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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 1:06:37 GMT -5
The Scarlet Witch was one of my favorite Avengers when I read the title growing up. She was a mainstay in the group and Vision was my absolute favorite Avenger, so I always liked her. Storylines like the Serpent Crown, the Bride of Ultron, the Nefaria Saga, the Korvac Saga and the Wundagore/Darkhold storyline formed the core of "my era" of the Avengers in the heyday of childhood Avengers fandom. When I became a serious collector, I piled up issues of Avengers and Avengers related books and read through the entire run of the first series plus all of the ancillary books I could get my hands on, enjoying things like the Kooky Quartet era through the Celestial Madonna saga that featured Wanda, plus stories in books like Marvel Fanfare, Marvel Team-Up etc. that featured her, Vision and other Avengers. I even read West Coast Avengers eagerly and through the two Vision and Scarlet Witch minis, and it wasn't until the Visionquest storyline and later Force Works that my enthusiasm for Vision and later Wanda waned. In the early 2000s I sold off most of my Marvel books (including large silver Age to then present runs on several titles) and my fandom for Marvel went dormant for the most part. I still read stuff here and there, and enjoyed some things, but outside of Dr. Strange and Ghost Rider (and to a lesser extent the Black Panther and stuff from Kirby's 70s return to Marvel), I wasn't collecting or fanning on anything Marvel.
In recent weeks though, I had been getting the itch to read some classic Marvel stuff. There were a few characters I wanted to dive into-Panther, reread some chunks of Dr. Strange, and finally get to my Ka-Zar runs. I started with Doc, picking up where I had left off a year or so ago late in the run of the 2nd series and dove into the return of Dracula storyline by Stern, which featured a guest spot by Scarlet Witch (and Monica Rambeau) just as I was starting to watch Wandavision with my wife. I got the itch to read some more Wanda stuff, and dove into the 2016 James Robinson Scarlet Witch run, which had always intrigued me because of the David Aja covers, but which I never tried up to that point. I really dug that series, and the cumulative effect of all these factors was that my interest in Wanda was reignited and I decided to do a deep reading dive of her history. Unfortunately my timing sucked as buzz from Wandavision and the fury of current speculation meant getting any of the books in single issue form was a pricey proposition, but luckily I still had my subscription to Marvel Unlimited that my wife renews for me every year for my birthday, so I decided to start form the beginning and dive in. Some of the stuff I do own as singles (or facsimile editions), and some in trade collections, but mostly I am relying on Marvel Unlimited to read.
I wanted to trace the development of her characterization, her powers, and the overall history of the character. I did a little digging to find a reading order for her online, and started in. I started jotting down some notes/annotations in an old composition book as I went along. I've then followed up and typed up those notes to clean them up and make them more legible for future reference for myself. I debated whether I wanted to post these annotations for a while-review threads feel too much like work to me and make me feel beholden to them rather than making the reading experience pleasurable. I am not sure how far along I will go on this-I will keep going until my interest wanes most likely, but I may trade off to do read through of some other characters as well, but I decided to at least start posting my notes in case others are interested.
These are not reviews and this is not a review thread. I will not be commenting on or evaluating the quality of the issues, I will not be rating them, and I will in most cases be glossing over the non-Wanda parts of the books. I will not be analyzing storytelling techniques, the craft that went in to making the comics/telling the stories, or anything along those lines. I will simply be recording/noting developments regarding Wanda and every so often (probably after each significant "era" of her development) musing on the patterns that have emerged in that era and the significant changes/developments of that era as a whole. The first "era" is when Wanda is a member of the Brotherhood and begins with X-Men #4, the second is her membership in the Avengers in the Kooky Quartet era beginning with Avengers #16, etc. I have a couple of issues annotated and "in the can" so to speak, and I am not sure how quickly future ones will follow, as it takes time to read and annotate and then clean up and type up those annotations. And I will likely be switching off with reading (and possibly annotating) other stuff to not get bogged down or burned out.
I will update this first post to mark off the eras and their contents as I go along. If I miss an issue here or there, it's because it is not available on Unlimited and I do not own in in some other format. This is by no means meant to be exhaustive or definitive, just a pleasurable diversion as I read.
Folks are welcome to follow along and discuss if they choose, or ignore and mark the thread as permanently read as they prefer. We'll see how long the ride lasts...
