Scarlet Witch’s new series has proven to be an evolution of sorts for the mystical Avenger, transforming her into Marvel’s version of Doctor Who.
The following article contains spoilers for Scarlet Witch #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Out of all the heroes of the Marvel Universe, Wanda Maximoff may be the most unique because of her malleability from hero to villain depending on the story. To add to it all, she also has a history with mental health crises due to the trauma she experienced during the birth of her children. She nearly decimated the mutant population following her disassembling of the Avengers. In the end, Wanda has gone through alot but ultimately refuses to let her past define her present.
In the 2015 comic book series Scarlet Witch (by James Robinson and Vanesa Del Rey) Wanda traveled across the world and helped those in need. However, this lifestyle, though beneficial for her growth, would not be revisited until Scarlet Witch #1 (by Steve Orlando, Sara Pichelli, Elisabetta D’Amico, and Matthew Wilson), where she fully embraced her role as both helper and healer. But in doing so, she officially solidified herself as Marvel’s version of the Doctor from Doctor Who.
Scarlet Witch And The Doctor Are Not So Different
In Doctor Who, The Doctor was an alien without a home that traveled through time and space with a fun and interesting companion. On their adventures, The Doctor encounters deadly enemies and is forced to find a nonviolent solution to dangerous scenarios. Ironically, Wanda has started a similar profession with a new tea shop. Co-run by Darcy Lewis, Wanda’s partner of sorts, the two share the day to day responsibilities of running a business. So long as someone in need doesn’t walk through a magical door designed to open only for those with nowhere else to go, business typically runs smoothly. If not, Wanda dons her costume and uses her powers to help those in need.
Recently, Wanda inspired a young woman to use a magic crystal she had to free her small town in Italy from a man known as the Corrupter. For some time, he controlled the residents against their will until Wanda turned the tables and imprisoned him in stone while the town was freed. Much like the Doctor, Wanda left the fate of their people and the Corrupter up to the town’s citizens and served only to provide advice and wisdom, hoping decency would prevail. With more adventures on the way, however, it’s clear just how much she operates like a magic version of the Doctor.
Scarlet Witch Has Evolved as a Hero and Adventurer
Wanda had come a long way from when she first appeared as an ally to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Since then, she’s dealt with the highs and lows of motherhood, mental health and being shunned and accepted by those she called friends and family. Yet out of all of her strife, she kept her head held high and has finally found her place as someone whose sole purpose is to help others. Like the Doctor, she dealt with loss based on her own choices and must wrestle with those choices every day. But also, like the Doctor, she won’t let her own demons keep her from protecting those that need her.
As a hero in the most unlikely sense, The Scarlet Witch had shown readers that nothing would stop her when it meant saving lives. While she won’t throw a punch like other heroes, she’s proven, just as the Doctor has, that seemingly apocalyptic scenarios can be rectified with nonviolent solutions. All it would take is someone with the heart and perseverance to prove it. In the Marvel universe, the only hero who could do that with ease has become Wanda Maximoff.
