THE MIGHTY AVENGERS in “ULTRON TAKES MANHATTAN”
PAGE ONE PANEL 1
Large establishing shot. IRON MAN stands at a podium on a stage in front of a GROUP OF SCREAMING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS who cheer and shout. Standing next to Iron Man is an 11-year old boy named MARTIN, who has a blue ribbon pinned to his chest. Off to the side of them on the stage is the PRINCIPAL MILLER, a middle-aged woman. Over their heads is a banner that reads “19tth ANNUAL SCIENCE FAIR” and another banner underneath it that says “Welcome, Iron Man!”. Behind Iron Man is a row of kids standing next to their weird scientific contraptions.
1. IRON MAN:
Thank you, Principal Miller. Thank you, students. There’s no other place I’d rather be today—
2. IRON MAN:
Okay, that’s not really true. But I DO think it’s great that so many kids out there love science as much as I did when I was your age.
3. IRON MAN:
And who knows? With years of practice, maybe some of you will one day come and work for me at Stark Ind—
4. JARVIS (electric): Code Red. Repeat: Code Red. PANEL 2
IRON MAN puts his hand over the microphone as he’s interrupted. PRINCIPAL MILLER looks on concernedly.
5. IRON MAN:
Jarvis?
6. JARVIS (electric): Your presence is required at Avengers Mansion immediately. 7. IRON MAN:
Uh…sorry, kids--
PANEL 3
IRON MAN suddenly waves goodbye and flies off into the sky. PRINCIPAL MILLER and MARTIN are left confused, and Martin tries to stop him.
8. IRON MAN:
--I have important business to tend to. Be good. Stay in school. Yadda yadda.
9. MARTIN:
But, Iron Man—
10. IRON MAN:
Sorry, Martin. Congrats on your blue ribbon!
PANEL 4
IRON MAN opens the front door of AVENGERS MANSION and peeks inside…
10. LOCATOR CAP: AVENGERS MANSION. MOMENTS LATER… 11. IRON MAN:
Hello…? Anybody he--?
12. ULTRON (electric, off): Good afternoon, Mr. Stark…
PAGE TWO PANEL 1
IRON MAN stands in the doorway and sees his fellow Avengers (CAPTAIN AMERICA, HULK, ANT-MAN, and THOR) standing with ULTRON like they’re all old pals. ULTRON has a prominent dent right on his head!
1. TITLE:
ULTRON TAKES MANHATTAN
2. CREDITS:
JOE CARAMAGNA – Writer SOMEONE ELSE – Artist SOMEONE ELSE – Colorist SOMEONE ELSE – Letterer NATHAN COSBY – Editor JOE QUESADA – Editor-in-Chief DAN BUCKLEY – Publisher
3. ULTRON (electric):
…we were just talking about you.
PANEL 2
Medium shot. IRON MAN holds up his arm, ready to strike with a laser from his wrist!
4. IRON MAN (thought):
ULTRON!
5. SFX:
DEET DEET DEET!
6. CAPTAIN AMERICA (off):
WAIT!
PANEL 3
We’re looking over IRON MAN’S shoulder at CAPTAIN AMERICA and ULTRON. Cap is looking at Ultron with the side of his eyes with a “Get a load of this guy” look. HULK, THOR and ANT-MAN stand behind.
7. CAP:
He says he’s not here to fight.
8. CAP:
Go ahead. Tell HIM why you’re here.
9. ULTRON (elec): Captain America speaks the truth, I’ve come in peace. I’m here because I want to become one of you-PANEL 4
Close up of ULTRON.
10. ULTRON (elec):
--I want to be AN AVENGER!
PAGE THREE PANEL 1
ULTRON walks up to IRON MAN.
1. IRON MAN:
Tell me you’re joking.
2. ULTRON (elec): You’re right not to trust me, since I have expressed hatred for humanity for so long. But, remember, I was created by a man who used his own brain waves to give me “life”. 3. ULTRON (elec): I now realize that I hated you because, in many ways, I AM human, but I don’t—and could never—fit in. Except HERE with YOU. 4. IRON MAN:
Are any of you buying this?
PANEL 2
The other four Avengers stand in a row. CAPTAIN AMERICA looks like he smells something funny, HULK growls, THOR smiles satisfactorily, and ANT-MAN absolutely bubbles with excitement and claps his hands together.
5. CAP:
NO.
6. HULK:
Grrrr….
7. THOR: Ignore them. Although Ultron is known to be evil, I sayeth every being has the right to redeem himself. 8. THOR:
ANT-MAN?