-M
The Eras of the Scarlet Witch
Phase One: The Brotherhood
X-Men 4-7
Journey into Mystery #109
Strange Tales #128
X-Men #11
Phase Two: The Kooky Quartet
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 1:14:46 GMT -5
(Uncanny) X-Men #4 (cover date: March 1964) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby-storytellers, Paul Reinman-inks, Artie Simek-letters, Stan Goldberg-colors cover only Cover Notes: -Scarlet Witch miscolored on cover, costume is green -Term Brotherhood of Evil Mutants used on cover, does not appear in story Synopsis: Magneto and his minions take over the nation of Santo Marco and are opposed by Professor X and the X-Men Wanda Notes: -Wanda first appears on page 4 panel 6 in a dinner scene with her and Pietro eating with Toad and Mastermind -Wanda’s 1st line of dialogue: “It’s alright Pietro! Don’t get into another fight on my account. - Pietro refers to her as sister in this exchange. Master Mind refers to her as the Scarlet Witch in the same panel. -sequence involves a squabble between Mastermind and Wanda/Pietro. Mastermind scolds Toad about his manners in front of Scarlet Witch, Wanda tells him he is as repulsive as the Toad. Mastermind mocks her and tells her someday she may be worthy of being his mate. Wanda scolds him and points at him (1st indication about how her powers work/what they are). An off panel speaker (Pietro makes sense from context but is left vague) warns her of the possibly catastrophic results of her pointing-“her pointing always cause disaster to occur” This is first time she is named Wanda. Her pointing at Mastermind causes a pitcher to spill on Mastermind and Wanda dismisses the warning stating she would not waste more than a trifle of her power on Mastermind. Mastermind threatens her (referring to her as a sorceress) and she calls on Quicksilver to aid her -speeding to her side and threatening Mastermind for threatening his sister. He strikes Mastermind and states he and Wanda are there to serve “The Leader” not to be taunted by the likes of them. They mutually posture and threaten each other until Toad tries to goad them on, but mentions The Leader, which defuses the situation, ending the scene with a scene switch to Magneto, implying he is the Leader they mentioned. -next Wanda scene is when Magneto returns to his base where Wanda. Pietro, Mastermind and Toad are, confirming he's the leader -Toad snitches on Mastermind/Quicksilver confrontation and Magneto threatens Mastermind and then goes to see Wanda & Pietro -Quicksilver tells Magneto he does not scare them and that he will take his sister away from there. - Magneto tells them they cannot leave and that they, especially Wanda, owe him. Wanda agrees that she cannot leave until her debt is paid, so Pietro agrees to stay to watch over her. (establishes dynamic between Magneto & Wanda/Pietro)-This leads to a flashback sequence revealing how they came into Magneto’s debt as Magneto reminds them that he found them in a remote European village as the villagers try to destroy Wanda because her mutant powers made her a witch (typical torch & pitchfork trope here in the art). This is first mention Wanda is a mutant. Magneto saves Wanda from the mob of villagers, thus putting Wanda in his debt. -Magneto then pitches his dream of Homo Superior dominating humanity. Pietro responds that he does not buy into Magneto’s dream but has no love for humans. He tells Magneto he will stay to watch over Wanda. -Wanda and Pietro are in the background as part of Magneto’s team as he and the Brotherhood conquer the nation of Santo Marco mostly through the use of Mastermind’s illusion powers to sow fear in the people of Santo Marco. Wanda questions the need for such tactics and asks why the need for people to fear them. Magneto ignores her as he sets his trap for the X-Men. -X-Men arrive and there are a series of small skirmished between members of the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Quicksilver faces off against Angel, who knocks Pietro unconscious. Wanda discovers them and points at Angel causing the ceiling to collapse on him. This is the first mention of her powers as a Hex. As she fights Angel, Wanda states that Magneto was right and that the X-Men would destroy them if given the chance. The skirmish ends as Wanda captures Angel and Quicksilver recovers. -Magneto finds them and commends them for capturing Angel, but is interrupted as Cyclops attacks. Quicksilver races to face Cyclops and their skirmish results in a generator being damaged and unleashing a shockwave that stuns Cyclops but the arrival of the