The MCU is a disservice to Scarlet Witch and the Comics.
The comics had a tough couple of decades for the Scarlet Witch. Her MCU journey was just as difficult and didn’t serve her character.
Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, has made significant changes to be distinct from her comic book origin. In 2014’s Axis, Magneto wasn’t Wanda’s father. Her powers were derived from the Mind Stone and she is no longer a Mutant. Even though her origin was not the same as that of her comic book counterparts, her character still suffered the most from the world of tragedy. It proved that her inspiration was just as bad as the live-action version of the character.
Many of the MCU’s heroes were explored in their own stories that did not follow the comic book versions. Tony Stark, for example, chose a narrative that kept the character’s spirit intact but used stories that were not strictly based on the source. Captain America, however, covered the entire history of his life to show how he had changed and how it was natural. Wanda, however, was tied to 20 years of tragedy that led her to the life she lived in the movies.
Marvel’s Comics Hindered Scarlet Witch’s MCU Growth
Wanda’s most famous moments were in three important event series. They were Avengers Disassembled (by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch, and House of M (by Olivier Coipel and Olivier Coipel), and Avengers Children’s Crusade. All three series focused on Wanda’s mental breakdown after she realized her manifested children had been taken from her.
After her magic attack that led to the deaths of many Avengers, Avengers: Broken saw the Avengers break apart. The Marvel Universe-defining House of M saw Wanda manipulated by Magneto to create an environment where their family could rule. Wanda declared, “No More Mutants!” when she discovered the truth. Young Avengers was more encouraging because she was reunited with her children. However, her friends were unable to forgive her for her past actions. She was essentially shunned because of her past actions, even though she needed mental health treatment.
Although the MCU films didn’t reach as deeply into Wanda’s psyche or familial connections as much, Wanda still suffered from loss after she lost her husband, children, and brother in just a few years. In her desperate attempt to regain an inkling of the loss, Wanda was exposed to corruption by Darkhold and became a murderous villain to destroy the Multiverse to get her children back. The MCU’s Wanda was made a tragic villain by her three most tragic-comic stories. Wanda never had the opportunity to stand on her own two feet and find herself, as she was forced to be an enemy.
Wanda’s Redemption will be a difficult journey
WandaVision, Doctor Strange from the Multiverse of Madness stepped up to bring these iconic Scarlet Witch stories alive. The years before her fall into villainy felt more like a backdrop to her transformation into an enemy due to trauma. Although it was thrilling to see her fight Doctor Strange it is difficult to overlook the poor choices she made to use trauma to make a villain onscreen. Although it might seem that Wanda has made her last sacrifice and is now free to move on, there is still hope for her to come back. To make Wanda feel worthy and powerful, it will be necessary to avoid certain errors if she does return.
Wanda must face the consequences of her actions and admit her mistakes if she wants to make her return home happier than she did before. She will have to prove that her descent is due in large part to the fact that those who claimed to be there for Wanda when she was struggling on her own. She can also become a hero, even though people may not like her or trust her because she is more proficient with her powers. She was young and uninformed about her abilities. But now, she’s the Scarlet Witch, which can help her prove that she’s capable of doing the right things.
Wanda is human, and she has flaws just like everyone else. She made mistakes, and she could be given another chance. It would be impossible to make it work if she didn’t unravel the stories that inspired her first story arc. Instead, she should find new paths that are both original and honor the later stories that portrayed Wanda as a hero.