Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Marvel's What If...?

The zombie story in Marvel’s What If…? made a perfect change to how Vision was used in the original comic. Vision, one of several Avengers to take part in the battle with the zombies, had an unexpected role in Marvel’s What If…? episode 5. Clearly inspired by the Marvel Zombies comic book miniseries from 2005, the latest episode of the Disney+ animated series united a mixed bag of MCU heroes to fight off the zombie apocalypse during the timeframe of Avengers: Infinity War.

During the conflict, they were surprised to encounter Vision, who they understandably thought to be an asset, until they came to discover that the snythezoid was secretly using humans to satisfy the hunger of a zombified Scarlet Witch. In the end, he atoned for his actions by repeating his Infinity War death, except this time, Vision himself ripped the Mind Stone out of his head, and died in the process.

Related: What Vision Is Made Of (Origin, Powers & Possible Future)

Apparently, his survival up until that point was owed to the fact that Vision is a synthezoid, and not really a human. That’s why he can’t be infected by the zombie virus. That makes sense, even though that’s not the direction taken by the original 2005 comic, which showed him as a member of the zombie horde. In this particular story, no one was immune, but Marvel’s What If…? episode 5 featured him as a reasonable exception to the rule.

Vision in Marvel's What If

Like other characters that appear in What If…?, Vision went down a road that different greatly from his MCU counterpart. Vision becoming a fallen hero in need of redemption stands in stark contrast who he was in the MCU movies and WandaVision. Despite being an android, Vision is regarded as a moral compass to the Avengers and one of the team’s most righteous members. What was especially poignant was Vision going against his conscience by letting Scarlet Witch feed on innocent human beings. His actions contradicted the beliefs he held in WandaVision, where he convinced Wanda not to put their love before the lives of the people of Westview.

The Vision that appeared in Marvel’s What If…? served as a dark mirror of the fan-favorite Avenger from the MCU films. While it could be a bit shocking to see such a turn in a character with moral values as strong as his, it’s fitting with this idea that Vision, who is still somewhat new to this world, is still in the process of developing a proper understanding of right and wrong. A conflicted Vision acted selfishly, but eventually came to realize his mistakes. Ultimately, Vision’s story in the episode is consistent with the concept that defines both the show and the What If…? comic. Just one deviation in the timeline can totally reshape a villain like Thanos into a hero – or Vision into a shell of his former self.

More: The MCU Finally Offered Justice For Spider-Man's Uncle Ben

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

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