rest of the X-Men send Wanda and Pietro running with Magneto and the Brotherhood. -Magneto plans another trap, this time a bomb and a second trap with a nuclear device, but Quicksilver and Wanda are not comfortable with this plan as it will mean the death of innocents, (establishes Wanda/Pietro as reluctant participants in MAgneto's crimes) but Mageto reprimands them telling them no humans are innocents. Quicksilver races to sabotage nuke before fleeing with Wanda and the others, but not before parlaying with Cyclops. It’s clear he (and Wanda) do not quite see eye to eye with Magneto, but he has bought into Magneto’s propaganda about the X-Men as traitors to homo Superior. Story ends with Magneto & the Brotherhood’s escape and the X-Men surviving the trap. -M
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 1:19:20 GMT -5
(Uncanny) X-Men #5 (cover date May ’64) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby-storytellers, Paul Reinman-inks, S. Rosen-letters, Stan Goldberg-colors cover only Cover Notes: Scarlet Witch again miscolored green Synopsis: Magneto lures the X-Men to Asteroid M where he and the Brotherhood lay in wait, battle ensues and the X-Men escape. Wanda Notes:-Wanda first appears on p. 7 panel 6, standing silently at Magneto’s side on Asteroid M. -Wanda’s first line of dialogue is to try to attempt to support Pietro when the Brotherhood is quarreling about what to do about the X-Men but she is cut off by Magneto. -Magneto has used Toad disguised as a mutant to draw out the X-Men to come to Toad’s aid when mobbed by humans while the Brotherhood lies in wait, in the ensuing combat after the Brotherhood spring their trap, Wanda uses her hex power to cause a bystander’s suitcase to pop open and dump it’s contents in Beast’s way, tripping him up. -Magneto captures the Angel in the melee and calls to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch to follow as he escapes with his captive -Back on Asteroid M, Magneto interrogates the Angel for info on the X-Men and threatens to kill him if he does not answer. Wanda objects, reminding Magneto told her they would never descend to murder, but Magneto responds by calling her weak and whimpering, rebuking her and declaring that he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals (this again establishes and/or cements a recurring pattern of Wanda/Pietro objecting to Magneto's tactics/pans, but relenting when reminded of his place as leader or their debt to him)-Magneto uses an entranced Toad to lure the rest of the X-Men to Asteroid M to spring another trap, another fight ensues and the X-Men escape the trap but Magneto seals them off in a section of the Asteroid complex and prepares to blow the airlock sending them into space. Wanda again objects, and Magneto again ignores her, so she hexes his control panel shorting it out, preventing him from killing the X-Men. -Magneto threatens to teach Wanda a lesson for her interference, but Quicksilver steps between them. Magneto threatens Quicksilver as well, and Wanda tells Pietro she is afraid they are still no match for Magneto’s power. However the X-Men break free and arrive on the scene before the confrontation can go beyond posturing. -In the fight, Cyclops again tries to recruit Pietro and Wanda to switch sides and leave Magento, but Pietro again responds he must serve Magneto because he saved Wanda’s life. -Cyclops & Quicksilver grapple and Magneto orders Wanda to hex Cyclops, but she refuses as Cyclops & Quicksilver are too close and she might hurt her brother. The fight continues and the story ends with the X-Men escaping from Magneto’s base on Asteroid M, and Wanda and Pietro still with the Brotherhood. -M
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 1:25:23 GMT -5
(Uncanny) X-Men #6 (cover date July 1964) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby storytellers; Chic Stone-inks, Sam Rosen-Letters Cover Notes: Wanda in correctly colored costume -cover blurb: “Also featuring Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch” (perhaps indicating these two characters had been well-received, the book is bi-monthly, so there had been time for fan letters on their debut to arrive at the Marvel offices and to have been read, if they were popular in fan mail and the issue sold well, I can see them pushing the characters with a cover blurb, and it seems the seeds of them breaking out/breaking off from the X-Men book are already being planted in their first two appearances)Synopsis: Magneto tries to recruit Namor to his cause, the X-Men intervene, and the alliance falls apart.
