The 10 Best Scarlet Witch Storylines in Marvel Comics, Ranked by Impact

The Scarlet Witch is one of Marvel’s strongest characters, but her story has been dramatically altered multiple times. Beginning as a villain alongside her brother Quicksilver in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Wanda Maximoff later became an Avenger. However, her journey hasn’t been straightforward. She’s repeatedly fallen from grace, even rewriting reality, dismantling the Avengers, and drastically reducing the mutant population. Ultimately, she rose to become Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme.

The Scarlet Witch has been responsible for some of the biggest changes in the Marvel Universe. From completely altering reality in “House of M” to magically creating and then losing her twin children, here’s a look at her most impactful comic book storylines – the ones that dramatically reshaped everything around her.

10) Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver (2024)

I just finished reading Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, and it’s a surprisingly emotional ride. This four-issue miniseries, from Steve Orlando and Lorenzo Tammetta, centers around a letter Magneto left behind, and it really throws Wanda and Pietro’s relationship into turmoil. It’s fascinating to see them grapple with what it means to be siblings, especially as mutants, and how much of their identity is tied to their complicated connection with their father. Coming right after Wanda’s own solo series, this story felt like a crucial turning point for her, forcing her to confront her family dynamics. Ultimately, it’s a really poignant exploration of grief and what it truly means to be Magneto’s children – even if their connection isn’t biological.

9) X-Men #4 (1964)

Scarlet Witch first appeared in X-Men #4 as part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, alongside her brother Quicksilver. Initially, Magneto claimed to be their father, a story that proved false but remained a key part of Marvel history for a long time. Her debut alongside Magneto was significant because it introduced her to the Marvel Universe and established a family relationship that heavily influenced her storylines. In that first issue, Wanda also showed she didn’t want to be a villain, and Quicksilver consistently stood by her side to protect her.

8) Avengers #16 (1965)

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver changed sides, leaving their villainous past with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants to join Captain America’s newly formed Avengers team, alongside Hawkeye, who was also trying to turn his life around. This marked a significant shift in the Avengers’ history, demonstrating Captain America’s willingness to give reformed villains a chance. It was a pivotal moment for Wanda, setting her on the path to becoming a dedicated hero and long-standing member of the team, a role she’s strived to maintain ever since.

7) Vision and the Scarlet Witch Vol. 2 (1985-1986)

Following their first miniseries, Marvel continued the story of Vision and the Scarlet Witch in a 12-issue series in 1985, written by Steve Englehart and illustrated by Richard Howell. The series depicts Wanda and Vision as a married couple living a suburban life in Leonia, New Jersey, after leaving the Avengers. It’s a significant story because it features Wanda becoming pregnant with Vision’s children – a seemingly impossible event – and introduces Billy and Tommy to the Marvel Universe. This storyline ultimately sets the stage for some of Wanda’s most challenging experiences.

6) Avengers West Coast #51-62 (1989-1990)

The Scarlet Witch has struggled with villainy several times, but a particularly difficult period occurred during her time with Avengers West Coast, a storyline written and illustrated by John Byrne. The arc, called “Darker Than Scarlet” (issues #56-57), revealed a devastating truth: her twins, Billy and Tommy, weren’t actually real, but were created from pieces of the demon Mephisto’s soul. At the same time, the organization Vigilance captured and dismantled Vision, erasing his memories and effectively ending her marriage. These events pushed Wanda over the edge, causing her to lash out at her teammates and setting the stage for the larger conflict in “Avengers Disassembled.”

5) Sorcerer Supreme (2025)

The latest Scarlet Witch story arc showcases Wanda Maximoff reaching the peak of her magical abilities. Following Doctor Doom’s death after the events of “One World Under Doom,” Earth was left without a Sorcerer Supreme. Surprisingly, the title didn’t return to Doctor Strange; instead, the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto chose Wanda, making her the new Sorcerer Supreme. This created a compelling narrative, as many—including Agatha Harkness—questioned her worthiness. Wanda then dedicated herself to proving she deserved the role just as much as anyone else. It’s an incredible journey for the character, transforming her from a hesitant villain first seen in X-Men #4 into arguably the most powerful magic user on Earth by 2026.

4) Scarlet Witch (2015-2017)

The 2015 Scarlet Witch solo series was crucial in rebuilding the character’s reputation after years of inconsistent and often negative portrayals within Marvel. Written by James Robinson with various artists, the series followed Wanda Maximoff on a spiritual journey called The Witches’ Road, guided by the spirit of Agatha Harkness. During this journey, she discovered her biological mother – the original Scarlet Witch – and learned the truth about her parentage, realizing that Magneto wasn’t her father. The series powerfully explored themes of grief and self-acceptance, ultimately presenting a stronger and more realized version of the Scarlet Witch.

3) “The Children’s Crusade” (2010-2012)

In Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, Wiccan and Speed discover they are the reincarnated children of the Scarlet Witch, and begin searching for their missing mother, who disappeared after the events of “House of M.” They find Wanda Maximoff in Latveria, engaged to Doctor Doom and with no memory of her past. This leads to a conflict with Doom as her children and the Young Avengers fight to save her. The story is significant because it reveals Doctor Doom was secretly draining Wanda’s powers before the “Avengers Disassembled” event, implying much of her later behavior was influenced by him, and lessening her responsibility. This storyline began Wanda’s journey towards redemption, ultimately leading to her own solo comic series in 2015.

2) “Avengers Disassembled” (2004)

The “Avengers Disassembled” storyline was known for its shocking events, centering around a mental breakdown suffered by Wanda Maximoff. It began with a casual remark from Janet Van Dyne about Wanda’s lost children – memories that Agatha Harkness had previously erased to protect her. The resurfacing of these memories caused Wanda to lose control, leading to the deaths of Agatha, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, Vision, and Jack of Hearts. The Avengers were left shattered and disbanded as a result. Doctor Strange managed to temporarily stop Wanda, but Magneto intervened to rescue her.

1) “House of M” (2005)

The ‘House of M’ storyline is considered the most significant in Scarlet Witch’s history in Marvel Comics, and it directly followed the ‘Avengers Disassembled’ event. Penned by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, the core story spanned eight issues, but its impact was felt across numerous other comics. After learning the Avengers considered eliminating her due to the chaos she caused, Wanda, urged by her brother Quicksilver, altered reality. She created a world where mutants were the dominant species, ruled by Magneto, and also granted many heroes their ideal lives. However, when Wolverine discovered this altered reality, he worked to restore things. This event demonstrated Scarlet Witch’s immense power – enough to reshape the entire universe, establishing her as a major cosmic threat. Ultimately, she took a devastating action, dramatically reducing the mutant population in an event known as M-Day.

2026-05-17 21:13