Age of Ultron # 1 2013 VF/NM

Age of Ultron # 1 (March 2013) throws the reader directly into a bleak, dystopian future where the artificial intelligence Ultron has conquered Earth and decimated humanity. The issue focuses on the few remaining heroes, led by a desperate Captain America, fighting to survive in the ruins of New York City and looking for a way to stop the unstoppable Ultron. 

The issue opens with an immediate immersion into a post-apocalyptic New York, which has been transformed into a technological wasteland patrolled by Ultron sentinels. The story avoids a lengthy setup, starting right after the world has fallen. 

• Hawkeye's Rescue Mission: The action begins with Hawkeye on a solo mission in the ruins of the city. He brutally dispatches some criminals who are trying to profit from the disaster and rescues a captive Spider-Man.
• The Survivor Hideout: Hawkeye brings Spider-Man to a hidden base in an old Helicarrier beneath Central Park, where a small group of surviving heroes has taken refuge. The survivors include Iron Man, Emma Frost, She-Hulk, Luke Cage, and the Invisible Woman.
• Desperation and Morale: The mood in the hideout is somber and desperate. Captain America, depicted with a shattered shield and looking broken, is struggling to devise a plan to fight back. The heroes argue, and a sense of hopelessness pervades the group.
• The "Deal" and Ultron Sentinels: The criminals Hawkeye encountered, Hammerhead and the Owl, attempt to negotiate with the Ultron sentinels, revealing an uneasy alliance, but the sentinels kill them anyway. Hawkeye and Spider-Man escape the area just as the base is swarmed by more drones. 

The issue ends with the heroes at a complete loss for how to defeat an enemy that seems to have already won, setting up the desperate time-travel mission of the rest of the series. 

The Age of Ultron limited series was a major crossover event created by a legendary team: 

• Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
• Artist: Bryan Hitch (issues #1-5)
• Inker: Paul Neary
• Colorist: Paul Mounts