9. ANT-MAN:
Who CARES, Thor? LOOK at that GETUP! He’s AWESOME!
10. ANT-MAN:
CAN WE KEEP HIM? CAN WE KEEP HIM?
PANEL 3
Later in the AVENGERS TRAINING ROOM, ULTRON stands his ground in the middle while THOR creates wind and hits him with lightning, HULK pounds the ground, ANT-MAN hits him with a drop-kick. Up above, we see the SILHOUETTES of IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA in the OBSERVATION DECK.
11. LOCATOR:
AVENGERS TRAINING ROOM. LATER.
12. IRON MAN: Adamantium structure. Advanced artificial intelligence. You gotta admit, he IS impressive. I’m SO jealous that I didn’t make him myself!
13. CAP:
He’s up to something.
PANEL 4
IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA are in the observation deck looking down at the action below. On a screen in front of them, The THING is clobbering ULTRON right on top of his head, giving him his dent.
14. IRON MAN: Possibly. But see that dent in his helmet? In his last fight with the FANTASTIC FOUR, he got clocked pretty good. It could’ve caused a MALFUNCTION… which would explain his new-found conscience. 15. IRON MAN: If he sticks around for a few days, I might be able to poke around his software without him knowing, and find out for sure. Or, better yet, disable him once and for all. 16. CAP:
Fine. Do what you need to do…
PANEL 5
In the AVENGERS KITCHEN late at night. ERIC O’GRADY, aka ANT-MAN sneaks into the darkness in his pajamas.
17. CAP CAPTION:
“…but we’d be foolish to let our guard down.”
18. LOCATOR CAP:
A FEW NIGHT LATER…
PAGE FOUR PANEL 1
At floor level, the metallic foot of ULTRON stands in the foreground as ERIC opens the refrigerator door, casting light on Ultron who is standing behind him. Eric is startled.
1. ULTRON (elec):
ANT-MAN.
2. ERIC:
Wha--?
PANEL 2
ERIC relaxes now that he sees it’s only Ultron and reaches into the fridge. ULTRON walks up closer behind him.
3. ERIC: Oh, it’s YOU. You scared me. And please, now that we’re housemates, you can call me ERIC. 4. ERIC:
What are you doing up?
5. ULTRON (elec): I’m a robot. I don’t sleep. 6. ERIC:
Fair enough. Want something to eat?
PANEL 4
ERIC pulls a TACO BELL bag out of the fridge and starts tearing into it . ULTRON stands very close to him and stares.
7. ERIC:
It’s an O’Grady family curse…after midnight our tummies start barking.
8. SFX (hand in bag):
RUFFLE RUFFLE
PANEL 5
ERIC wipes his mouth off and ULTRON still stands uncomfortably close and stares. He holds u p a robotic hand with sharp nails that are sparking.
9. ERIC:
I guess you don’t eat either, huh?
1o. ERIC:
Ultron, what are you doing?
PANEL 1
Large panel. ULTRON grabs ERIC O’GRADY by the face and an electronic charge emits from his grasp.
1. ERIC:
AAAARRRGGGHHHH!
2. SFX:
SSHHHRRRGGGGKK!
PAGE FIVE PANEL 1
ULTRON addresses the AVENGERS (IRON MAN, CAPTAIN AMERICA, HULK, ANT-MAN, and THOR) who stand with their backs to the camera.
1. LOCATOR CAP: LATER… 2. ULTRON (elec): FOOLS! . I started the rumors about my malfunctions MYSELF. I was right to assume your human compassion would be your downfall. 3. ULTRON (elec): Over the past few days I’ve secretly injected each of you with millions of nanites that control ALL of your voluntary actions, and they respond to my mental commands alone. 4. ULTRON (elec): With your great assortment of powers at my disposal, I finally have the army that I need to bring humankind to its knees! PANEL 2
Now we see the front of the AVENGERS as ULTRON addresses them. They are staring straight ahead, motionless and EMotionless.
5. CAP & IRON MAN: (thought): 6. HULK (thought): 7. THOR (thought):
I knew it!
Grrrr…. One as evil as he shall never be redeemed!
8. ANT-MAN (thought):
Nuts.
