46 Years Later, Scarlet Witch Has Proven One of Marvel’s Greatest Legends Wrong

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As a comic book movie critic, I’ve been watching Scarlet Witch’s journey for years, and wow, it’s been a ride! She first appeared way back in the early X-Men comics as a villain alongside Magneto, then surprisingly joined the Avengers. But her time with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes was… complicated. She’s flipped back and forth between hero and villain more times than I can count, and let’s not forget that devastating event in 2005’s House of M – a truly dark moment. It’s incredible to see how far she’s come in the last two decades. She went from being considered one of Marvel’s biggest threats to a full-blown solo star, fueled by her popularity in the MCU. Now she’s even the Sorcerer Supreme! While other heroes have also faced redemption arcs after committing terrible acts, Scarlet Witch’s transformation feels uniquely powerful and earned. It’s a testament to the character’s complexity and enduring appeal.

Forty-five years ago, “The Dark Phoenix Saga” introduced a female superhero who embraced villainy on a scale never before seen. The story featured Jean Grey, amplified by the Phoenix Force, succumbing to darkness, which led to the destruction of a solar system and the deaths of billions. While the story famously ends with Jean Grey taking her own life, fearing her own power, the original plan by writer Chris Claremont was for her to survive. However, Marvel’s editor-in-chief, Jim Shooter, overruled him. This situation is strikingly similar to the storyline of Scarlet Witch, as Wanda Maximoff’s actions later demonstrated that Shooter’s reasoning for killing Jean Grey wasn’t necessarily correct.

Shooter Believed Readers Would Never Forgive Jean and Scarlet Witch Proved Otherwise

Jim Shooter is a famously controversial figure in Marvel Comics’ history. He began his comics career as a teenager, writing for DC, before joining Marvel and eventually becoming editor-in-chief in 1978. Many consider his time leading the company to be a golden age. However, he was known for being a demanding boss, pushing creators to deliver their best work and prioritize fans. A prime example of his influence was the acclaimed “Dark Phoenix Saga.”

Claremont originally envisioned a path to redemption for Jean Grey after the Dark Phoenix Saga (as detailed in Phoenix: The Untold Story #1). However, editor Jim Shooter believed fans wouldn’t accept her being allowed to live after being responsible for so many deaths. Shooter argued that the sheer scale of her actions – making her the character with the highest death toll in comics – would be too much for many readers to overlook, leading to the decision to have her sacrifice herself.

Scarlet Witch’s story shares striking similarities with Jean Grey’s. Like Jean, she stripped powers from the entire mutant population, an act widely considered genocide – even if some argue no one directly died, many mutants relied on their powers to survive, resulting in numerous deaths. After the events of House of M, she vanished for a time before eventually returning to prominence, culminating in Avengers vs. X-Men. Since then, she’s become a crucial figure in Avengers stories. However, her real rise in popularity came with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the MCU boosted her profile, Marvel began to feature her more prominently in comics, leading to her starring in solo series for several years and becoming a key player in multiple Avengers storylines.

Wanda Maximoff’s journey back to popularity hasn’t been easy. Originally, X-Men fans weren’t thrilled with the character, and Marvel initially tried to deflect blame for her actions in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, pointing fingers at villains like Doctor Doom. However, things began to improve once Marvel took responsibility for Wanda’s choices. Combined with her success in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s clear that past criticisms – like the one made 46 years ago comparing her to Jean Grey – were unfounded.

Scarlet Witch’s Road Back Was Rocky but Showed Shooter Was Wrong

It’s hard to say Scarlet Witch was always destined for her current status. For a while, it felt like Marvel was forcing her on readers and struggling to justify her past deeds. But with the focus on connecting the comics to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she kept getting opportunities after 2015, eventually leading to where she is today. While her actions in House of M remain a significant part of her story, people have largely moved past them due to her later contributions. She’s not only aided mutants – reversing her “no more mutants” decree with Hope Summers in AvX and even creating a sanctuary for mutant spirits – but has repeatedly helped save the world.

The author initially thought fans wouldn’t accept a hero committing acts as significant as those of Jean Grey or Scarlet Witch. However, both comics and readers have evolved since the 1980s. While Scarlet Witch faced initial backlash for her actions, she ultimately regained acceptance thanks to the efforts of the writers. This proves the author’s initial concern was unfounded, and another writer was correct in believing fans are more forgiving now, as evidenced by the continued popularity of those characters in 2026.

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2026-04-11 22:10