ANTIGONE

Real Name: Antigone

Identity/Class: Terrestrial android (sentient)

Occupation: Agent of Ultron

Group Membership: Bio-Synthezoids

Affiliations: Formerly Ultron and the Sons of Yinsen;
    possibly Jocasta

Enemies: Avengers, Iron Man, Robos, Sun-Tao, War Toys

Known Relatives: Ultron ("father"), Alkhema ("mother"), Bio-Synthezoids ("brethren"), Jocasta, Robos, Vision, War Toys ("elder siblings")

Aliases: none

Base of Operations: Currently unknown;
    formerly New Timbetpal, the floating city of the Sons of Yinsen;
    formerly an unidentified church;
    formerly a base beneath the tomb of Amenhotep III, Al-Luxor, Egypt

First Appearance: Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (November, 2001)

Powers/Abilities: Uncertain. Antigone is a synthozoid, similar to the Vision. She has survived mass destruction, such as the collapsing of a subterranean base or falling from a great height, but she has not demonstrated other significant superhuman powers.

History:
(Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (fb)) - The Bio-Synthezoids were created by Alkhema using a "Plastoid Birthmatrix" as her third attempt (after the War Toys and Robos) to create a race of synthetic life. However, unbeknownst to her, she was actually following programming from Ultron in building the Bio-Synthezoids. Once created, they set about rebuilding Ultron.

(Avengers: The Ultron Imperative) - Alkhema proudly unveiled her Bio-Synthezoids, but was horrified to learn they had rebuilt Ultron and were under his control. Alkhema was eventually destroyed by Hawkeye with an Antarctic Vibranium (Anti-Metal) arrow, and she destroyed her base and detonated her creations in the process. However, a lone Bio-Synthezoid survived, carrying the sentient head of Ultron to the surface after the Avengers had left. Ultron began to give the Bio-Synthezoid orders, but, possessing the form and personality of a young girl, it proceeded to begin playing instead, kicking the head about. The Bio-Synthezoid decided it wanted to see the world, and it took Ultron's head with it so it would have someone to talk to. She took the name Antigone.

(Iron Man III#48 (fb)) - Antgione brought the head of Ultron to America, where it linked up with the former sentient armor of Iron Man, posed as the reborn Ho Yinsen, and took over the Sons of Yinsen.

(Iron Man III#46 - BTS, 47) - Antigone stuck to the sidelines as Iron Man opposed the Sons of Yinsen, and eventually Ultron revealed his own existence.

(Iron Man III#48) - Antigone stood by Ultron as he and the Sons of Yinsen battled Iron Man and Sun-Tao. Iron Man downloaded the personality of Jocasta into Ultron, and she distracted him sufficiently so that Iron Man could drive him off. Ultron launched its head into the sky, taking Antigone with it, and the two then plunged to the Earth from the floating city.
    Antigone's body was found, presumed to be dead (they were uncertain if she was a mutant or something else entirely), and taken to the Las Vegas hospital. However, she awakened and departed with the head of Ultron, claiming to have finally gotten the body she wanted after all.

Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek and Klaus Janson.

    The speech balloons used by Antigone in the final panels of Iron Man III#48 are the same balloons used for Jocasta's speech, so presumably it was meant to indicate that Jocasta's personality had been downloaded into and taken over Antigone. Of some interest is that in the Killraven future seen in the pages of Avengers Forever, Jocasta has an appearance very similar to that of an adult Antigone.
    Of course, since few people feel the need to follow continuity, Jocasta is back in her original form when seen in the pages of Avengers III#"501."

    The final story page of Avengers: The Ultron is a(n) homage to Avengers I#58 (I think), in which a kid kicks around the head of Ultron.

    In investigating Alkhema, the Avengers came across the word Thebes, which Jarvis was able to connect to Oedipus, Ultron, Jocasta, Antigone, and the whole "Greek Tragedy" deal on which Ultron had a fixation, via the play "Seven Against Thebes." The Avengers then split up to check out the two Thebes, the one that became the Greek Thival and the one that became the Egyptian Al-Luxor.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
She is named for, but otherwise unconnected to:

images:
Iron Man III#48, last page, 5th panel
Avengers: The Ultron Imperative, p64

Appearances:
Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (November, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (plot), Roy Thomas (plot/script), John Paul Leon (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Iron Man III#47 (December 2001) - Frank Tieri (writer), Keron Grant (pencils), Rob Stull, Rich Perotta, Rick Ketcham (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Iron Man III#48 (January 2002) - Frank Tieri (writer), Omar Dogan & UDON (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 08/16/2004
Last updated: 09/06/2004

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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