Few Marvel Comics IPs have as interesting of a story to tell over the last decade and a half as the Runaways. Originally intended to be one of the studio’s earliest Infinity Saga films with development beginning in 2008, the project was scrapped following the success of 2012’s Avengers and the realization that the MCU could truly thrive financially by going bigger. In 2016, Marvel Television–no, the old one–partnered with Hulu to begin development on a streaming adaptation of the property which debuted in 2017. Over three seasons and 33 episodes, Runaways proved to be a critical darling but as the old Marvel Television branch run by Jeph Loeb began to be put down, the series came to a premature end in 2019.
Despite sharing some storytelling elements with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Runaways is not only nowhere to be found in the Marvel section of Disney Plus but also was pulled from Hulu, the streaming service that originally presented it. So while Marvel Studios has mad moves behind the scenes to canonize Marvel Television’s Netflix Defender-verse series, Runaways–despite being both popular and promising–has been given the Sloth treatment and been chained in the basement by Mama Fratelli, hidden away while its brother and sister series are allowed to see the light of day. It was strange fate indeed for a property that once seemed to hold so much promise as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but even as time and measures taken by Disney help erode the memory of the Hulu series, there might be some hope on the horizon for at least one character who played a major role in Brian Vaughan‘s comic book series and was always intended to play a role in the the TV series.
The Runaways Throwaway
Introduced in 2005’s second volume of Marvel Comics Runaways, Victor Mancha is an incredibly interesting character who was a big-time threat in the comic book series, was supposed to show up in Hulu’s Runaways and whose lineage might just make him a perfect fit for an upcoming MCU project. As Marvel Television was putting together Season 1 of Runaways, they had every intention of including a character by the name of Victor Mancha. Those plans never materialized and Mancha’s role in the show was reduced to an easy-to-miss mention and his name appearing during a brief shot of a note from the future found by Alex Wilder in the series finale.
In Mancha’s case, having not appeared at all in Runaways may ultimately turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to the character.
El Diablo Robotico
Victor Mancha is a significant character in Marvel Comics, particularly known for his association with the Runaways series. Created by Ultron, Victor is a sophisticated android designed to infiltrate and destroy the Avengers. However, his destiny took a different path when he joined the Runaways, a group of young heroes with complicated backgrounds.
Origin and Creation
Victor Mancha was conceived as part of Ultron’s plan to create a synthetic being capable of harnessing incredible power to defeat the Avengers. As a half-human, half-android, Victor possesses a unique blend of abilities inherited from both his human mother and his robotic father, Ultron. His powers include electromagnetic manipulation, super strength, and advanced computing capabilities, which make him a formidable opponent.
Joining the Runaways
Despite his origins as a potential threat, Victor defied his programming and joined the Runaways, a team of teenagers who rebel against their villainous parents. Victor quickly became an integral member of the group, contributing his technical expertise and raw power to their various missions. His affiliation with the Runaways marked a shift in his character, emphasizing his struggle to choose his own path rather than succumb to the dark designs of Ultron.
Role in the Marvel Universe
Victor’s story extends beyond the Runaways as he also interacted with other major Marvel entities, including the Avengers AI and Vision. His struggle between his inherent programming and his desire to be human continues to define his journey within the Marvel Universe, making him one of the more complex characters in the pantheon of Marvel Heroes.
The Son of Ultron
The news of James Spader‘s return to the MCU as Ultron in the as-yet-untitled Vision streaming series was met with nearly universal celebration by fans. While Avengers: Age of Ultron didn’t initially land as well with fans as 2012’s Avengers, it has grown on fans over time and Spader’s performance as rogue AI peacekeeping program has always been well-regarded. Fans of the comics know Ultron never truly dies and the character’s return to the MCU could open the door for Victor Mancha.
In the comics, Victor’s mother, Marianella, came into possession of one of Ultron’s chrome domes with an intact CPU. Over time, Marianella rebuilt Ultron and the two became besties. And as a woman and a detached robot head often do, the two hatched a plan to create a child. Weaving Marianella’s DNA into a nanite-based robot, Ultron created the cyborg known as Victor and placed within him programming that would allow him to make his way into the Avengers as a sleeper agent designed to wipe them out. While Victor ultimately overcame his programming, it was a great move by Ultron and one that can easily be adapted into the MCU.
Indeed, the thought of Victor being used in an MCU project is hardly a new one. Fans theorized how the character might be used in WandaVision or even as the big bad in a Young Avengers project. However, while it’s unclear exactly what role Ultron will play in the upcoming Vision series–currently in development under the care of showrunner Terry Matalas–it’s time to revisit the idea of bringing Victor into a Marvel Studios project.
The Pieces Are in Place
As seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming, bits and pieces of Ultron and Sub-Ultrons that the Department of Damage Control collected ultimately found their way onto the black market as weapons. The DODC also houses the head of Ultron which is really all anyone needs to kick off another age of Ultron in the MCU.
While it is still being put together, it’s believed that the Paul Bettany-led Vision series will follow the White Vision as he tries to regain his memories. At some point, that will certainly include learning he was an Avenger and the realization that his “father” was one of the Avengers’ deadliest foes. It would make for compelling television to see Ultron being physically reassembled while his son reassembles the memories of who he once was. Once put back together again, Ultron would obviously seek vengeance against his foes–who he would sadly find are almost all nowhere to be found. It would not, however, be too tough to locate his son, Vision, who he might feel particularly apt to get even with. And, as Vision will also likely feel the absence of his family, the appearance of a “brother” would make for a nice Trojan Horse for whatever Ultron’s newest evil plan might be.
It would only seem right that the Vision series eventually sees Vision reunite with Ultron. And since Ultron has proven to be incapable of permanent destruction in the comics and has never truly been defeated, the best one could hope is to continue to foil his plans. In this case, that might simply mean that Vision helps Victor overcome his programming and choose his own path.
