It’s Wanda Maximoff versus her former magical mentor Agatha Harkness in an explosive battle for the future of magic on Earth! For over a year now, the title of Sorcerer Supreme has been unstable, first being usurped by Doctor Doom at the conclusion of Blood Hunt, before the Scarlet Witch recently took on the mantle. However, Wanda did not get approval from the Supreme’s supposed leaders, the magical trio known as the Vishanti, causing her validity to be called into question in Sorcerer Supreme #2, from writer Steve Orlando with artists Bernard Chang and Ruth Redmond.
First of all, the variants for this issue are absolutely gorgeous, particularly the Jenny Frison and Nimit Malavia variants you can see below. I love a series with great cover art, and let me tell you, this new costume for Wanda, designed by the incomparable Russell Dauterman, makes nearly any cover instantly iconic. It is hard to truly innovate a heroic costume these days – every variation seems to be done before – but the combination of magical crown, glowing tattoos, and sorcerer-cape-as-skirt just makes Wanda’s new look truly next level.
Marvel
Pretty much the entirety of Sorcerer Supreme #2 is a battle between Wanda and Agatha, with Wanda battling to determine if Agatha has truly gone to the dark side, or is being influenced by the Vishanti. Every fight scene is gorgeously choreographed and illustrated by Bernard Chang, and Ruth Redmond’s contrasting colors really elevate the battle’s depth, providing a level of intimacy and dynamism. The two powerful witches cast spell after spell, using all the tools in their arsenal, and while a whole issue of fighting could stay on the surface, Orlando’s comfort with and knowledge of Wanda’s voice makes every interaction feel meaningful, with forward momentum.
There is some fun world-building in this issue as well, with Agatha once again confirming her true age. It has been unclear over the years just how ancient Agatha really is, with one account stating she survived the fall of Atlantis, and in this issue, Agatha herself states she is “tens of thousands” of years old. This issue also reveals how Wanda was able to convince Chthon to act as an advisor to her as the Sorcerer Supreme. I enjoyed this reveal, and that Orlando decided to actively explain Wanda’s decision, although I still find the choice to be a bit sus, and while Wanda has a forgiving nature, it is a bit surprising that she would listen to anything the monstrous Elder God had to say.
Marvel
Another part of this story that gave me pause was just how villainous Agatha Harkness was. Agatha’s descent from helpful, if sassy at times, nanny and mentor for most of Marvel’s publishing history into a morally dubious and power-hungry sexy ancient witch did not start with Orlando. Still, I struggle with just how much Agatha has seemed to change since her time as a babysitter for Franklin Richards. It almost feels as abrasive as Moira MacTaggert becoming a horrific robot villain, except even more rushed. Again, I think Agatha was a good choice to be the Scarlet Witch’s competition in this series, but something just still feels a bit off about how villainous she has become. Perhaps Wanda is right, and the Vishanti really are influencing Agatha greatly!
I enjoyed the pacing of this issue; it was fast but not thoughtless, and Orlando managed to make a 20-page battle sequence feel focused. Sometimes, battle issues can almost feel like filler, but this issue felt like it had real momentum that perfectly led to a terrifying cliffhanger. Chang’s art is dynamic and expressive, while Richmond’s coloring adds depth and magic to each page. I am very excited for where this series goes, and I truly cannot wait for a guest appearance by the iconic Maddie Pryor in the next issue!
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