The MCU Is a Disservice to Scarlet Witch As the Comics

The comic Scarlet Witch spent a challenging couple of decades. But the MCU journey she underwent was just as painful and didn’t serve her character.

Wanda Maximoff, Scarlet Witch from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has had some major changes in order to distinguish herself from her comics origin. For instance, Magneto had been removed from Wanda’s life (prior to Marvel’s own retcon in 2014’s Anxis), and her abilities were created by the Mind Stone. She didn’t come from a comic book background, but she suffered the same fate as any other Avenger. The live-action world proved to be just as harmful as her inspiration.

Many of MCU’s heroes were explored through their own narratives that did not necessarily follow the comics. Tony Stark’s story, for instance, kept the spirit of the character but was based on stories that only partially matched the source. Captain America covered decades in his journey to show how he’d grown and how that had been as natural as any other change. Wanda was bound to two decades’ worth of tragedy which led to her becoming the person she is today.

Marvel’s Comics Hindered Scarlet Witch’s Growth in the MCU

Wanda’s most notorious moments occurred before she was seen in live action. All three series focus on Wanda’s mental break following realizing that her manifested children have been taken from him.

In Avengers Disassembled this break led to many Avengers being killed by her magical attack. However, Magneto had her manipulated by Magneto in order to create a world in which their family controlled Marvel Universe’s defining event House of M. Wanda then declared, “No more Mutants” after she realized the truth. Young Avengers Was more positive for Wanda because it saw her reunited with her children. But her friends were hostile due to her past behavior. She was, in essence, ridiculed for her past actions even though it was necessary to help her mental well-being.

The MCU films did not penetrate Wanda’s soul or family connections as deeply, but Wanda was still a victim to lose, having lost her husband, brother, children, and family within a very short time. In her desperate search to find a way to return her children, she was made a murderous villain by the Darkhold. Wanda, the MCU’s villain, was created by the tragic stories she had read. Wanda was not allowed to feel free as she was made to be an enemy.

Wanda’s Redemption Is A Tough Journey

WandaVision along with Doctor Strange of the Multiverse of Madness took the accelerator to bring these stories of the Scarlet Witches to life. However, her descent into evil made the years that preceded her feel more like a backdrop for her growth as an enemy. While it was great to see her fight Doctor Strange on screen, it was difficult to ignore her poor choices in using trauma as a way to create a villain. Wanda may feel that her final sacrifice has saved her, but there is still the possibility of her returning. If Wanda returns, however, she will need to avoid making certain mistakes to make Wanda’s redemption feel earned.

Wanda will feel better when she returns to the place she was in before she can accept the consequences of what she did and the mistakes she made. She will also need to admit that part of her descent was due to those who claimed to have cared for her when she was alone. She’s also more confident with her powers and can now be a hero even if others don’t like her. Before becoming the Scarlet Witch she was young and unsure about her abilities. Now she could show people that she can do the right thing.

Wanda is human. She made mistakes. But she had a chance to make it right again. However, it would not work if she unraveled the stories that influenced her first arc and forged a new path that was both original and celebratory of the earlier tales that had portrayed Wanda as a hero.