The Scarlet Witch has had a wild decade in the Marvel Universe. Writers seem to find it difficult to use the character meritoriously following Wanda’s turn towards villainy in the Decimation storyline, a controversial arc that turned a beloved favorite into a figure of disdain within mutant kind, and ample challenges for subsequent creators to reassert the Scarlet Witch as a protagonist. Thankfully, Steve Orlando, Sara Pichelli, and Russell Dauterman have charted the path forward for Wanda, giving her self-titled ongoing series an action packed, introspective storyline that rehabilitates the character without whitewashing her past.
Collecting issues #1-5 and Annual #1 from the current Scarlet Witch comic series, this first arc focuses on Wanda attempting to put back together a town gone mad thanks to the villainous Scythia. Quicksilver, Vision, and Polaris make understandable appearances, as Maximoff is forced to face her past crimes against her friends and kin within the Marvel Universe. This first arc does a fine job of addressing the last 20 years of character continuity in a measured and meaningful manner, while also punctuating each issue with satisfying action scenes. Sara Pichelli, who draws the first four issues, does a masterful job of bringing Orlando’s script to life. Russell Dauterman’s art on the last issue is cleaner and crisper, but stays true to the tone established in the first four issues, giving the book good visual cohesion.
Steve Orlando seems tailor made for a book like Scarlet Witch. Having cut his teeth writing character-focused Star Wars comics, he has an expert ability to take a character with chapters of convoluted backstory and retcons, and center the story on the core elements of the figure without waving away past precedent. It was surprising how engaged I was in what I initially deemed an unnecessary series, and a testament to his strength as a character writer.
It’s impossible to read this arc and not see it in conversation with the Wandavision miniseries on Disney+. Not only does it include some fan-favorites like Agatha, but it also forces Wanda to confront her previous actions. This storyline does not erase her previous wicked activities, but does give her the opportunity to mend, address her previous wrongdoings, and help others in need. It’s a far better way to approach a redemption arc than the tried-and-true comic book excuse that all previous failures were a result of a unseen dark force. I would argue that this run (as well as the Trials of Magento book that really set the Scarlet Witch on this journey) has been a superior tale of restoration than the MCU television program.
Marvel published numerous variant covers for these first few issues, and while they are all collected here, most are only given the quarter-page treatment. It’s a shame, especially when you see the heavyweight artists they commissioned to produce pieces for this book.
The ongoing Scarlet Witch title is a sleeper gem of a comic that should satisfy new readers and fans of the MCU as well as faithful fans aware Wanda’s complex past. This trade is a perfect way to catch up on this title prior to jumping into the current arc on comic shelves now.
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