Marvel’s Newest Scarlet Witch Story Is A Brutal Reminder Of What The MCU Missed Out On

Scarlet Witch has been an important character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but a new story gives a harsh reminder that the hero could have been used so much differently in the universe. Scarlet Witch’s death in the main MCU timeline caused considerable outrage, especially as it seemed the character was just finally about to reach her potential. Relegated to a background position in the universe, Wanda Maximoff was criminally underused for most of her time in the MCU.

Following the massive success of WandaVision, audiences genuinely fell in love with Elizabeth Olsen’s turn as Wanda Maximoff. Immediately killing her off in her next appearance was devastating, to the point where theories about Scarlet Witch’s death continue to circulate. Simply, audiences are not yet ready to let go of the character. While she may be gone in the MCU’s existing universe, the Multiverse makes opportunities to keep using the character still possible. There is some hope that some of these possibilities may be explored in the MCU eventually.

Marvel’s What If? Scarlet Witch Story Makes Wanda & Peter Parker Siblings

The Novel By Seanan McGuire Was Released In August 2024

A new novel from Marvel written by Seanan McGuire and entitled What If… Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker Were Siblings?: A Scarlet Witch & Spider-Man Story was just released, telling the story of the two iconic heroes growing up together. The novel sees Wanda taken in to Queens after the death of her parents, and she grows up beside Peter Parker. While a brother and sister dynamic was explored through Wanda’s eyes in Avengers: Age of Ultron with Pietro, her brother dies in that film. This novel instead allows Wanda to navigate her grief with a family and support system.

Both Peter Parker and Wanda Maximoff’s stories are marked by loss. Each has lost their parents and other important people in their lives. Allowing the two to develop a deep bond as siblings is an effective way to explore the humanity of both characters. In addition, this novel allows each of them to grow into themselves in more healthy and stable ways. This delicate path to healing is shown to benefit them both significantly in meaningful ways.

How Marvel’s What If? Story Changes Scarlet Witch’s Arc

The Hero Descended Into Villainy In The MCU

Much of Wanda’s story in the MCU has been a painful one, culminating in Scarlet Witch’s confirmed death. This was acknowledged well in WandaVision, where her grief manifests through her powers to transform an entire town and use it to process her emotion. Seeing this character given a proper support network and giving her close friends and family who are not immediately taken away from her makes for an effective and hopeful story for the hero. This also, however, underlines how brutal her MCU story has been.

Wanda’s sibling dynamic in the MCU was limited, with Pietro dying in his first appearance. This grief is highlighted with his suggested return in WandaVision. However, giving Wanda the consistent support of Peter Parker would make an enormous difference. Rather than suffering through grief on her own, her sibling dynamic would allow her to work through things with people who cared about her and loved her. Her villainous turn in Multiverse of Madness was only after losing everything and would never have occurred if she had still had a family.

Marvel’s What If Story Makes Me Wish For An MCU Scarlet Witch Return Even More

Scarlet Witch Could Still Return In Future Marvel Projects

Scarlet Witch was unfortunately underused through much of the MCU. Rather than being able to explore her character and motivations, the hero was instead shaped by pain and grief. Following the loss of her parents and brother, she clung to the love that she found with Vision. When that was taken away as well, she held tight to the idea of her children. This led her down a villainous path due to the hurt that had been inflicted on her so routinely.WandaVision began to humanize the character, but it was not enough.

Seeing Scarlet Witch interact with heroes like Spider-Man on a more human level is immensely satisfying. Allowing the character to walk a hopeful path marked with great character moments is extremely effective. Instead of being shaped by pain, allowing Wanda to develop her character through positive relationships is missing from the MCU. Wanda interacted with the other heroes in The Avengers very little onscreen other than Vision, and seeing those dynamics explored in hopeful and real ways would be immensely satisfying. There is some hope that the character will appear in Agatha All Along, although this is not confirmed.

It is sad that Wanda has died in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but books like this make that path so much more difficult to accept. The character was such an essential part of the universe’s stories, and she seemed prime for more hopeful opportunities in its future. While death is not the end for many Marvel characters, Scarlet Witch has died in the universe and is unfortunately not likely to reappear in any projects in the MCU soon. Luckily, books like this one exist to help her remain in audiences’ hearts.

Upcoming MCU Movies