WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Darkhold: Alpha #1, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
The Marvel Universe has plenty of powerhouses that draw their energies from various sources, ranging from technological to magical to even purely cosmic. But two of them just got the chance to be throw against one another in a sudden and surprising battle.
In Darkhold: Alpha #1 by Steve Orlando, Cian Tormey, Jesus Aburtov and VC's Clayton Cowles, Scarlet Witch and Victorious go head-to-head with Chaos Magic and the Power Cosmic respectively -- and one of them ends up being the clear winner.
Scarlet Witch's Chaos Magic is one of the most powerful elements in the Marvel Universe. The day she was born, Wanda was granted this power by Chthon, an ancient God of Chaos. Amplifying her own innate mystical abilities, Wanda became capable of wielding an incredible amount of magical power. She's even a Nexus Being, fundamentally vital to the continued survival of her home universe. While she may not always have the greatest level of control over her powers, they have allowed her to overcome plenty of threats over the years -- and in turn become one on occasion, such as when her attempts to restore the dead mutants of Genosha accidentally unleashed a zombie horde.
Another of Marvel's most powerful elements is the Power Cosmic. Introduced in Fantastic Four #48 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby during the original Galactus Trilogy, the Power Cosmic flows through the entire universe and is often wielded only by universal figures like Galactus and his Heralds. Those with the Power Cosmic have been shown effectively-being capable of anything -- although only a handful are capable of utilizing the full potential of this energy source. The likes of the Silver Surfer prove how much potential there is within the Power Cosmic, as even just a former herald of Galactus is considered one of Marvel's single most powerful figures due to his bond with the energy source.
The two are among the most powerful elements in the Marvel Universe, and they were just weighed against each other in Darkhold: Alpha. After discovering the true Darkhold, Doctor Doom is revealed to have accidentally tapped into the power of Cththon and given him the chance to invade the Earthly realm. Doom's ally Victorious -- who has been blessed with the Power Cosmic by her lord's battle with Galactus in Fantastic Four #6 -- stands guard over the dig site until the Scarlet Witch arrives. The two quickly come to blows, with Victorious initially landing a strong hit against the long-time Avenger. But the Scarlet Witch notes that brute force "has never been a match for experience," and is able rather easily bring Victorious to her knees with a well-placed blast of Chaos Magic.
Victorius is genuinely shocked by the attack and believes that the Power Cosmic can't be quelled. But Scarlet Witch is unperturbed by her words and comments that they seem fairly held at bay. The deciding factor between the two seems to be sheer experience, as Scarlet Witch has been an Avenger for years while Victorious is in many ways still adapting to the full force of her potential. But the fact that Chaos Magic can stand up to the Power Cosmic at all is a testament to just how powerful it really is. Wanda has been described as one of Marvel's most powerful heroes due to her mystical connection giving her so much power, and now she can boast that she's even stood against the cosmic forces of the universe themselves -- and brushed it off relatively easy.