Many fans overlooked one of the most bizarre aspects of ‘VisionQuest’. Dr. Phineas Horton looks just like Vision, but what if that resemblance isn’t real? Marvel may have deliberately used this visual similarity to hide a much bigger mystery until the finale.
Dr. Phineas Horton Mystery Could Change Everything About The Client
As Vision enters the simulated Horton’s library, he meets with the original Human Torch, Jim Hammond. When he realizes that Jim has his face, he is visibly surprised. But meeting Dr. Horton is interesting. Vision looks just like him, but doesn’t seem to notice or think about the resemblance.
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Why? One possible explanation is that Horton isn’t being represented accurately in the simulation. Maybe Vision didn’t remember what the scientist looked like, and the simulation just gave him a familiar face. If that’s the case, the actual Dr. Horton may be entirely different.
This is where things get particularly interesting. One thing that was initially a minor character trait, but has become a major interest of Ultron’s throughout the series, is his love of painting. There’s more to this mystery, though, in Episode 7. Dr. Jo Carrington’s room has a painting made by her partner, who turns out to be the Client.
Interestingly, Dr. Horton shares this love of art as well. He is the one who has painted the iconic synthetic man that has been seen throughout the series. Three characters who are all somehow related to the story, and all have an unusual interest in art. It’s a very interesting comic book link as well. The original Dr. Phineas Horton looks quite different, especially the mustache, which looks very similar to the Client’s.
What If the Client Is Actually The Real Phineas Horton?
This is where the theory gets a little crazy. What if the Client is not Horton’s grandson? But what if he’s the true Phineas Horton who somehow lived for decades with HYDRA and the Super Soldier Serum?
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The MCU has already delved into the idea of characters living beyond their normal lifespan, such as Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. Horton could have experienced something similar.
But there’s no evidence that the Client is Horton, and the painting links may be coincidental. However, if Marvel has purposefully disguised Horton’s true form, then the end of the series might have a whole new meaning for how he relates to Vision, Ultron, and the Client.
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