Sigh. This time last week I would have been tuning in to the latest episode of Wandavision. Alas, it has come to an end. Where to get my fill of Wanda and Vision now? Well, the answer is obvious. Comics!
I loved Wandavision very much. I spent the past several weeks pulling out comics from my boxes that Wandavision brought to mind. My nightstand has been a stack of Vision and Scarlet Witch comics constantly on the verge of tipping over. I thought it would be fun to share what I’ve been reading and more.
I’d like to give you an overview of the history of Vision and Scarlet Witch in the comics, point out some of the stories which seemed like direct influences on Wandavision, and make some recommendations of what you can read if you are craving more of Wanda and Vision.
The history of these characters can actually be quite convoluted. I’m not inclined to spare you any details.
HOWEVER, we will not be attempting to understand Wanda’s powers today. That… will have to wait for another day.
Due to its length, this post is broken into 5 pages:
- Origins: The introduction of Wanda and Vision. (1939-70)
- Love story: Wanda and Vision meet, fall in love, and get married. (1970-75)
- Family: Wanda and Vision deal with their extended family, buy a house in the suburbs, and grow their family. (1976-86)
- Things fall apart: Wanda and Vision find there is no happily ever after. Plus: Jimmy Woo, Monica Rambeau, and SWORD. (1989-2017)
- Reading recommendations: Comics suggested for fans of Wandavision.
The Golden Age
In some sense, the history of these characters goes all the way back to Marvel’s beginnings. In Marvel Comics #1 (Carl Burgos, 1939), Professor Phineas Thomas Horton (be sure to make note of the middle name) created an artificial human, an android, that happened to burst into flame. He came to be known as the Human Torch. He had many adventures through the 1940s and 1950s, battling crooks and spies and fighting alongside the Allied Forces. By the 1960s, he seemed to have disappeared, and a teenager named Johnny Storm who had gained similar powers through cosmic rays adopted the name Human Torch.
The Whizzer was super-speedster Robert Frank, introduced in USA Comics #1 (Al Avison, 1941). He got his super powers from an infusion of mongoose blood, as one does.
An experimental machine gives teenager Madeline Joyce super powers and she becomes Miss America! (Marvel Mystery Comics #49, Otto Binder & Al Gabriele, 1943)
These three heroes teamed up with Captain America and Sub-Mariner to form the All-Winners Squad. Their first battle was against the villainous Ibisa. At this point, I must recommend that you take good notes. (All-Winners Comics #19, Bill Finger & Syd Shores, 1946)
Long before the android Avenger was introduced, Marvel’s original Vision was Aarkus, destroyer of evil, an interdimensional visitor to our world. (Marvel Mystery Comics #13, Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, 1940)
The Evil Mutants
In X-Men #4 (Stan Lee & Kirby, 1964), Magneto assembled a team of Evil Mutants to aid in his plans to conquer the world so that Homo superior would rule over Homo sapien. The assembled team included the sycophantic Toad, the cruel Mastermind, and two siblings, Pietro and Wanda, also known as Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Their evil plans were often thwarted by the X-Men.
Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch seemed less evil than the rest. They remained with Magneto for their own reasons. Partly it was fear of a world that didn’t understand them, and partly it was a matter of honor. Magneto had once saved Wanda’s life from a mob that planned to kill her because of her powers. She felt she owed him a debt, and so worked for Magneto to fulfill that debt. Pietro stayed only because he wouldn’t leave his sister’s side.
They attempted to leave Magneto’s service in Strange Tales #128 (Lee & Dick Ayers, 1964). They sought the aid of the Fantastic Four, but a misunderstanding led to a battle, and they saw no alternative but to return to Magneto.
Only when Magneto was captured and taken into deep space by the enigmatic Stranger did the twins finally feel free of him. (X-Men #11, Lee & Kirby, 1965)
The Avengers
In Avengers #9 (Lee & Kirby, 1964), Zemo grants incredible powers to Simon Williams so that he can join the Masters of Evil and destroy the Avengers. Going by Wonder Man, Williams joins the Avengers as a ruse, but is soon impressed enough by their honor that he ultimately betrays Zemo to help them, sacrificing his own life in the process.
In Avengers #16 (Lee & Kirby, 1965), the original Avengers needed to disperse for personal reasons. Captain America would be the last Avenger. Wanting to keep the mantle alive, they recruited new Avengers, choosing recently reformed super-villains seeking a chance to prove themselves: Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch.
In Avengers #47-49 (Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and George Tuska, 1967-68), Magneto returned to Earth and sought to re-form his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, capturing Wanda and Pietro to that end. We get a more detailed look at the story of Magneto rescuing Wanda and Pietro from a mob.
Magneto has sworn off his plans of world domination and now seeks only to establish a mutant homeland where they can be safe from fear. When Magneto makes his demands to the United Nations, a battle ensues and a police officer’s bullet hits Wanda in the head. Enraged again at humanity, Quicksilver decides to rejoin Magneto and takes his injured and brain-damaged sister with him. He then stands with Magneto against both the X-Men and Avengers.
Around the same time, the Avengers battle the Grim Reaper, who is revealed to be Eric Williams, brother to Wonder Man, bent on revenge. (Avengers #52, Thomas & J. Buscema, 1968)
Ultron and the Vision
In Avengers #54-55 (Thomas & J. Buscema, 1968), the Avengers battle the Masters of Evil, headed by the mysterious Crimson Cowl. After some misdirection, the Crimson Cowl is revealed to be a robot named Ultron.
We come to one of my all-time favorite comic stories, Avengers #57-58 (Thomas & J. Buscema, 1968).
In Avengers #57, we meet the Vision, a synthozoid with the power to change his density. Created by Ultron, he has been programmed to destroy the Avengers.
Wasp gives him his name.
Hank Pym, aka Goliath, scans the Vision and determines he is every inch a human being, though all his organs are synthetic. Vision notes he has human thoughts and memories, but also hidden programming, and he is confused as to who or what he is. He is powered by the sun, a walking solar battery.
In the end, Vision overcomes his programming and destroys Ultron.
Issue 57 ends with an iconic final page.
In Avengers #58, the Avengers consider admitting Vision to their ranks. Let’s check out a couple pages showcasing the burgeoning ranks of those proud to be called Avengers (plus a few valued allies).
We learn Hank Pym’s studies of the robotic Dragon Man had allowed him to construct his own robot, Ultron. Ultron viewed Pym as a father, but turned on him and tampered with his memories.
We also learn that after Wonder Man’s death in Avengers #9, Hank Pym couldn’t save his body, but did record his brain patterns, artificially preserving his mind. Ultron stole those brain patterns and used them for the Vision. Thus Vision’s mind is a copy of Wonder Man’s.
Issue 58 ends with an even more iconic final page, after the Avengers accept Vision for who and what he is and grant him membership.
Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Girl of the Fantastic Four needed a governness for their baby son Franklin. They choose Agatha Harkness, who lives in a strange house atop Whisper Hill with her black cat Ebony. When the Frightful Four attack, there is no need for the Fantastic Four to help. Harkness is apparently a witch with magical powers able to handle the situation just fine. (Fantastic Four #94, Lee & Kirby, 1970)
Click through to Page 2 to see how Wanda and Vision met and fell in love.
