In this column, I will spotlight plotlines by writers that probably weren't a good idea at the time and have only become more problematic in retrospect. I'll try to stick with stuff that's more ill-conceived than flat-out offensive (like racist stereotypes of characters during the 1940s).

Today, we take a look at the relationship between Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, which got too close for anyone's comfort during the third volume of The Ultimates...

Right from their first appearance in X-Men #4 (by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Paul Reinman), the defining characteristic for the Scsrlet Witch and Quicksilver was how close the two siblings were, with Quicksilver constantly defending his sister...

When Mark Millar brought them over into the Ultimate X-Men when he launched that series in 2001, he kept that relationship, although you could argue he was subtly suggesting an even closer relationship...

And then when he brought them over to the Ultimates, he went even further...

Including the cover to Ultimates #8, by Bryan Hitch...

Here's the thing, though. You can argue that it was being SUGGESTED by Millar, but he kept it extremely subtle.

Then we come to Ultimates 3 #1 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira...

later in the issue, when Scarlet Witch is shot and killed..

And then, finally, in Ultimates 3 #3, when Wolverine explains their back story to the other Ultimates...

I think it was a mistake to make explicit something that was at BEST implicit previously.

I understand that this is the Ultimate Universe and that the characters can be their own characters without any direct connection to the Marvel Universe version of said character, so it is not like the regular Marvel Universe versions of the characters were revealed to have a physical romantic relationship and really, EVERYthing is up for grabs when it comes to Ultimate Universe characterization, but at the same time, I just don't see this particular move worked as a character point for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. So I think it was not a good call, but what do you folks think?

Plus, feel free to send in ideas for other "things that turned out bad" to bcronin@comicbookresources.com!