The Marvel Comics History of Billy Kaplan, Explained

While most Marvel fans are familiar with Wanda Maximoff and The Vision’s storied romance, their children—Tommy Shepherd, aka Speed, and Billy Kaplan, aka Wiccan—remained relatively under the radar until recently. WandaVision introduced them to the MCU, and now Agatha All Along promises to continue their rise, particularly Billy’s.

Billy carved out a niche as a groundbreaking and worthwhile new addition to Marvel Comics as a key member of the inaugural Young Avengers lineup. As a gay teen, a core member of a super-team, and the son of two of Marvel’s most powerful figures, Wiccan’s journey has been a compelling blend, showcasing the modern hero as he navigates external threats and inner turmoil. Wrestling with the trials of adolescence while living up to his powerful legacy, Billy’s story has become a cornerstone of recent Marvel storytelling, and his potential role in the MCU is poised to provide similar fresh stories and perspectives as he did on the comic book page.

From Soul Shard To Super Hero: Billy Kaplan’s Out-There Origins

The Birth and Rebirth of Wiccan

The life and times of Billy Kaplan are complicated. First introduced in Young Avengers #1 (2005), Billy was lovingly raised by Jeff and Rebecca Kaplan in New York, but his true origins can be traced decades earlier. In Avengers West Coast #52 (1989), he and his twin brother were conjured into existence through fragments of the demon Mephisto.

A common misconception is that this was done through a deliberate spell, but that isn’t the case. Though the Scarlet Witch created Billy and Tommy to fulfill her longing for children, they weren’t identified as Mephisto’s soul shards until Agatha Harkness, mystic and babysitter, diagnosed them.

Wanda even had a full child labor process, assisted by Doctor Strange. Once their true nature was revealed, Billy and Tommy became pawns in a devilish game between all-powerful entities, putting Wanda’s sanity at risk. Wanda’s magic was so powerful that it warped the souls she had used for her children, and while their dispersing helped take down Mephisto, it caused the children to disappear, seemingly for good.

Wanda Maximoff’s fragile psyche became a pillar in her stories after that. This came to a head in Avengers Disassembled and House of M, which saw the spellcasting mutant ultimately erase other mutants from existence, partly driven by anger over her losing her children. The twins were reborn years later without memories of their past lives as the sons of separate families. Growing up in a normal household, Billy Kaplan did not know his connection to Wanda or the Avengers until the events of Young Avengers threw him headfirst into a life of heroism and mysticism.

Billy Kaplan Figuring Out His Parentage

Unraveling Marvel’s Most Notorious Mom & Dad Mystery

Hints were certainly made throughout the early Young Avengers issues, but, initially, nothing official was claimed regarding Billy’s parentage. Billy Kaplan’s journey of self-discovery began with his first appearance, where, after being bullied, he’d be consoled in dreams by Scarlet Witch—his favorite Avenger. It took years before the hero would learn the truth behind this connection.

During the acclaimed Young Avengers: The Children’s Crusade arc, the Avengers take Billy in for testing when his chaotic magic episode puts folks at risk. Just after the Scarlet Witch’s reality-warping powers nearly destroyed mutant-kind in House of M, the Marvel Universe was on high alert for such events. Billy was put under the proverbial petry dish, which led him to sleuth out Wanda’s location, which has been missing since House of M. In a testament to their bond, Billy does what the Avengers couldn’t and finds her, without memory, under the control of Doctor Doom, who not only overpowers Wiccan but de-powers him entirely, albeit temporarily.

After some Iron Lad-assisted time-travel hijinks and a giant Doom Bot vs. Avengers bout, Scarlet Witch regains her memory and powers, as does Wiccan. Wanda comes to accept him as her child, and the two begin forging a bond beyond their shared powers across future issues and events. Billy Kaplan is still the biological son of the Kaplans, but his soul is the same one made in his Mother’s image. Though Billy is content with his existing family unit, the reunion allows him to understand better his magical abilities and their connection to the Scarlet Witch. As Wiccan, he shares a similar aptitude for chaos magic, often channeling Wanda’s hex-like abilities with precision and leaning on her for comfort and guidance.

