scarlet--wiccan

[scarlet--wiccan]

Wasn't a mutant-specific inhibitor and more of a specific-to-powers one but Billy did have an inhibitator in the YA/Runaways Civil War crossover that prevented him from hearing his spells being spoken (which I guess stops him from casting them which I never really got?) So presumably something that blocks Wanda from physically casting, proportional to her skill level/ability and even if she's relying on chaos magic as a source, would stop her as well.

Yes, but that's not the question I was asked.

In the Civil War crossover, the warden of the Cube-- a detention facility for aliens-- outfits Billy with a device that prevents him from, specifically, hearing his own voice. It makes sense-- at this point in continuity, Billy has no real magical experience or knowledge, and speaking his intentions out loud is the only way he's figured out how to focus his power. That's why he relies on his chanting gimmick. Disrupt that method, and you disrupt his only means of spellcasting. But, I mean, it would been a lot simpler to just... prevent him from speaking at all, rather than making him selectively deaf.

People have definitely tried similar things on Wanda over the years. In Vision & Scarlet Witch (1985), Nekra and Black Talon attempt to prevent Wanda from using her hex power by binding her hands in such a way that she couldn't even move her fingers, because, at that point in time, she relied on motion to cast her hexes. She manages to wiggle one of her pinkies free and starts casting tiny hexes to undo the other ropes. Similarly, in Scarlet Witch (2023), Joseph cuts off Wanda's fingers to prevent her from using magic long enough for Hexfinder to make her entrance. Fortunately, Wanda was able to use healing magic to grow them back.

If you're fighting someone like Wanda or Billy, preventing them from manually casting spells is one of the only ways to get a leg up. Twice now, Orlando has had enemies muddle or block Wanda's memory so she can't recall any spells-- the Wizard in the first issue of SW&Q, and the Eliminator in the most recent issue of Scarlet Witch. Doom's done it to Billy twice-- he uses a mind spell to trick Billy into believing he's lost his powers in Children's Crusade, and in GotG (2020), he disables Billy's magic by stabbing him with Excelsior.

Point is, you need to really go out of your way, as a writer, to find obstacles and stumbling blocks for such powerful magic wielders. You need plot devices like the low mysterium around to create stakes and tension. A lot of the people reading and posting about these books don't seem to understand that.

[scarlet--wiccan]

It doesn't apply about current Wanda since she's not a mutant anymore.

But if someone put a mutant inhibitor on her (when she was a mutant) would she not be able to use he powers even though her mutant power was Chaos Magic ?

From a purely logical standpoint, based on the Busiek-era understanding of Wanda's powers, I think the answer is yes. If Wanda's altered mutation is what allows her to channel chaos magic and cast hexes, and the inhibitor collar specifically disables her mutation, then, yes, it would prevent her from using those abilities. But if it is just her mutation that's been disabled, then I would think that she'd still be able to use regular witchcraft, assuming that we're catching Wanda at point in time where she has the necessary skill and experience.

I feel like there has to be at least one example of Wanda and/or Billy wearing some sort of inhibitor device, but I'm drawing a blank right now. If anybody has something, let me know!

[scarlet--wiccan]

For the mutant magic ask they’re talking about the mutant magic that was established on Krakoa (especially in Excalibur) with Apocalypse, Ororo, Rictor etc etc and a lot of the mutant circuits

Okay but again. Those are different things.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Is this a good streamline ? https://www.reddit.com/r/Marvel/comments/15zly8e/there_has_been_a_lot_of_things_established_about/

Absolutely not. So much bullshit that this person either made up or extrapolated far beyond a strictly textual reading. Irresponsible and dishonest in the extreme.

[scarlet--wiccan]

I remember, when Django reappeared in that One Avengers Arc right before they killed him off for real, he was revealed to have magical power of his own? And then I don't recall it ever being brought up again.

Are we meant to assume post-Natalya reveal that both Maximoff siblings inherit magic, and that Pietro's and Tommy's might have manifested more like Django's instead of super speed if the High Evolutionary hadn't intervened?

