The Marvel Cinematic Universe captured lightning in a bottle thanks to the introduction and slow growth of Wanda Maximoff's character. Through her grief, audiences saw her take her pain and harness it for good by embracing her title as The Scarlet Witch. However, they also saw her darker side on WandaVision when she accidentally enslaved an entire town and then willingly kept them tethered to her twisted reality. But even though she learned her lesson in the end, her next chapter would have her making mistakes that were worse and also harmful to her overall growth.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness embraced the character's dark and manipulative side but expanded it thanks to the powers of The Darkhold. While it was exciting to see a powerful and scary iteration of her character, it largely forgot the past growth she had to justify this version of her. As a result, it greatly hindered her presence in the MCU and tarnished her character. That said, the comics learned from their mistakes and introduced a run that could be the key to saving the MCU's Scarlet Witch as well.
Scarlet Witch's MCU Conflicts Mirror Those in Marvel Comics
In the comics, Wanda suffered from severe mental health issues that led her to have at least two mental breakdowns. The first came in West Coast Avengers when her children were taken from her and her mind was forced to be wiped of the memories of them. The next came in Avengers: Disassembled (by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch) where Wanda remembered the memories that were stolen from her, leading to an all-out attack on Avengers Mansion and the deaths of three Avengers. Rather than rehabilitate her, she was then taken by Magneto, and her reality-altering powers were used to create House of M. Upon learning she was used by her family she then wiped out nearly all the Mutant population's powers with three words.
Wanda spent most of her life in the comics being used, with her powers manipulated by others, then being treated by the enemy and never having the chance to heal. This was also mirrored in the MCU as Hydra, Ultron and Agatha Harkness all used her for her power in some capacity. Wanda also endured the loss of her brother, home, parents, love and eventually her children. This compounded into the grief that was brought to life on WandaVision and, from there, though she had learned to live with the pain, her use of The Darkhold corrupted her to make the same mistakes and murder to find the children that were taken from her. In short, Wanda was brought to her lowest point and, by the end, left there.
Scarlet Witch's 2023 Comic Is Perfect for a WandaVision Sequel
With Wanda Maximoff seemingly dead in the MCU, it's the perfect chance to orchestrate a rebirth both of her physical body and her character. Now aware of the choices she's made and the people she's hurt, she's more alone than ever. But just as the comics proved, there's a way for her to build back trust in herself and others and that's by helping others who have lost everything. The Scarlet Witch series by Steve Orlando and Sara Pichelli has Wanda making amends for her past by helping others who have nowhere else to turn. Thanks to a magic door in her tea shop, Wanda could help others pick themselves back up, and herself, in the process.
Though WandaVision may not have set itself up for a sequel series, it's clear that the Scarlet Witch needs a follow-up. That said, there's no better way to do this than by following episodic tales of Wanda helping those in need with her magic and kindness. Being that she was showcased as a victim of evil corruption and pain in the MCU, she can embody the same kindness her comics counterpart has. Because of this, a series that follows her at her lowest point, helping others, could be the key to saving her character and regaining her status as one of the MCU's strongest heroes instead of an enemy.