Billy & Teddy Forever: Behind Marvel’s Most Prominent Queer Romance

The Hulking and Wiccan Are A Beloved Marvel Comics Marriage

The love story between Billy Kaplan and Teddy Altman, better known as Hulking, stands out as one of the most enduring and celebrated queer relationships in Marvel Comics and fiction in general. Another Young Avengers (2005) invention, the two characters quickly became romantic partners and fan favorites thanks to their heartfelt connection, mutual support, and shared sense of responsibility.

Despite the turmoil surrounding Billy’s search for his origins and Teddy’s struggles with his hybrid Kree-Skrull heritage, the couple remained steadfast partners, finding solace in one another amid their respective upheaval. Billy and Teddy’s relationship evolved alongside the Young Avengers. Still, they reached new heights during the events of Empyre (2020), which forced Teddy to face the repercussions of his secrecy, shape-shifting, and the Kree-Skull conflict.

During the series, Teddy is crowned the king of a united Kree-Skrull empire but receives pressure to conform to royal expectations. In the heat of war and an act of defiance, Teddy proposes to Billy, and they are married aboard a spaceship in mid-battle. The event marks the first on-page gay marriage between two male superheroes in Marvel Comics, a significant milestone. Despite the track record Marvel Comics boasts of political drama tearing their couples apart, in the pages of Empyre, Billy and Teddy’s love remains their anchor, illustrating their unbreakable bond.

Since then, the pair has been portrayed as a happily married couple, facing threats from across the cosmos while remaining devoted to each other. In Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling, Billy’s unwavering belief in Teddy allows the young king to rise above the manipulations of the Cotati and prove himself as a capable ruler. Similarly, in X-Men/Fantastic Four: The Last Annihilation (2021), Billy’s support and magical prowess are crucial in a practical sense, too, offering defense of their empire from intergalactic threats.

From Electrokinetic to Demiurge: Billy Kaplan’s Power & Potential

Wiccan Has Subtly Blossomed Into One Of Marvel’s Mightiest

Billy Kaplan has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the years, evolving from a young boy with basic electrokinesis to a powerful reality-warping figure. Early in his journey, Billy’s powers were limited; he could manipulate electricity but struggled to grasp the true depth of his magical potential. This changed after he unlocked abilities through a delightful self-actualization mantra style of spellcasting inspired by an in-world book reminiscent of The Secret.

His early training with the Young Avengers allowed him to hone his abilities, but it wasn’t until pivotal moments in the New Avengers series in 2015 that he realized his true potential. During the events of New Avengers, Wiccan’s powers caught the attention of the Asgardian trickster Loki. He recognized him as an entity known as the Demiurge—a being capable of reshaping reality with nearly godlike abilities.

In these standout arcs, Billy’s reality manipulation abilities expand greatly, showcasing feats that can alter the fabric of the universe itself, including an iconic “hovering-outside-of-the-comic-books-themselves” meta-moment. This evolution is exemplified in crucial confrontations where he employs his magic to combat threats to existence, demonstrating that he is a formidable ally and a powerful adversary in the complex Marvel multiverse. This mega-powerful display aligns with the in-world consensus about Billy, often believed to be the next Sorcerer Supreme.

In recent developments, Wiccan’s journey has taken him further into Marvel’s realms of more cosmic adventures. Serving as the Prince Consort of the Kree-Skrull Alliance, Billy’s powerful role isn’t just set to his otherworldly abilities, thanks to his position as a key player in intergalactic politics and conflicts.

Wiccan in Marvel’s Evolving Landscape

A New Era for LGBTQ+ Representation and Heroism

Billy Kaplan’s journey from bullied teen to one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes is a testament to the evolving nature of the comic book medium and its superhuman challenges. Still, it also represents a significant shift in LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media. His relationship with Hulkling, marked by love and resilience, highlights the importance of diverse narratives that resonate with readers from all walks of life. With the upcoming narratives in the MCU, including Agatha All Along, the stage is set for Billy to emerge as a central figure on screen and his already-established (and always growing) presence in comics.

As Wiccan grows, he steadfastly symbolizes a new generation of heroes. His ability to navigate intergalactic politics and personal struggles makes him deeply relatable despite his lack of street-level stories and outrageous mystic strength. With his origins tied to Wanda Maximoff and his emerging integration in Marvel Comics, Billy Kaplan stands poised to inspire future generations of readers and viewers alike.