Wanda Notes: -Wanda 1st appears on page 3 panel 6 -Quicksilver saves Wanda when one of Mastermind’s illusions causes Magneto to fire a weapon that almost strikes her -Wanda’s 1st line of dialogue: “Pietro! You saved me!!” -Wanda is uncertain what happened and wonders if the X-Men have attacked again, Pietro too is uncertain but vows that he will make whoever is responsible pay for placing his sister in danger for he has pledged his life to guard her -they discover it was an “accident” as Magneto punishes Mastermind for his indiscretion -in his attempt to forge an alliance with Namor, Magneto tries to use Wanda to entice Namor; Pietro objects, but Wanda reluctantly agrees to go along with it because she owes Magneto her life -Wanda approaches Namor, admiring him and questioning why someone so noble-looking would ally with Magneto, but as she reaches out to tap him on the shoulder, she accidentally gestures activating her hex power, causing a high voltage jolt of electricity to strike Namor. She calls out to warn him and he manages to shrug off the shock. Wanda apologizes and explains it was an accident as the X-Men attack. (one of the first indications that Wanda is not in complete control of her powers, we had a hint in issue #4 as well with the catastrophe remark, but this is first time her power "goes off" without her intending it to)-Quicksilver fights the X-Men but is captured. Wanda begs Magneto to save her brother, but he chooses to use a magnetic weapon to strike at the X-Men instead even though Pietro would be caught in the blast. Wanda pleads for him not to harm Pietro, but he tells her to accept his decisions or suffer the same fate as the X-Men. -Magneto’s treatment of Wanda angers Namor, who intervenes and comes t blows with Magneto as the X-Men arrive again and the battle goes against Magneto. Magneto calls for the Brotherhood to retreat with him, but Wanda refuses to leave Pietro behind, so Magneto leaves without her. -Wanda faces the X-Men with Namor at her side and demands they release Pietro. The X-Men refuse and fighting ensues. Wanda uses her hex power to make Cyclops lose his balance as he was holding Namor at bay with his power beam. Professor X intervenes to show Pietro is unharmed, but under his mental control. Wanda begs him to release Pietro. Professor X agrees, but Namor is insulted in the process and threatens to attack. Professor X releases Pietro, and Namor stands down and prepares to leave. Wanda goes to Pietro and wonders what has happened to Magneto and what Magneto will do about her and Pietro. -Magneto has observed this and attacks Namor as he leaves and chaos and combat ensues. In the confusion, Pietro and Wanda slip off and return to the Brotherhood. The combat ends, Namor takes off and the Brotherhood retreats -M
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2021 1:27:39 GMT -5
(Uncanny) X-Men #7 (cover date September 1964) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby storytellers; Chic Stone-inks, Artie Simek-Letters Cover Notes: Wanda in correctly colored costume looking back over shoulder at audience Synopsis: Magneto tries to recruit the Blob to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but the X-Men intervene, and the alliance fails. Wanda Notes: -Wanda 1st appears on page 3 panel 4: Wanda has been summoned by Magneto but is greeted by Mastermind instead, and he calls her beautiful and haughty as he tries to recruit her to his side against Magneto. Wanda refuses and tells him she has no interest in him at all and plans to leave the Brotherhood as soon as the debt to Magneto is paid. Mastermind does not relent and continues to try to persuade her to his cause until Magneto arrives and intervenes, leading to a minor scuffle. -Quicksilver arrives at the sound of the scuffle to see if Wanda is in danger, but Wanda assures him she is fine, as Magneto announces he has a new plan to destroy the X-Men, which involves trying to recruit yet another ally to their cause, this time the Blob -When Magneto and the Brotherhood try to recruit the Blob at his carnival, Blob refuses and the carnies band together to oppose Magneto, as a fight ensues. In the melee, Wanda uses her hex powers to cause a number of crates and barrels to topple and fall on the attackers. Blob changes his mind and decides to join Magneto, and they broadcast a challenge to lure out the X-Men. -The X-Men arrive, a fight soon erupts and Marvel Girl telekinetically “captures” Quicksilver” by suspending him off the ground where he cannot run. The X-Men rally to Marvel Girl and Wanda wants to cast a hex to free Pietro, but Magneto objects because he wants the X-Men gathered in one place where he can strike them, but his objection comes too late and Wanda frees Quicksilver. -As the battle continues, the X-Men are again clustered together to face the Blob so Magneto launches his strike, a number of magnetically launched torpedoes, but they strike Blob instead, but he absorbs the blast. -Wanda is angry at Magneto’s “senseless carnage” and says she cannot take any more. Pietro however tries to calm her down, as Magneto calls for the Brotherhood to retreat and leave the scene leaving Blob behind with the X-Men, who also fail to recruit him to their cause. -M