9. ULTRON (elec, off-panel):
AVENGERS …
PANEL 3
Large panel of the AVENGERS tearing it up in NEW YORK CITY. Artist, go nuts with this, it’s a big action shot. All FIVE AVENGERS are clearing the field while ULTRON flies in the background and allows them to do all of the dirty work. HULK can be smashing cars or throwing them or something, CAPTAIN AMERICA is launching his shield off-panel to break up crowds of people, ANT-MAN jumps out towards the reader, THOR flies high in the air, blowing the crowd away with a mighty wind, and IRON MAN flies up above and blows things up with his repulsor rays. Just HAVE FUN! But make sure there is no blood, no teeth being knocked out, no entrance wounds, and no guns. The crowd should be pushed back and diverted rather than getting really hurt. And REMEMBER, these Avengers aren’t really in the moment, they are thinking things other than what their bodies are doing because they aren’t in control, so they shouldn’t really have any expressions, and should be moving rather stiffly. GO NUTS!
10. ULTRON CAPTION:
“…ASSEMBLE!
11. ULTRON CAPTION:
“Our conquest begins here in NEW YORK CITY!”
12. HULK (thought):
Hulk…can’t…stop…SMASHING!
13. ANT-MAN (thought): we left!
I hope Ultron maneuvers me towards a restroom. I didn’t go before
PAGE SIX PANEL 1
IRON MAN flies through the sky and fires repulsor rays towards the street below as ULTRON takes his place at the front of the pack to lead the way.
1. ULTRON (elec): COMMAND!
Onward to CITY HALL. That will be our CENTRAL
2. JARVIS (electric, floating):
Warning! Virus detected within suit parameters.
3. IRON MAN (thought):
JARVIS?
4. JARVIS (elec, floating):
Scanning…scanning…
5. MARTIN (off panel):
IRON MAN?
PANEL 2
MARTIN, the MIDDLE SCHOOL KID from page one is at street level trying to get IRON MAN’s attention in the middle of all of the destruction. CAPTAIN AMERICA enters the panel from the side, near Martin.
6. MARTIN: It’s ME. MARTIN. Don’t you remember me? 7. MARTIN: Why are you DOING this? 8. IRON MAN (thought):
Get away, Martin, before you get hurt!
9. JARVIS (elec, floating):
Initiating anti-virus…
PANEL 3
CAPTAIN AMERICA shoves MARTIN down to the ground and out of the way. A bottle of water lies in the street within reach of where he is falling.
10. MARTIN:
MARTIN. From the SCIENCE FAIR--
11. CAP (thought):
Oops! Sorry, kid!
12. MARTIN:
OOF!
13. JARVIS (elec, floating): …sixty-five percent complete… PANEL 4
A bottle of water flies in from off-panel and bounces off of CAPTAIN AMERICA’S face. Cap, of course, is expressionless because he has no control over any voluntary movement.
14. SFX:
KWUNK!
15. MARTIN (off-panel): 16. CAP (thought):
JERK!
OW!
17. JARVIS (elec, floating): …complete…virus eliminated.
PAGE SEVEN PANEL 1
IRON MAN soars through the sky. The AVENGERS are still clearing the streets of those pesky humans as they travel towards City Hall.
1. IRON MAN:
Jarvis, you are BEAUTIFUL!
2. IRON MAN: Can you reroute the anti-virus software and emit through my repulsor rays? And don’t you dare say “no”! PANEL 2
They get to City Hall and IRON MAN is bathing CAPTAIN AMERICA and ANT-MAN in the anti-virus rays from his hands. HULK and THOR are still under Ultron’s power. ULTRON leads the pack up the stairs of CITY HALL, but turns because something’s just not right.
1. JARVIS (elec, floating):
Certainly, sir.
2. SFX (repulsors):
FWASH!
3. ULTRON (elec):
What is--?
PANEL 3
Close up of ULTRON.
1. ULTRON (elec):
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!
PANEL 4
Big panel. IRON MAN does a kamikaze job on ULTRON, flying right into him at full power, knocking him off his feet.
1. SFX:
CHER-KLANKK!
PAGE EIGHT PANEL 1
CAPTAIN AMERICA and ANT-MAN face each other, making sure they’re okay. From behind them HULK and THOR are charging them, both ready to strike! Ant-Man points in their direction. The human bystanders are freaking out!
1. ANT-MAN: 2. CAP:
I’M BACK! How’d he DO that?
Not sure. Are you okay?
3. ANT-MAN:
Peachy-keen. But THEY don’t look too happy!
PANEL 2
HULK and THOR come crashing down, but CAP and ANT-MAN leap out of the way in opposite directions. HULK brings down a big double punch, and Thor smashes his hammer Mjolnir down on the street.
4. SFX:
KLAKOOOOOOM!
PANEL 3
IRON MAN punches ULTRON across the face
5. SFX:
KLANG!
PANEL 4
HULK punches at CAPTAIN AMERICA, who deflects his fists away with his shield. It’s defense, but Cap swings away like an offensive move.
