There’s No Reason for X-Men Fans to Forgive Scarlet Witch (and I Can Prove It)

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It’s been tough being an X-Men fan recently, and a lot of that stems from the story of Scarlet Witch. While many point to the mid-to-late 2010s – when Marvel promoted the Inhumans because they lacked the rights to X-Men movies – the real turning point happened in the mid-2000s. That’s when Scarlet Witch famously said, “No more mutants,” in the House of M storyline. These three words started a decline for the X-Men, leading to increasingly grim stories that ultimately frustrated fans.

The storyline House of M dramatically altered the Marvel Universe, establishing Scarlet Witch as a central figure. Since then, her importance has grown, and she’s now poised to become the Sorcerer Supreme. Marvel has actively worked to downplay the consequences of her past actions and rebuild her reputation, especially with X-Men fans. However, it’s important to remember that X-Men fans aren’t obligated to forgive Wanda Maximoff—and arguably, they shouldn’t. Her character has consistently been flawed, and it’s time to acknowledge that.

Scarlet Witch Has a History of Terrible Acts that Are Always Forgiven for No Good Reason

It’s not that Scarlet Witch is inherently evil. Wanda Maximoff has faced immense hardship, and a difficult past can definitely push someone towards destructive behavior. She began her career with a problematic team, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, where she was mistreated by Magneto and subjected to unwanted attention. This early trauma, combined with her incredibly powerful abilities, explains why she often lashes out and does terrible things. But it’s time to acknowledge the truth: Scarlet Witch is increasingly acting like a villain, or at least someone with villainous tendencies.

Many fans of Wanda attempt to excuse her actions – including killing fellow Avengers and committing genocide – by focusing on her mental health. While mental health is a valid consideration – we often offer understanding and treatment to people with similar struggles in the real world, usually through mental health facilities – Wanda never received that. Instead, people simply justified her behavior, and she rejoined the Avengers without facing any repercussions or seeking help to address her issues.

Something I’ve observed with Scarlet Witch’s portrayal is that she doesn’t appear to genuinely regret committing genocide against mutants. It often feels like she’s more concerned with her public image than the horrific act itself. A prime example is in Uncanny Avengers, where she refused to acknowledge wrongdoing and instead focused on Rogue’s anger towards her. Later, her alliance with the Apocalypse Twins wasn’t driven by remorse, but by a desire to be seen as a hero rather than a villain.

In Trial of Magneto, the Scarlet Witch sacrificed herself to create the Elysium Fields, a magical realm allowing mutant souls to be reached for resurrection on Krakoa. This act wasn’t about atonement for past mistakes, but rather about changing how the people of Krakoa viewed her. She was tired of being known as “the Pretender” and craved the praise she consistently received from the Avengers whenever she refrained from violence. Essentially, Marvel has portrayed the Scarlet Witch as someone accustomed to being forgiven for everything, and she seems more upset by being held accountable than by the consequences of her actions.

Scarlet Witch Is the Worst Kind of Person

I used to be a big fan of Scarlet Witch. I was fascinated by her struggles and really followed her story after the “Avengers Disassembled: Chaos” event, even reading the not-so-great Excalibur (Vol. 3) to see what happened with her. But I’ve been consistently let down by how Marvel has handled her actions since then, especially in stories like “Chaos” and House of M. They seemed determined to excuse everything she did, and she never truly took responsibility. Instead of exploring the difficult consequences of her choices, they quickly reset her character to how she was before.

It appears Marvel is actively trying to win over fans who have issues with the Scarlet Witch, and they’ve been heavily featuring her in recent comics. However, many fans are still reluctant to read her stories due to her past actions. The fact that she consistently receives limited-run miniseries instead of a regular ongoing title suggests that there isn’t much demand for solo Scarlet Witch comics. Marvel clearly wants fans to embrace the character, but so far, their efforts haven’t been successful.

The problem is, Scarlet Witch hasn’t actually earned forgiveness. She’s caused immense harm to both the Avengers and the X-Men, but she never takes responsibility. It’s always an excuse – blaming Doctor Doom or some external force – and it feels like Marvel wants fans to blame anyone but her. As an X-Men fan, I feel like a genuine apology or attempt at amends has never been offered, and Marvel seems to miss that point.

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2025-11-23 23:11