Wanda Maximoff gets bloody fighting her new enemy, Scythia of the Bacchae, in a CBR exclusive preview of Marvel's Scarlet Witch #5, which features stunning interior artwork by Russell Dauterman.

Scarlet Witch #5 comes from writer Steve Orlando and artist and cover artist Russell Dauterman. In a CBR exclusive preview of the issue, Wanda is facing off against the villainous Scythia of the Bacchae, a character formerly known as Hippolyta but who has since rebranded herself while on a revenge mission. Given that Scythia is equipped with anti-magic defenses (which ties into the mysterious mutant metal the Scarlet Witch series recently introduced), Wanda has no choice but to fight her with her fists.

RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Scarlet Witch’s New Series Is Inspired by a Popular Superman Story

SCARLET WITCH #5

  • STEVE ORLANDO (W) • RUSSELL DAUTERMAN (A/C)
  • STORMBREAKERS VARIANT COVER BY MARTIN COCCOLO
  • SPIDER-VERSE VARIANT COVER BY MARC ASPINALL • VARIANT COVER BY Dustin Nguyen
  • VARIANT COVER BY JOSHUA “SWAY” SWABY
  • Just when the Scarlet Witch thinks she’s shielded Darcy Lewis from their new enemy’s vendetta, Scythia returns – covered in armor made from the same antimagic rock Wanda’s been studying. Can Wanda defend Darcy – and herself – against a warrior who’s immune to magic?
  • 32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99

RELATED: Scarlet Witch’s New Series Brings Back Vision’s Daughter

Scarlet Witch #5 marks the first Marvel book Dauterman has fully drawn since 2020's Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey & Emma Frost (written by Jonathan Hickman and lettered by VC's Clayton Cowles). "Drawing a whole issue that features one of my favorite characters feels wonderful!” Dauterman previously said of Scarlet Witch #5. "I love doing covers and design work, but getting to tell a story with Wanda that's larger than I could do in any single cover has been awesome. I’m very happy to reunite with Matt Wilson on the interior colors, to work in the beautiful world Sara Pichelli and Elisabetta D'Amico have created, and to be working with Steve Orlando. Steve's take on Wanda is exactly what I want as a fan of the Scarlet Witch—I'm beyond thrilled to be part of this series!"

Scythia's True Quarrel Is With a Fan-Favorite MCU Character

Scythia made her first appearance in the Scarlet Witch series at the end of Scarlet Witch #3 by Orlando and Pichelli. Following an adventure through the Sub-Atomica with her half-sister Polaris, Wanda returns to her magic shop, Emporium, only to find the place has gone up in flames. Scythia steps out of the wreckage carrying an unconscious Darcy Lewis (a fan-favorite MCU character who made their comics debut in Scarlet Witch #1) while she declares, "Darcy Lewis has evaded justice long enough. Her cowardly flesh belongs to Scythia, champion of the Bacchae. Any who would dare defend her must face me...even a Scarlet Witch." The story continues in Scarlet Witch #4 by Orlando and Pichelli, which releases April 5, 2023.

Scarlet Witch #5 features variant cover art by Martin Coccolo, Marc Aspinall, Dustin Nguyen and Joshua "Sway" Swaby. The issue releases May 3, 2023, from Marvel.

Source: Marvel