Ultron is one of the greatest Avengers villains - one of the greatest Marvel villains - around. An artificial intelligence with an extreme allergy to death and a real interest in upgrades, Ultron's existence is intrinsically linked to the Avengers, so it made sense he would appear in the films.
When Ultron appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron back in 2015, his appearance was an instant subject of interest for fans as well as debate. How was he similar to his comic book origins? How was he different? Here are ten differences between the comic book version of Ultron and his MCU appearance.
10 His Creator
The first and most obvious difference in the character is in who created him, In the comic books, that was Hank Pym, AKA Ant-Man. Creating a homicidal murder-bot who would plague the Avengers and Marvel universe for decades was just one of the not-that-great things Pym did in his career.
In the film, Pym is not part of the Avengers yet and it would have been a lot to get him in to make Ultron in the first fifteen minutes of the film, so the task falls naturally to the ego-centric Tony Stark.
9 His Origin
In the film, Ultron is a logical extension of elements already introduced in the films. Tony Stark's lingering fear over the events of the first Avengers film and consequently his desire to put a 'suit of armor around the world,' and the Mind Stone.
The Mind Stone possesses an AI-like internal intelligence Stark applies to a program designed to protect humanity. In the comics, it's much less involved. Ultron is based on Hank Pym's brainwaves and evolves from there into a super scary kill-machine.
8 Ultron 5
When Ultron first appears in Avengers #54 back in 1968, he's already been through some changes. He's Ultron-5, the Living Automaton. Ultron would evolve through many, many more iterations over the decades, but in the film Age of Ultron, the android is version 1.0.
For a minute, anyway. Ultron's suddenly active consciousness inhabits the damaged drone of Tony Stark's Iron Army, in a creepy, lurching introduction to his unsuspecting creators. He upgraded pretty quick after that though.
7 Not Into Janet So Much
When Ultron came online in the comics, he developed an Oedipal fixation on his 'father,' Hank Pym, and his 'mother,' Janet van Dyne, AKA the Wasp. His hatred for Hank was only matched by his... desire... for Janet, which was one thing the film left lost in translation.
Another casualty of the fact that Ant-Man and the Wasp hadn't bee established as members of the Avengers yet, this wrinkle in the relationship probably wouldn't have found any room in what was already a pretty stuffed-to-the-gills movie.
6 Adamantium Armor
When Ultron returns in 1969 to harass the Avengers again, he's now Ultron-6 and armored in adamantium. This is the go-to indestructible alloy of the early Marvel universe, so it makes perfect sense.
In the film, it's vibranium and this is one of the details that helps enrich the film. It also allows the Age of Ultron to keep making the MCU better. By tying Ultron to adamantium, and laying down some tracks for the eventual introduction of Wakanda and Black Panther, the movie becomes essential.
5 Blurred Vision
Ultron's initial appearance in the comics is kind of complicated. He's already been busy before he actually shows up, and it's only through flashbacks do fans realize that Hank Pym created him.
Another in media res component of his origin is the Vision. Vision debuts as a 'synthezoid' who attacks the team for unknown reasons. Readers then discover that Vision is himself an android creation of Ultron, which occurs in the film with some major differences. Vision is intended to be the ultimate form of Ultron.
4 No Wonder Man
Ultron creates Vision in the film through a complicated process that involves vibranium, human tissue, and the Mind Stone. His ambition is to create the perfect body for his consciousness to inhabit.
In the comic books, Ultron creates Vision from the brainwaves not of Hank Pym but Wonder Man. Wonder Man has yet to appear in the MCU. The comic book Avengers also believe Vision is based on an android version of the Human Torch (!) but like Wonder Man, he's yet to show up in the MCU.
3 The Crimson Cowl
Ultron plays some games in his first appearance in the comics, hypnotizing both Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne so they forget that Hank intentionally built a super-advanced AI based on his own brain patterns. To take matters further, Ultron creeps around disguised as the Crimson Cowl.
Hidden behind a giant draping crimson cloak, Ultron doesn't reveal his true identity until the very end of his first issue. The film dispenses with this entirely, preferring to get right to the truth of who Ultron is.
2 WI-Fi Is Down
In the movie, Ultron escapes simply being switched off at Avengers tower thanks to the power of the internet. Once the team realizes this guy is alive and is not going to be the cute, cuddly kind of android say Data was from Star Trek: The Next Generation, things get dicey and fast.
Bul Ultron escapes termination by transferring his consciousness through the internet back to a Sokovian base HYDRA had used. There, he sets about evolving into a stronger, more powerful version of himself.
1 No Scarlet Witch Or Quicksilver
Another major departure in the film from the comic book version of Ultron is his alliance with the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. Though Vision more or less plays out the same in the comics as it does the film, the Maxioff twins don't factor into his nefarious plans in the comics at all.
As citizens of Sokovia who HYDRA experimented on, they depart significantly from their comic book versions in their origins and fates. Quicksilver becomes a casualty of Ultron's attempt to destroy Sokovia (and the world).