Yes, in Avengers #181-188, Django demonstrates magical abilities, which are mostly attributed to the items and materials he uses-- wood from Mount Wundagore, which he uses to create enchanted puppets, and an artifact called the "nivashi stone." In flashbacks, we see that Django acted as a shaman in the Maximoff family's Romani community. Magic was apparently commonplace in this community, and the nivashi stone was used to cast spells. It should go without saying that these are total fabrications which have nothing to do with actual Romani culture. These specific magical elements haven't been brought up since Django's death, and we don't see them in other flashbacks or retellings of the twins' upbringing-- which, if you ask me, is probably for the best.

In Scarlet Witch (2016), Wanda learns that her birth mother, Natalya, was Django's sister. Natalya was a witch, and magic, specifically witchcraft, is a hereditary gift that's been in the Maximoff family for generations. Django might not have been on his sister's level, but Marya, his wife, acknowledges that he had "a touch of the craft," as well, and claims that his power was more than just the magical wood he used to make his dolls.

So Django definitely had magic powers, and in the current canon, this is attributed to the Scarlet Witch lineage. And while I don't think we necessarily need to revist that "shaman" stuff from Avengers, I think this context could be used to reframe those flashbacks in a way that, while not perfect, would certainly be less problematic.

Elsewhere in Scarlet Witch, we learn that the Evolutionary abducted and experimented on Wanda and Pietro specifically because they were a witch's children, and therefore, may have inherited their mother's power. We know Wanda did, but it's never outright stated whether or not Pietro was born with magical potential. Logically, though, based on what we know about Natalya and Django, I think it's a valid assumption. And while I don't usually like to engage in this sort of speculation, I think it's worth noting that Pietro's held his own in a fair number of magical and esoteric situations-- his possession in Mighty Avengers and all of the weird energy stuff in Quicksilver: No Surrender are more recent examples, but in Avengers #187, Pietro was one who used Django's magic puppet, with support from the other Avengers, to trap Chthon and restore Wanda's soul to her body.

So, while it's not technically canon, I've always personally assumed that Pietro is just as capable of magic as his uncle-- and I don't think that his artificial mutation would necessarily negate or diminish that. Wanda's various powers are all sort of entangled, but in SW (2016), I think you can take it as read that her affinity for witchcraft and the power of the her lineage still stand on their own. There's no reason for Pietro's speed power would interfere with any latent magical ability. I don't think there's any point in making him a spellcaster, but reframing his power as the product of both "science and sorcery," as Wanda has often been described, would have support their synergy and the expansive potential in the current run quite nicely. For some reason, Orlando chose to partition their powers-- Wanda gets all the magic, Pietro gets all the science, or physics-- and it's one of the only things I didn't like about that storyline. We were so close to finally, perfectly balancing them out.

As for Billy and Tommy-- same deal. They've Maximoffs, and Wanda's children, in every way that counts. Billy, as I'm concerned, is next in line for the Scarlet Witch title. Wherever Pietro falls in that spectrum, Tommy should be the same.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Everyone always has the most bullshit random complaints about Scarlet Witch, but I'm asking the real questions-- did Orlando forget Wanda's supposed to be a vegetarian?

[scarlet--wiccan]

Besides the Darkhold, there are other magic books in the Marvel Universe that also contain studies of black magic. What differs these books from one another?

For several reasons, "black magic" is not really an appropriate phrase to use, and I don't think it's used consistently in Marvel comics any more. It's also not a comprehensive category-- most of the time, the thing that distinguishes different magical powers, artifacts, books, etc. is their source, or place of origin, not their moral alignment, or general affinity for... darkness? Spookiness? Whatever you think "black magic" means. If you are seeing that term, try using context to determine what the author is really talking about. "Demonic" powers, for example, could originate from any of several different hell dimensions. I don't expect Daimon Hellstrom to summon S'ym or N'astirh, you know?

Having said that, the Darkhold is one of, if not the oldest magical texts in Earth's history, and for a large part of that history there were different pages and copies and scrolls in circulation all over the world. There probably still are, which would be a really interesting plot thread for Wanda to pick up. Point being, a lot of these other magical texts, like the Necronomicon, the Book of Cagliostro, and the Book of R'lyeh are partially derived from Darkhold materials. So if you think the number of spooky evil magic books is a bit redundant, it's because they are-- but that's a reflection of the history that's been built up around magic.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Have you written your thoughts about mutant magic before?

and what exactly is that

[scarlet--wiccan]

If you had the keys to the castle what would you do about the Amanda x Kurt incest?

