•According to a report by Polygon on the upcoming Disney+ series VisionQuest, the show introduces its main antagonist through a deadly ambush that opens the story.
The series begins with Vision (Paul Bettany) working in an Edinburgh pub as he tries to figure out who he is after the events of WandaVision. He’s practicing socializing and sifting through disconnected memories while hanging out with a group of other AIs in a digital mind palace. That quiet contemplation ends when a hit squad attacks the pub and kills Vision’s kind boss.
The attack is led by Paladin (Todd Stashwick) as an opening move in an elaborate plan to capture the former Avenger. Vision and his allies then go into research mode to learn about their enemy, prompting this primer on Paladin’s comic origins, how he differs from his source material, and what he might be planning.
Who is Paladin in Marvel Comics?
Paladin first appeared in 1977 on artist Gil Kane’s cover of the 150th issue of Daredevil, which included a text box reading: “Some call him hero. Some call him villain. He’s Paladin, the man-stalker without equal! And Daredevil is his prey!” Writer Jim Shooter then followed the classic Marvel team-up trope where Paladin and Daredevil fight before realizing they’re on the same side.
Paladin had been hired to hunt the mind-controlling supervillain Kilgrave, aka the Purple Man, whom Daredevil was also pursuing. After their skirmish, they exchanged information on their target.
Paladin went on to appear as an honorable anti-hero across numerous comic runs. While he always expects payment for his work, he teamed up with the Avengers and Spider-Man, joined Heroes for Hire, and took jobs for S.H.I.E.L.D. He also worked for the Hellfire Club and accepted contracts to hunt the Punisher and Elektra.
How is Paladin different in VisionQuest?
Since Marvel Comics never gave Paladin much of a backstory, VisionQuest creator and showrunner Terry Matalas filled in the blanks. This version of Paladin belongs to a centuries-long line of hunters who chase down targets for the highest bidder, killing heroes and villains alike. Once a Paladin accepts a job, he’s 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 comic-book Paladin possesses superhuman strength, speed, and durability, but this version doesn’t appear to have any superpowers. Instead, he has an impressive arsenal, access to numerous mercenaries, and immense technical knowledge. He’s proven dangerous for Vision by catching him in a trap and blasting him with adamantium bullets that can damage his vibranium body.
Paladin has an unnamed superhacker ally played by Diane Morgan who helped track Vision and capture his reincarnated son Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica). Because the hacker and Paladin are never seen in the same room, the report theorizes she may actually be an AI like F.R.I.D.A.Y. (Orla Brady) or E.D.I.T.H. (Emily Hampshire), appearing only as a virtual form during their communications.
Who is Paladin working with?
Neither Paladin nor his ally knows who put a bounty on Vision. Their boss is clearly a skilled hacker, having broken into Paladin’s secure communications, and they’re explicit about wanting Vision alive. They used a S.W.O.R.D. satellite to communicate, so Paladin assumes he works for the intelligence agency—believing it wants Vision back because of the effort spent rebuilding him after he was killed by Thanos.
The report expresses skepticism about this theory, noting that countless organizations and villains would want Vision—and even more would be interested if they knew he carried a backup of Ultron (James Spader). That backup tipped Paladin off to Vision’s hiding place, and there may be another Ultron backup elsewhere who originally hired Paladin.
If Ultron wants to get inside Vision’s head to reconstruct himself—just as Vision is on a quest to understand who he is after his consciousness and body were fragmented—Paladin’s job could have disastrous consequences for the whole world.
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