Sorcerer Supreme #1 Reinvents Scarlet Witch (& Remembers Who She Always Should Be) (Review)

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Over the past few years, Marvel has focused on two key areas: developing Scarlet Witch into a more complex character, moving away from her portrayal as simply a force of chaos, and re-establishing the importance of the Sorcerer Supreme title. Stories like Blood Hunt and One World Under Doom have demonstrated the Sorcerer Supreme’s incredible power. This all culminates in Sorcerer Supreme #1, which launches a new magical storyline with potentially huge implications for the entire Marvel Universe.

For the past few years, writer Steve Orlando has been successfully developing the Scarlet Witch character. Traditionally, Scarlet Witch stories have fallen into predictable patterns – either portraying her as overwhelmingly powerful and prone to villainy, or defining her through her relationships with male characters. Orlando has broken away from these tropes, creating a more complex and empowering portrayal of Wanda. The first issue of Sorcerer Supreme continues this positive trend, and is one of the comic’s strengths. While Scarlet Witch becoming Sorceress Supreme wasn’t entirely unexpected – Marvel has been building towards this – the issue effectively explains why it’s a compelling development.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros Cons
Sets up a lot of cool new ideas for Marvel’s magical corner If you haven’t been following Orlando’s Scarlet Witch work, some aspects of her characterization may not land for you
Orlando nails Scarlet Witch’s characterization
The art is amazing throughout the issue

This issue of Scarlet Witch marks a refreshing change for the character, steering clear of her usual villainous arcs. While it confirms Wanda’s immense power, it also suggests she might not be ideally suited for the role of Sorceress Supreme due to her fiercely independent nature – a trait developed from years of being manipulated. The author explores some fascinating differences between Wanda and Doctor Strange, hinting at exciting possibilities for the future. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book; it avoids tired tropes and delivers a well-written, engaging story with several unexpected twists. The ending cleverly connects to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and feels perfectly placed within the issue.

Bernard Chang’s Art Is Magical

Bernard Chang’s artwork in this issue is fantastic, immediately captivating readers with a powerful battle between Scarlet Witch and Dormammu. He beautifully brings the magic of this fight – and the entire issue, really – to life. While Russell Dauterman has consistently delivered stunning Scarlet Witch covers, Chang manages to portray the character with a similar level of visual brilliance.

The actor truly brings the emotions of each scene to life with incredible detail. This issue succeeds in making the story vibrant and engaging, with every page showcasing artwork that highlights its quality. I particularly enjoyed Wanda’s Romani-inspired costumes when she’s not in her superhero outfit – they reminded me of her looks from George Perez’s run on Avengers (Vol. 3). Just like the writing, the art exceeded my expectations, and that’s what makes reading comics so rewarding.

Recent Marvel stories have really focused on the idea of the Sorcerer Supreme, and the first issue of the new Sorcerer Supreme comic continues that positive trend. I’ve been skeptical of Marvel’s Scarlet Witch storylines lately, thinking they were just tied to the movies, but this issue proved me wrong. Orlando’s portrayal of Scarlet Witch is exactly what the character needs – strong, interesting, and with a bit of an edge. I’m excited about the plot threads he’s introduced, and I hope he can maintain this momentum throughout the series. The artwork by Chang is a perfect fit, delivering visually striking and effective imagery. I wasn’t sure about Sorcerer Supreme #1 at first, but after reading it, I’m completely hooked on this new magical story from Marvel.

Sorcerer Supreme #1 is on sale now.

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2025-12-31 18:11