Honestly, I'd probably just pretend like it never happened. I know I've tossed ideas around about what you can, or could, do with Amanda's character, but in general, I don't... like her. Or that relationship. I'd be perfectly content to simply keep those characters apart and find ways to avoid dwelling on it.

If you want to eliminate the "problematic" or uncomfortable aspects of their relationship, the only thing you can really do is find a way to make it... less incestuous, by retroactively making it clear that they were not raised as siblings. But to do that, you'd have to undermine a lot of the narrative weight behind Kurt's relationship with Margali. And as much as I frankly don't like Margali, the idea of diminishing or invalidating her role as a mother leaves a bad taste in my mouth. There's a lot of baggage attached to the image of a Romani woman, especially someone like Margali, taking in and raising gadje children, and the fact that Margali herself is such a morally difficult character who's already so mired in racial stereotypes doesn't make it any better. If I were working with this character, I'd probably want to massage the story to make her into a better mom, and depict Kurt's adoption in a more genuine light. But that would really make Kurt and Amanda siblings. So there's no perfect solution.

But if I was writing a Nightcrawler comic, I just wouldn't write that relationship because I don't like it.

[scarlet--wiccan]

A non-SW specific ask, but do you mind if Marvel starts developing fictional cities like DC one day?

I think that would be antithetical to Marvel's general outlook and approach to the genre.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Do you have any other fantasy book recommendations besides Young Wizards by Diane Duane?

I've mentioned this before, but Madeline L'Engle's Time Quintet went hand-in-hand with Young Wizards, in terms of defining my conception of fantasy and sci-fi principles. The series themselves are not that similar, in terms of story, but they are similarly effective at blending very tactile magic systems with extremely well-realized conceptions of, time, space, and the nature of material reality. I read them both around the same time (too young, perhaps) and that's what really programmed my brain-- that, and most of Diana Wynne Jones and Garth Nix, although they operate in very different realms. And Animorphs, which is not fantasy, but I'll never pass up the opportunity to evangalize about Animorphs. You might notice I'm not actually a huge fan of high fantasy-- I gravitate more towards books that take place in or around the real world.

Anyway, I am trying to get back in the habit of reading more novels. I no longer commute on public transit, which is how I used to do most of my reading, so I've fallen out of the habit for a few years, and my to-read pile is embarrassingly high. I'm afraid I'm not as well up on contemporary novels as I'd like to be-- I give all my time and attention to comics! But I did just finish Mortal Follies and Confounding Oaths by Alexis Hall and loved both! I also re-read several of Molly Knox Ostertag's graphic novels this month-- they're definitely for middle-grade readers, but I find them delightful. Her Witch Boy trilogy, in particular, is so special and healing to me. Even if it's not your cup of tea, there might be a young reader in your life who'd enjoy it!

[scarlet--wiccan]

Opinion on the Impossible City?

I find it very charming, as a character, and I'm really intrigued by the mysteries surround it and the Ashen Combine. I'm sad that it's taking MacKay so long to get back around to that storyline, but I suppose I should grateful that the book has enough planned longevity that he can afford to take his time.

As a setting, I don't think the City is being used to its full potential. I don't expect most of the Avengers to actually live there full-time-- most of them have lives, and solo titles, outside of being on the team-- but I'd like to know more about their living quarters, or what kind of spaces or facilities they're creating, like that garden we've seen. One of the strongest aspects of Krakoa was the commitment to developing original settings with imaginative and engaging details, clear layouts and topography, and so forth-- and for a few years, it fel like that was broad trend in the Marvel world. The Ewing era on GotG and Empyre did something similar with outer space. I kinda miss that vibe and I'd like to get to know the City a little better in that regard.

[scarlet--wiccan]

It is actually really funny that Scarlet Witch has barely... maybe even never??? acknowledged that Wanda is on the Avengers. And I mean that as a compliment-- the book is so wholly committed to doing its own thing that you would never know Wanda spends most of her work week on a giant space ship with a bunch of other superheroes. Vision is the only one of her teammates that's ever shown up, and they don't even talk about it.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Do you see Dreamqueen as a solid Wanda villain?

I'm not sure what metric I should be using to evaluate this. Scarlet Witch #2 was one of the stronger issues in the series, and I thought that having Wanda face off against someone like Dreamqueen in the dream world, specifically, was a great way to play with the idea of Wanda "warping reality" without the usual drawbacks or heightened stakes.

