Scarlet Witch (2015 – 2017)
Covers: David Aja
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: James Robinson
15 issues

I believe that the Scarlet Witch is one of my favorite characters since I started reading comics. I’ve always loved Witchcraft-related characters (hence the Comics Warlocks) and seeing a Witch among superheroes always seemed super cool. And that’s why we decided that the first review for the Comics Warlocks would be about this series!

As Wanda Maximoff fights her inner demons taking some time away from the Avengers, the Scarlet Witch starts a journey solving magical crimes and fighting to save Witchcraft in the solo series by James Robinson. 

Maximoff

Wanda is, no discussion here, one of the strongest heroes* in the Marvel Universe. The girl controls reality (ok, she causes unlikely events) and this “chaos” is just part of her powers as a mutant.

(*AND one of the worst villains, check House of M!)

Under the tutelage of Agatha Harkness (one of the original witches of Salem, but I bet you know her well by now), Wanda got to learn how to control those powers and to explore Witchcraft, making her even more badass.

Then a lot of bad things happened and she kinda lost her s#!t. I mean, her marriage (with an android) fell apart. She lost her children (that were originally conceived by magic because, well, android…), and can you imagine daddy issues if your father is Magneto? 

Who would judge? Concealing her own life, dealing with past mistakes AND being a hero was too much for our dearest Witch, so she decided to take a break. Or you’d think so.

Magic Crimes PI

And here our magic journey begins. In Scarlet Witch #1, Wanda feels something is off with Witchcraft, and she needs to break the spell (?) that’s messing with her art. But where to start?

James Robinson takes us all over the world dealing with magical problems that only the Scarlet Witch can solve. From the Minotaur (yes, the Greek monster) to pissed off nuns’ ghosts, Wanda travels to Ireland, France, China, Japan and other places. Hopefully she didn’t have to deal with flight delays.

Besides all the investigator gigs, Wanda is still trying to improve herself, doing what’s hard for even the strongest superheroes: therapy!

It’s so intense to follow her whole journey through the Witches’ road (a special road that only Witches can walk through) and within her thoughts and inner battles.

Don’t judge a book by its cover…

…except if it’s Scarlet Witch. I fell in love with every cover. The black / white / red and the references in each cover have so much thought and beauty. David Aja did an amazing work.

And if art is what you want, say no more! With different artists working in each issue, the result is a full gallery with different styles, colors, shapes and layouts.

Through the article, I shared a few of my favorite panels from different issues. And if I’d have to choose a favorite, it would be #14, by Shawn Crystal.

“For I am a Witch. A good Witch!” 

Scarlet Witch, by James Robinson, is a fun reading for anyone that wants to get to know Wanda Maximoff and understand her relationships and powers.

The art, from cover to cover of each issue, is beautiful, well thought, and the matching from each artist with a different issue is amazingly done. Half the story is told purely through the drawing and inking. As a whole, Scarlet Witch is delightful if you want to see a badass Witch kicking ass and exorcising demons (at the same time).

PS : Agatha’s ghost is HI. LAR. I. OUS.