 Coolest Avengers Villains" list.