Scarlet Witch Works Better as a Villain (Even if She Is the Next Sorcerer Supreme)

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Scarlet Witch’s popularity has surged thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, attracting a whole new group of fans. This has led Marvel to feature her prominently in both her own comics and the Avengers series. For some time, fans have speculated about her future, and recent storylines suggest she’s poised to become the next Sorcerer Supreme after Doctor Doom. This is a major step forward for the character, and it raises the question of what exciting stories Marvel has planned for Wanda in the years to come.

It’s been a while – since the mid-2000s – since Scarlet Witch has had a truly significant role, and while her dedicated fans are excited about her potentially becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, the news hasn’t generated much broader enthusiasm. Though she isn’t a particularly popular hero with most readers, Wanda Maximoff is a compelling character, and she truly shines as a villain. Despite the trope of powerful women turning evil in Marvel stories, Wanda is simply more interesting when she embraces that side, especially if she were to become the Sorcerer Supreme while acting as a villain.

Scarlet Witch Doesn’t Really Have Enough of a Personality to Be a Hero

It’s surprisingly difficult to think of anything about Scarlet Witch’s personality or story that doesn’t revolve around her relationships with men. For years, her character has been shaped by her connections to figures like Magneto, Quicksilver, Vision, and even Wonder Man. Her experiences are often defined by how these men have impacted her, which is likely why she’s typically been part of a team rather than a solo act. It’s a bit surprising she’s continued to get her own comic series, especially since recent ones have focused on her working with Quicksilver and Vision again.

Scarlet Witch is a much more compelling character when she’s a villain than a hero. While she’s done some interesting things overall, Wanda often feels flat and uninteresting when portrayed as a good guy. In fact, Marvel seems to agree, as her solo comics have frequently turned into team-ups with other heroes. Despite her popularity thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wanda doesn’t really stand out as a hero on her own. But as a villain, there’s a lot more potential for complex and engaging stories.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always found Scarlet Witch’s villain arcs a little… predictable. It usually boils down to the tired trope of a powerful woman losing control because of her own abilities – we’ve seen it in stories like “Avengers Disassembled” and especially “House of M.” But when you really think about Wanda Maximoff’s life, it’s easy to see why she might go to a dark place. Honestly, she’s been consistently manipulated and hurt, and a lot of that pain has come from the men she’s been involved with. Every single one of them has done something awful to her. So, if she decided to finally take control and put a stop to it all, it wouldn’t feel like a villain turn at all – it would feel totally justified.

Okay, let’s be honest – as a big Marvel fan, I’ve noticed they haven’t always gotten female characters right. Just look at Captain Marvel’s story over the years. So, seeing Wanda Maximoff potentially become the Sorcerer Supreme feels like a natural progression for her, which is great. But honestly, it would be amazing if she then used that power to get back at the guys who’ve messed her around. It would be such a cool twist on the usual ‘Scarlet Witch loses it’ trope – instead of going crazy from the power itself, it could be a deliberate choice. She really needs to take control of her own destiny, and I think becoming a villain after reaching the peak of her power is the perfect way to do it.

Scarlet Witch as a Villainous Sorcerer Supreme Would Be Better than Her as a Heroic One

The current storyline, One World Under Doom, features a corrupted Sorcerer Supreme, but it feels a lot like a typical Doctor Doom plot. The next phase for magic in the Marvel Universe is Sorcerer Supreme, and everything suggests Wanda will be chosen. While many anticipate a return to tradition with the role, it might be more interesting to keep it with a villain – someone like the Scarlet Witch. She has a compelling motivation for turning to evil, and it could open up exciting new directions for her character.

Scarlet Witch’s storylines often follow a similar path, especially when she becomes a villain. But perhaps embracing evil would be a stronger direction for the character and the Marvel Universe. Her allies might assume her descent into darkness is due to her immense power, but she could reveal the truth: their past actions have driven her to this choice. This could even open up interesting story possibilities, like a series focused on her life as Sorcerer Supreme and how she navigates her resentment towards those who’ve wronged her.

The most compelling Scarlet Witch stories happen when she embraces her darker side, and her next storyline should explore that. It could be a chance for her to become truly independent and not rely on male characters for her development. Her recent solo series unfortunately fell into the pattern of having her constantly paired with men, hindering her ability to stand on her own. Perhaps becoming a villain is the only way for her to achieve genuine independence. A new, compelling turn to villainy could finally allow her to break free from the men who have always controlled her narrative.

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2025-11-04 02:14