Warning: contains spoilers for Avengers #22Close to 20-years ago, the incomparably powerfulScarlet Witchdecimated the mutant population of Earth by declaring, “No more mutants,” a spell that haunted her for two decades. Thankfully, the Krakoan Era sawWanda Maximoff redeem herselfin the eyes of mutantkind. Still,Avengers#22sees the Scarlet Witch joking about her former status as the “Great Pretender,” confirmingshe has finally forgiven herself for her greatest sin.
The Scarlet Witch is a character withimmense traumawho has been made “crazy” many times in the past, often havingher agency taken away by the men in her life, and she is finally in a true era of healing and growth.
Avengers#22, from writer Jed MacKay and artist Farid Karami, sees the Avengers breaking into the intergalactic Speculatorium casino in an attempt to pull off a heist, withthe Scarlet Witchhilariously causing a distraction with Storm by having Ororo call her the “Great Pretender.”
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Agatha’s plans for Wanda and her new student take focus as Amaranth is revealed to have the power to take on the Scarlet Witch and Marvel magic users.
Scarlet Witch Has Finally Forgiven Herself For The Decimation
Wanda Maximoff is once again a friend to mutantkind
After Wanda Maximoff cast her infamous “No more mutants” spell, close to a million mutants lost their X-Gene, with dozens dying due to Wanda’s magic. This simple spell changed the trajectory of mutant history for years, with only 198 powered mutants remaining in Earth-616. Thankfully, during the Krakoan Era mutantkind was finally able to be reborn due to the Resurrection Protocols, but they mutants of Krakoa still knew the Scarlet Witch as the “Great Pretender,” since many thought she had “pretended” to be a mutant in her early days. During theTrial of Magnetoeventthe Scarlet Witch was finally able to redeem herself from her greatest sinby helping Krakoa create the “Waiting Room,” an astral plane where any mutant who had ever died could be resurrected through Wanda’s magic.
Scarlet Witch Gets A Shocking New Title in Marvel Comics
After a bold and very secret plan in the Trial of Magneto, the Scarlet Witch has gained a surprising new name among mutantkind despite her dark past.
After two decades, Wanda was seen as a hero by mutantkind once more, now being called the “Great Redeemer.” Wanda has continued to make up for her past mistakes in her newest era, yet it has been tough to see evidence that she really does forgive herself for the Decimation.Avengers#22 features a hilarious scene wherethe Scarlet Witch proposes to Ororo that they get into a fake fight in the Speculatorium to distract the guards from their heist. Storm and Wanda are great friends now, and she thinks it is hysterical that Wanda wants her to call herself a “real mutant” while repeatedly calling the Scarlet Witch the “Great Pretender,” instigating a major “fight” between the two.
The Decimation Is In Marvel’s Rearview Mirror
If Storm can laugh at the Decimation, then so can Wanda
The Decimation was a horrible moment in the history of Marvel Comics, but after the Krakoan Era no mutants are talking about this tragic event anymore. While some may find it distasteful that Wanda is joking about the Decimation, it was also a serious trauma for her as well, andit is lovely to see her able to make light of her past mistakes. Storm can laugh at Wanda’s self-deprecating joke, the real signal that mutantkind has moved past the Decimation, and it is so nice to see the Scarlet Witch be so close with a mutant ally.
The Decimation was no joke, but theScarlet Witchhas worked for years to redeem herself in the eyes of mutantkind andin her own eyes, and Wanda Maximoff being able to confidently joke about her former status as the “Great Pretender” is a wonderful example of growth for the beloved hero.
