The MCU is just as bad as the comics for Scarlet Witch.
The comics have been difficult for Scarlet Witch over the past two decades. However, her MCU journey has not been easy and did not serve the character.
Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlet Witch) has undergone significant changes to distance herself from her comic-book origin. For example, Magneto is no longer Wanda’s father (prior to Marvel’s retcon 2014’s Axis), her powers came from the Mind Stone rather than her being a Mutant. Although she did not have the same origin as her comic-book counterpart, her character was dealt the same fate in the worlds of tragedy. This proved that the live-action world was as detrimental to her character’s inspiration as it was to her.
Many of the MCU heroes were explored in their narratives, which loosely followed the comic-book version. Tony Stark was an example of this. He kept the character’s spirit, but he wrote stories that didn’t necessarily follow the source. Captain America covered his entire development over decades to show how he has changed over the years, and how this change was just as natural. Wanda’s life was marred by two decades of tragedy, which pushed her into a film career.
Marvel’s Comics Hindered Scarlet Witch MCU Growth
Wanda’s most memorable moments before she appeared in live-action were in three key event series: Avengers. Disassembled by David Finch and Brian Michael Bendis, House of M by Olivier Coipel, and Avengers. Children’s Crusade. Allan Heinberg (and Jim Cheung) All three series examined Wanda’s mental break when she realized that her manifested kids were taken away from her.
The Avengers were disassembled after her magical attack caused the deaths of many Avengers. But, Magneto had Wanda manipulate her to create a world in which their family would rule. Wanda, realizing the truth, declared “No More Mutants” to decimate the Mutant population. Young Avengers saw Wanda reunite her children with her, while her friends disowned her because of her past actions. She was shunned by her friends for her actions, even though her mental health needed support.
Even though the MCU movies didn’t penetrate her soul and familial connections as deeply as Wanda hoped, Wanda suffered from the loss of her brother, husband, and children in a matter of years. She became a villainous, murderous villain in her desperate attempts to recover a glimpse of what she had lost. After her three most horrific comic storylines, Wanda became a tragic villain in the MCU. Wanda was never allowed to have a moment of her own and was always forced to be an antagonist.
Wanda’s Redemption is a Difficult Journey
WandaVision as well as Doctor Strange, in the Multiverse of Madness, put the pedal to the metal in bringing these iconic Scarlet Witch stories into being. Her descent into villainy made the years preceding feel less like a background for her rise as an enemy caused by trauma. It was exciting to see her fight Doctor Strange. However, it’s difficult to ignore the poor choices made in using trauma to create villains on screen. It may seem like Wanda has done her final sacrifice to save her character, but there is still a chance she could return. However, if Wanda does decide to return, there will be certain mistakes to make Wanda’s redemption feel powerful.
Wanda’s return must feel better than her past. It’s crucial that Wanda confronts the consequences of her actions openly and acknowledges her faults. Furthermore, she will need to defend the fact that she was abandoned by those who claimed they could care for her while she was in pain. Additionally, her abilities are more refined and she can fight for the right causes, even if she doesn’t trust or like people. Before she became a Scarlet Witch, she was still young and uncertain of her abilities. However, now she can show the world that she is capable of doing right.
Wanda is human. She has flaws, just like everyone. She made mistakes but she was able to get another chance. The only way it could work is to uncover the stories that inspired her first arc, and then forge a new path that’s both unique but also celebrates the tales that called Wanda a hero.