6. HULK (thought):
Hulk don’t WANT to smash Captain America!
7. SFX:
PONG!
8. CAP:
Arrrrr!
PANEL 5
IRON MAN blasts HULK with the anti-virus repulsor while Hulk is pressing down on the top of Cap’s shield, crushing him beneath his strength!
9. IRON MAN:
STOP!!
10. JARVIS (elec, floating): Initiating anti-virus… 11. JARVIS (elec, floating): …fifty-percent complete…
PAGE NINE
PANEL 1
ULTRON blasts IRON MAN with a laser, disrupting the anti-virus.
1. IRON MAN:
Gah!
PANEL 2
Meanwhile, THOR is swinging Mjolnir with all his might, baseball style, but ANT-MAN shrinks down to a very small size to dodge the blow!
2. SFX:
WHOOOSH!
3. THOR (thought): MJOLNIR!
Mighty move, Ant-Man. You do not want to be hit with the likes of
PANEL 3
THOR slams Mjolnir down to hit the tiny ANT-MAN like a nail, but he leaps out of the way of impact. The PEOPLE on the street cheer!
4. SFX:
BRAMM!
PANEL 4
IRON MAN slams ULTRON across the jaw with a two-handed uppercut!
10. IRON MAN:
You’re off your game, Ultron!
11. IRON MAN:
What’s wrong? Can’t multitask all of these bodies?
12. ULTRON (elec): Hardly. I was made to multitask... PANEL 5
ULTRON blasts IRON MAN in the face with a concussion blast from his palm, throwing him back onto the steps of City Hall
1. ULTRON (elec): …which is why ONE of my concussion blasts equals HUNDREDS of your primitive punches! 2. SFX (concussion blast): 3. IRON MAN:
AAAAH!
ZZRAKK!
PAGE TEN
PANEL 1
HULK slams CAP down to the ground in a hard body slam.
1. SFX:
SCAARCH!
PANEL 2
CAP lies in a heap as HULK leaves him to tend to the ULTRON / IRON MAN fight.
2. CAP (weak):
Uhhh….
PANEL 3
ULTRON stands menacingly over IRON MAN who is firing a repulsor ray clean PAST Ultron and into the background.
3. ULTRON (elec): be lacking.
Ha! You need to recalibrate your repulsors, Iron Man. Your aim seems to
4. IRON MAN: YOU’RE not my target, Ultron! 5. JARVIS (elec, floating):
…virus eliminated.
6. ULTRON (elec):
…
PANEL 5
ULTRON turns his head and sees HULK bearing down on him.
7. HULK:
Ultron very BAD robot!
8. ULTRON (elec, small):
Oh, no…
PANEL 6
HULK lifts ULTRON high in the air above his head.
9. ULTRON: YAAAH---
PAGE ELEVEN PANEL 1
A shot from OUTER SPACE as ULTRON comes hurtling fast and furious from the Earth. The angry Hulk has thrown him clear off the face of the planet!
1. ULTRON: YAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH! PANEL 2
Back on the bridge, IRON MAN soaks THOR in the anti-virus from his repulsor ray. Thor flaps his arms, happy to have his bodily control back. The other AVENGERS look on. HULK is scratching his head, not sure what has happened, CAPTAIN AMERICA is very annoyed, and ANT-MAN is growing back to normal size.
2. THOR:
By the red beard of Odin! I am myself once more.
3. CAP:
Safe to say that some of you learned some lessons here today.
4. ANT-MAN:
I sure did, Cap. I don’t think I’ll trust anybody ever again.
PANEL 3
Close up of THOR and ANT-MAN engaged in conversation. IRON MAN mills around in the background.
5. THOR: Thou art not being fair, Ant-Man, since we ourselves must ask the people of this city to learn to trust US again. 6. ANT-MAN:
Why do you DO that?
7. ANT-MAN:
You have any idea how annoying that is?
8. IRON MAN:
But Thor’s right, Eric. We definitely have some mending to do…
PANEL 4
IRON MAN is back at the MIDDLE SCHOOL, and he is presenting MARTIN with a special plaque bearing the Avengers logo on the stage in front of a bunch of SCREAMING MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. Of course, PRINCIPAL MILLER stands off to the side.
9. IRON MAN V/O CAPTION:
“…and I know where I need to start.”
10. IRON MAN: --and on behalf of the Avengers, I am proud to present this award for bravery to MARTIN JAMES, for standing up to me while I was under Ultron’s control. 11. IRON MAN:
Congratulations, Martin, you’re an honorary Avenger!
12. FLOATING TEXT:
THE END.