But, like most of the episodic installments in the 2023 series-- which were not, for the record, an inherently bad thing-- Wanda's conflict with Dreamqueen was probably meant to be more of a one-off scenario. I don't necessarily see Dreamqueen as one of "Wanda's villains," mostly because that's not how I think about characters in general. Not every antagonist needs to belong to a "rogues gallery." Dreamqueen does not have any significant connection to Wanda, and Wanda does not really factor into her motives. You could build an ongoing relationship like that based on what happened in Scarlet Witch-- Dreamqueen certainly has plenty of reason to seek revenge, and I'm curious to see how she's is adjusting to her new status quo. But just based on the text, I never assumed that the character would come back in a recurring role.

It'd be fun to see her team up with Lore, though!

[scarlet--wiccan]

Does the one-shot formula feel like a poor choice for Wanda's solo? Especially for a character that's been sidelined for so long, a long-term planned arc is needed imo

And what exactly do you think has been happening for the last nine months?

The 2023 series had an episodic structure— with overarching plots, although I’ll be the first to acknowledge that they weren’t always well-balanced— but SW&Q and the first four issues of the solo title relaunch were a long-form story arc, and we’re heading into another one with Amaranth right now. The book has also set up another major conflict with Chthon’s escape, although I’m not sure when I expect that to come back to roost. You could argue that #5 was kind of a filler issue, but it did tie in some world building and keep the momentum going on the Chthon stuff— and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking a beat in between larger arcs.

[scarlet--wiccan]

I want to thank you for your Wanda reading order because it’s super mega useful. I just read Avengers #128 and I wonder, is there any comic where we see Agatha teaching Wanda?

Yep! I didn't explicitly mention it in the post, but Wanda's first lesson, in Avengers #128, kicks off a story arc that continues for the next several issues of the main series, as well as the Giant-Size Avengers miniseries. The two books were running concurrently, and there's a lot going on between the two of them, so it can be difficult to follow, but if you're really just looking to follow Wanda's storyline, you'll do okay by just skimming for pages where you see her and/or Agatha.

There aren't very many scenes of Agatha explicitly tutoring Wanda-- they step out together in Avengers #130 and aren't seen again until #133, where Wanda states that they've been locked in a room for days practicing magic. There's a fun scene where Wanda brings a chair to to life and has it walking around like one of those brooms from Fantasia. After this, Wanda demonstrates improved skill at directing her hexes and using magic to manipulate natural elements and organic materials. This storyline ends with Wanda defeating Dormammu in Giant-Size Avengers #4, at which point Agatha declares that her instruction is complete-- although Agatha does, of course, continue to appear as a mentor and advisor throughout the 80s and again in the late 90s.

[scarlet--wiccan]

I noticed you've only talked about this character once, so may I ask what's your thoughts are on Ian McNee? And would you like him to interact with Wanda? Consider the last time we saw him, he lost a piece of his soul to corruption for reading a page in the Darkhold there's an opportunity for these characters to meet with one another

In general, I would like for Wanda to have more opportunities to touch base with people-- or beings-- who have been impacted by Chthon or the Darkhold. As the "living Darkhold," Wanda is uniquely equipped to make those connections and tangle with those forces, if needed, but I also feel like this iteration of the character is driven by empathy and a sense of purpose that would lend themselves to offering aid and healing to people whose lives have been complicated by Chthon's influence, or acting as an ambassador to communities like the vampire nation or the N'Garai. Just thoughts!

I'm kind of ambivalent on Ian-- the premise of this upstart, shit-stirring young sorcerer who gets in over his head is a fun idea, but I don't love his personality or design and I feel like he gets kind of lost in between generations of characters with nothing to really help him stand out. The worldbuilding from Mystic Arcana, specifically the Cornerstones of Creation, probably needs to be massaged a bit, but I appreciate that Ian is one of the few magic characters who's directly invested the history of Earth's Elder Gods. I always want Wanda to be more involved in that world-- witchcraft lives more in that nature-based, folkloric sphere, and she obviously has a direct relationship with Chthon-- so Ian would be a great point of contact. He and Wanda both own metaphysical shops-- maybe they could have some sort of business relationship.