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2021 2:12:40 GMT -5
Journey into Mystery #109 (cover date October 1964) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby storytellers; Chic Stone-inks, Sam Rosen-Letters Cover Notes: Wanda in background with Brotherhood as Thor battles Magneto Synopsis: Magneto comes to NY searching for the X-Men and sends the Brotherhood out to search for them. However Thor discovers Magneto’s lair and confronts him, but Magento flees when the X-Men become involved. Wandanotes:-Wanda only appears in a handful of panels in the lead story -1st app p. 3 panel 5 standing with the Brotherhood -Magneto orders Quicksilver to lead the Brotherhood in a search for the X-Man’s whereabouts -1st line of dialogue (on p. 3 panel 6) “It will be a relief to get away from that evil creature for a while!” If only Mastermind and Toad weren’t coming with us.” Said referring to Magneto. -Toad promises to tell Magneto what she said, however Magneto is depicted standing next to the vehicle the Brotherhood is in and should be able to hear what she said without difficulty. -Wanda exits with the Brotherhood and only appears in the background of a couple of panels later when Mastermind is reporting to Magneto that the X-Men have found them. Most of the issue revolves around Thor’s battle with Magneto with Magneto fleeing when the X-Men arrive (X-Men are never actually seen, they are heard from off-panel and the effects of their powers (Cyclops power beam and Iceman’s freezing) are seen. The fate of Wanda and the Brotherhood are not shown on panel.
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 18, 2021 4:29:35 GMT -5
I just read JIM # 109 a few days ago. It was a very enjoyable read. Yeah, it cracks me up when Scarlet Witch said she hated Magneto with him a few feet away. It you read the early X-men issues, you can see that she is always talking Pietro into staying with Magneto because she owes him for saving their lives.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 9,533 
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Post by Confessor on Mar 18, 2021 7:06:59 GMT -5
I'm not much of an Avengers or X-Men fan, but this is a fascinating (and timely) review thread. Well done, mrp and keep up the good work.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Mar 18, 2021 7:32:52 GMT -5
Force Works? I haven't looked at those forever, but I have a lot of nostalgia vibes for that series.... back in the day there was an Iron Man group of titles, and a New Warriors group! I was so happy! Then the Crossing happened, the they tried to relate New Warriors to the clone saga, and it was all gone.
I suspect it wouldn't read all that well now, but defintiely some good fun there.
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Post by earl on Mar 20, 2021 8:32:32 GMT -5
Got to say, in light of how successful Wandavision has been on the old online/streamed TV boxes, Marvel kind of missed an opportunity to put out a big Wanda/Vision Omnibus.
I see they are finally doing a Loki omnibus, they should get on making a good Wanda/Vision omnibus. To be told, that could be a heck of a book as it really is one of the big backbone stories of the Marvel universe. With the two 80s miniseries and with issues of Avengers to set the origins etc...probably be about the right size for the format of the book.
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Post by chaykinstevens on Mar 20, 2021 12:33:38 GMT -5
The Angel looked different to this on the cover when it was originally published. GCD says Marie Severin had made alterations to it.  |
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Post by badwolf on Mar 22, 2021 9:47:43 GMT -5
I had the Amazing Adventures reprint of #5 (or half of it, but it had that cover.)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2021 10:54:23 GMT -5
I had the Amazing Adventures reprint of #5 (or half of it, but it had that cover.) Me too. One of the few comics I actually bought off the stands in the early 80s. -M |
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Post by berkley on Mar 22, 2021 23:44:29 GMT -5
I know I've said this before, but it always surprises me how much I dislike the Scarlet Witch's head-piece - what's it called, again, BTW? I remember somoeone figured out the correct term for it when the subject came up in some other thread here a while ago.
Anyway, Kirby was usually so good at character designs, and imaginative head-pieces were often a feature of his best creations, but this one looks like it was thrown in as an after-thought. Later artists like Buscema made it a little less clunky looking but I've never gotten over my aversion to it completely.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 9,533
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Post by Confessor on Mar 22, 2021 23:55:40 GMT -5
I know I've said this before, but it always surprises me how much I dislike the Scarlet Witch's head-piece - what's it called, again, BTW? A wimple. |
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