In large part due to the implications of the Coronavirus, WandaVision has skyrocketed to the forefront of the MCU's move to television on Disney+.
To this point, Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff feels like one of the more unexplored characters of the MCU. With WandaVision, fans are likely going to see a whole new side of the Scarlet Witch that they haven't seen yet. In order to get a better idea of where the series might take the character, there are some critically important comic issues featuring Wanda that everyone should consider reading before watching WandaVision.
10 X-Men #4
Where better to start than her Marvel comics origin? As most probably know already, Wanda Maximoff is traditionally considered a mutant in the Marvel Universe and the biological daughter of Magneto.
Her very first appearance in the Marvel Universe came in Stan Lee's original X-Men series, in which she and her brother, Quicksilver, joined their father's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Although they may not be explored in the series, her villainous origins and connections to the X-Men are both some of the most important elements of her character.
9 Avengers #16
Back in Stan Lee's original Avengers run, it didn't take long for Wanda Maximoff to become part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She and Quicksilver join the team shortly after the original group disbands. Obviously, her MCU origin with the Avengers was told much differently.
Scarlet Witch's relationship with the Avengers is one of the most uncertain aspects of her future in the MCU. Surely, it'll be explained during WandaVision and unarguably much different than anything we've seen in her comic book history.
8 Scarlet Witch (2015)
Weirdly enough, even as one of the most fascinating heroes in Marvel's catalog, Wanda Maximoff doesn't have many solo comic series. Back in 1994, she was featured in a brief, four-issue, solo series that drastically undersold the complexity of the character. In 2015, however, James Robinson ingeniously retold Wanda's story in a much more in-depth way.
In 15 issues, Robinson masterfully explores Wanda's rich history and the struggles she goes through understanding her magical abilities. It's one of the great modern Scarlet Witch tales and one that everyone that wants to understand her incredibly complicated story should read.
7 Avengers #10
Most of Wanda Maximoff's most noteworthy stories come from her rich history in Avengers comics. The 10th issue of Kurt Busiek's Avengers run provides a terrific and comprehensive look at the Scarlet Witch's history in Marvel Comics and the very complex nature of her powers.
It's also one of the critical reads for anyone getting ready for WandaVision. Along with the detailed account of the Scarlet Witch, the issue can also help fans familiarize themselves with Wanda's magical mentor, Agatha Harkness. Considering the role she's set to play in the Disney+ series, it's worth getting to know a bit about her.
6 Avengers Disassembled
Wanda's consistent struggle with her abilities and often unhinged rage are both pretty common aspects of any story featuring her. One of the best storylines that most effectively details the destructive and explosive nature of her powers is Brian Michael Bendis' Avengers: Disassembled event.
One of the most important aspects of the story is the way it deals with Scarlet Witch's reality-bending abilities. Those powers are the very basis of WandaVision and beginning to understand them is no easy task. Avengers: Disassembled is the perfect introduction to the incredible extent of her powers and some of the most essential Scarlet Witch reading.
5 Avengers: Children Crusade
The several trailers for WandaVision have shown that Wanda Maximoff's mutant children, Speed, and Wiccan, are going to make some kind of appearance. Even though it'll likely just be as infants, it still clarifies that the two will join the MCU in some capacity.
For those not familiar with the two, Avengers: Children Crusade is a great place to start. Not only is it a fantastic story to help get to know the siblings, but it's an equally important story for the Scarlet Witch and understanding her relationship with her children. Considering the potential that Speed and Wiccan hold for the MCU and their likely impact on Scarlet Witch's on-screen future, it's worth getting to know their comic book history before watching WandaVision.
4 Avengers West Coast #51
In any comprehensive history of the Scarlet Witch, John Byrne's late 1980s to early 1990s run on Avengers West Coast is one of the many constants. The early stages of that historic run included a Wanda Maximoff-focused storyline known as "Darker Than Scarlet".
Starting with the 51st issue, Byrne delves deep into the madness of the Scarlet Witch after she learns the true nature of her children. It deals more with her complicated relationship with Magneto as well as the retcon of her marriage with Vision. "Darker Than Scarlet" is the clear highlight of her time playing a crucial role on the West Coast Avengers team.
3 Giant-Size Avengers #4
Steve Englehart's 1974 classic, Giant-Size Avengers #4 is essentially the culmination of the relationship between the Scarlet Witch and the Vision. It's the issue in which the two finally tie the knot after Vision saves Wanda from the Dark Dimension and the clutches of Dormammu.
With their relationship and eventual marriage set to be the biggest focus of WandaVision, it's important to understand where it all started. Giant-Size Avengers #4 serves essentially as the origin story of Wanda and Vision's time as a couple and is a must-read for anyone trying to understand their wildly complex relationship.
2 House of M
There is arguably no story more important in the comic book history of the Scarlet Witch than the 2005 House of M event. It's not only one of the must-reads for those looking to understand her history, but it's probably the comic book storyline most closely related to what fans will see in WandaVision.
After losing Vision as well as her children, Wanda is essentially driven mad; something that proves to be extremely dangerous for someone with her level of power. Just as the Disney+ series is set to showcase, House of M further explores the nature of Wanda's reality-bending powers and how she's capable of creating something like a pocket reality of her own design. For those who haven't read it yet, it's an essential read before WandaVision, and even for those that have read it before, it's honestly worth revisiting before the series is released.
1 The Vision & The Scarlet Witch
Easily the most essential read for anyone getting ready for WandaVision is the two-volume limited series from writers Bill Mantlo (Volume 1) and Steve Englehart (Volume 2) simply titled The Vision and the Scarlet Witch. After their wedding in Giant-Size Avengers #4, these two series help expand and explore the relationship between the two heroes.
Both volumes are equally as essential for understanding the characters as individuals as they are for understanding them as a married couple. The series both explore some of Wanda Maximoff's most notable storylines including her relationship with her father as well as her journey into motherhood. If there is any comic to consider reading in order to help better understand what you'll see in WandaVision, it has to be this classic title series for one of Marvel's most complex couples.