VisionQuest opens with Vision (Paul Bettany) working in an Edinburgh pub as he tries to figure out who he is after the very strange events of WandaVision. He’s practicing socializing, sifting through memories he can’t quite connect with, and hanging out with a group of other AIs in a digital mind palace. But that quiet contemplation is brutally interrupted when a hit squad attacks the pub and kills Vision’s kind boss.
The attack is led by Paladin (Todd Stashwick) as the opening gambit in an elaborate plan to capture the former Avenger. Vision and his allies go into research mode so they can get to know their enemy.
Who is Paladin in Marvel Comics?
Paladin’s first comic book appearance was in 1977 on artist Gil Kane’s cover of the 150th issue of Daredevil, which included a text box explaining: “Some call him hero. Some call him villain. He’s Paladin, the man-stalker without equal! And Daredevil is his prey!” Writer Jim Shooter follows the classic Marvel team-up trope where Paladin and Daredevil fight before they realize they’re really on the same side. Paladin has been hired to hunt the mind-controlling supervillain Kilgrave aka the Purple Man, whom Daredevil is also looking for. After their skirmish, they wind up exchanging information on their target.
Paladin went on to appear as an honorable anti-hero across numerous comic runs. While he always expects to be paid for his work, he’s teamed up with the Avengers and Spider-Man. He’s been part of Heroes for Hire and taken jobs for S.H.I.E.L.D. But he also worked for the Hellfire Club and took contracts to hunt the Punisher and Elektra.
How is Paladin different in VisionQuest?
Marvel Comics never gave Paladin much of a backstory, so VisionQuest creator and showrunner Terry Matalas filled in the blanks. This version of Paladin is part of a centuries-long line of hunters who chase down their targets for the highest bidder, killing heroes and villains alike. Once a Paladin takes a job, they’re bound by an unbreakable contract. Matalas has described Paladin as “the Boba Fett of the Marvel Universe.” While Paladin will kill anyone who crosses him, he hates collateral damage.
The Paladin in Marvel Comics has superhuman strength, speed, and durability, but this Paladin doesn’t seem to have any superpowers. He does have a very impressive arsenal, access to plenty of other mercenaries, and immense technical knowledge. He’s proven to be a very dangerous adversary for Vision by catching him in a trap and then blasting him with adamantium bullets that can damage his vibranium body.
Paladin has an unnamed superhacker ally played by Diane Morgan who has helped him track Vision and capture his reincarnated son Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica). Given we never actually see this hacker and Paladin in the same room, it's suspected she is actually an AI like F.R.I.D.A.Y. (Orla Brady) or E.D.I.T.H. (Emily Hampshire). When they’re communicating, we’re just seeing her virtual form like the ones in Vision’s mindscape.
Who is Paladin working with?
Neither Paladin nor his ally seem to know who put a bounty on Vision. Their boss is clearly a very skilled hacker since they were able to break into Paladin’s secure communications. They are also very clear that they want Vision alive. They used a S.W.O.R.D. satellite to communicate, so Paladin assumes he's working for the intelligence agency, which wants Vision back because they spent so much effort rebuilding him after he was killed by Thanos.
That’s possible, but it's skeptical. There are any number of organizations and villains that would want to get their hands on Vision, and even more that would be interested in capturing him if they knew he was also carrying around a backup of Ultron (James Spader). That backup tipped Paladin off to where Vision was hiding, and it’s possible there’s another backup of Ultron somewhere else that hired Paladin in the first place. Just as Vision is on a quest to understand who he is after his consciousness and body were fragmented, Ultron might want to get inside Vision’s head to put himself back together. If that’s the case, Paladin’s job could have disastrous consequences for the whole world.
