Due to her complex persona and compelling story arcs, the Scarlet Witch has cemented herself as a timeless figure within the comic book universe. She’s so timeless that she’s getting a new #1 issue on June 12th, furthering her adventures under writer Steve Orlando. Joining him is artist Jacopo Camagni, and superstar cover artist Russell Dauterman.
Her journey from a troubled villain to a powerful hero, dealing with themes of loss, control, and identity, resonates deeply with audiences, and judging by my recent chat with Orlando, things will only get deeper. Can anyone say, Lore?! Wanda Maximoff has a rich heritage that bridges the mundane with the mystical, making her an iconic figure in the superhero realm, and it’s only going to get more compelling real soon.
Read on to check out exclusive preview pages for Scarlet Witch #1 and get massively important questions answered, like whether Wanda is a Taylor Swift fan and what the general vibe of the series will be!
AIPT: If this new Scarlet Witch story and new #1 issue had a vibe, what would it be and why?
Steve Orlando: Cataclysmic! Every action Wanda’s taken, every rescue she’s made and life she’s changed, every bit of confidence she’s reclaimed, has built up to the opening of Scarlet Witch. As we saw in Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, Wanda has become a target for a great cosmic force, one of the if not the chief expression of order, in its way. Her brother has, too. And with Scarlet Witch, that force has truly found a way to cross the dimensional barrier into our reality and intends to make sure Wanda is no longer a part of it. And trust–this is a cataclysm, one that threatens the whole planet at minimum. It has the explosions that go with that, and it also has the heightened emotions and epic hail mary moves that go with it too.
AIPT: Is there something series artist Jacopo Camagni brings that totally blows you away?
SO: Jacopo’s work has a beautiful power and elegance! And he’s right at home in the worlds of the unreal, just check out his Nomen Omen for the proof. Jacopo can lay action down on the page with the best of them, but he has a special affinity for the power and beauty of the strange, which is something we’ll be seeing as part of Wanda’s journey in our opening arc. There’s a bombast to Jacopo’s work, and there’s a Shakespearean sensuality to it as well.
AIPT: For the collectors out there, is this series continuing with legacy numbering?
SO: Hopefully soon! At the moment, we haven’t picked it up. But watch this space, and we can hopefully get that up and running if it fits the life of the series. Personally, I’m a huge fan of legacy numbering–so, I’d be happy to have it.
AIPT: If you had to choose, what is your favorite Russell Dauterman cover so far?
SO: This is an impossible question to answer! But if pressed, I’d say it’s probably issue two of this upcoming run, which just came out! The one after it is a banger, too. But this one has Wanda as well as Pietro and Lorna! It has Moridun–and more! Most of all, it’s got Wanda looking prominent and powerful. That’s got to be my current favorite. A special note also goes to issue nine of our first solo run, the week in the life issue, with Wanda and Joseph. I was incredibly proud of their arc, and Russell did exceptional work there!
AIPT: I recently spoke to Sarah Rees Brennan and she said you offered a few suggestions for her story in Women of Marvel. So I wonder, what suggestions or advice would you give Wanda if you could?
SO: Oh, first of all — Sarah crushed that story! All I did was offer a few notes on the greater lore, etc. She had a killer story right out of the gate! As far as what suggestions or advice I’d give Wanda–I’m giving it, in a way!
Since we’re guiding Wanda’s journey, what she learns is what we want her to learn. Since Darkhold and Trial of Magneto, Wanda has been heavily intent on proving she’s okay, that she doesn’t need help, that she can do it all and be there for everyone. But is that really the truth, or even an expectation anyone, even Wanda, should have? Forces in the cosmos might have other opinions, and so might I.
AIPT: Do you have a favorite spell by Wanda be it in past issues or in an upcoming issue?
SO: I will say that Russell came up with a new expression of Wanda’s gifts that will appear later in this solo run that’s upcoming, but that’s not technically a spell. I have an affinity for Wanda’s dropping Doctor Hydro into the DMV-Dimension, but I also enjoy Wanda’s jam jar reality snare traps for any demons that come for her at night when she sleeps. And it’s small, but I also like Wanda enchanting Pietro so she can always see his true, split-second reaction to anything that happens.
AIPT: Trickiest question of the bunch: Is Wanda a Taylor Swift fan?
SO: Wanda has long and often rooted for the antihero.
AIPT: Lore is a wild character design by Dauterman. How fun was it to develop this variant further, and why is she so into lace?
SO: Bringing Lore back was a goal since our first issue! It just had to fit the story and be the right time. So, when we finally got there, I was super excited. Reworking her design and role in the Marvel Universe was a blast–but mostly, my job here was to step back and let Russell cook. We handed him the script so he could see what Lore was going to be up to, and let him work his magic.
We’ve got Lore set up in a role that she can fill for a long time going forward. And as far as her look–lace was often used to denote opulence, royalty, superiority and privilege. Lore’s new role would fit all those descriptions.
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