How Wanda Maximoff became Marvel’s most tragic character

Wanda Maximoff — aka the Scarlet Witch — takes up a strong and emotional position in the Marvel universe. Her story is not just about powers. It is about loss, suffering, and attempting to determine where she belongs. That’s what makes her one of the most tragic and complex characters Marvel has ever produced.

Wanda Maximoff first appeared in X-Men #4 in 1964. She was created by two Marvel legends, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, alongside her twin brother Pietro (Quicksilver). They were introduced at the time as reluctant antagonists, serving with Magneto in his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

At that time, Wanda's abilities were fairly straightforward: She could manipulate probability. Essentially, she would place "hexes" that caused bad fortune to occur, such as guns jamming or igniting objects spontaneously. It was a good concept, but her powers evolved over time.

By the 1980s, Marvel redefined Wanda Maximoff as something grander: An incredibly powerful sorceress capable of wielding chaos magic and even altering reality. That transformation made her one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, from a previously relegated side character.

Wanda's history has been rewritten numerous times. Initially, she and Pietro were simply children whose parents were unknown. Subsequently, Marvel stated their parents were older-style heroes — the Whizzer and Miss America. Next, they became Magneto and Magda's children, and that endured for a long time.

But more recent comics rewrote it again. Now, Wanda is the daughter of Natalya Maximoff, a Romani sorceress who briefly was Scarlet Witch herself. Wanda's magical abilities were augmented by the High Evolutionary, a cosmic-level genetic fiddler. Her Romani roots, her fluid family connections, and the enigma surrounding her identity are all large aspects of who she is.

Her life is full of themes such as loss, heritage, and determining where you truly belong. Wanda was not a villain for long. She became an Avenger and one of the most significant on the team, leading spin-off teams like the West Coast Avengers and Force Works.

Wanda Maximoff also enjoyed one of Marvel's most peculiar romance stories — marrying the android Vision. They magically conceived twin sons, Billy and Tommy. But, as you would imagine in comics, happiness didn't last long. She lost her kids. Vision was emotionally erased. And Wanda's sorrow was pushed to its limits. That resulted in some of the most over-the-top Marvel storylines ever, such as Avengers: Disassembled and House of M, where Wanda's abilities and sorrow literally reshaped the entire world.

What is unique about Wanda's story compared to most Marvel superheroes is that she never actually gets her happy ending. Other characters have their downtime or redemption. Wanda does not. Her suffering continues to accumulate. Her narrative is not about "getting over it" — it's about how trauma can define the entire life of a person. Every decision she makes is rooted in that pain.

From a war-torn kid to an Avenger, to the Scarlet Witch — Maximoff's path is one of sorrow and strife. She lost everything, and despite all her abilities, healing never really comes without a fight. Her life reminds us just how far pain runs, and how difficult it is to keep at bay when we attempt to flee from it.

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Wanda Maximoff's childhood: Defined by war and loss

Wanda Maximoff was born in 1989 in Sokovia, a war-torn country. She had a twin brother named Pietro. Their life was difficult, and it became worse when the house was attacked by a missile. Their parents died, and the twins were buried under the rubble for two days.

The missile bore the Stark Industries logo — Tony Stark's company. This led Wanda and Pietro to blame him for their suffering. That one incident reshaped Wanda's understanding of the world. She not only survived — she carried this trauma with her for the rest of her life.

There is one fact we find out later: Wanda might have unconsciously employed her magic to save herself and Pietro from a second missile. This was the initial indication of the immense chaos magic within her.

Wanda and Pietro joined Hydra's covert program when they were older. They sought the power to retaliate against the individuals and institutions that had destroyed their family.

Hydra subjected them to the Mind Stone, giving them new powers. Wanda was able to move objects around with her mind, read minds, and emit energy blasts. But these powers came with a cost. The experiences of the experiments and the stress of being "different" further isolated Wanda Maximoff.

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Becoming an Avenger… and losing more

Wanda Maximoff began as the Avengers' foe. She was in league with Ultron to destroy Tony Stark. But when she realized Ultron's sinister plan — to eliminate human beings — she defected from her enemy role and became part of the Avengers.

That choice came at a terrible price. Her brother Pietro sacrificed himself to save others in the Battle of Sokovia. Losing him was heartbreaking. The twins were very close, even having a psychic connection. When Pietro passed away, Wanda unleashed a burst of energy that killed all the surrounding enemy combatants. But she was broken inside.

Among the Avengers, Wanda felt comfortable with Vision. He was peaceful, gentle, and loved her deeply. Their bond turned into love. Wanda felt peaceful for a moment.

But that peace was not meant to be. In Avengers: Infinity War, Wanda was forced to murder Vision to save the Mind Stone from Thanos. However, Thanos turned back time, restored Vision, and murdered him again, before her eyes. It was brutal. Her sacrifice counted for nothing. And it shattered her.

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WandaVision: A grief-filled fantasy

Wanda Maximoff's agony finally burst out in WandaVision. She fabricated an alternate reality in a quaint town called Westview. There, Vision was alive. They had twin sons — Billy and Tommy. Everything appeared to be a cheerful sitcom.

But none of it was real.

Wanda had inadvertently trapped the entire town in her fantasy world. The residents were trapped, living in her purview. They experienced her melancholy, her fear, her rage. And they couldn't get away.

This wasn't a matter of being evil — this was a matter of sorrow. Wanda Maximoff couldn't cope with the hurt, so she made a reality where nothing went wrong. Yet that reality harmed others, even though she did not do it consciously.

Wanda's behavior in Westview is difficult to deal with. She is obviously a victim of great personal tragedy. But at the same time, she inflicted harm on innocent human beings.

So, is she evil? Or simply someone who is horribly wounded and lost?

Some feel she should be forgiven. Others believe that power brings responsibility, and she needs to be held accountable. The reality is, Wanda Maximoff exists in that grey. That's the reason why her story feels so true.

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Becoming the Scarlet Witch

By the end of WandaVision, Wanda finally discovers who she truly is: The Scarlet Witch. As a result of a prophecy, this powerful entity might save or destroy the world.

A witch named Agatha Harkness assists Wanda Maximoff in discovering her own true powers — chaos magic. But with this revelation comes both the thrill and fear. Wanda knows now how powerful she is… and how dangerous she can also be.

Following Westview, Wanda discovers a book called Darkhold. It is filled with dark, forbidden magic. The book gradually transforms her into a more demented person who is more fixated on regaining her children, even though they never existed in this reality.

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda will go to any length to discover versions of her children in other worlds. Her quest becomes brutal. She murders members of the Illuminati. She attempts to steal America Chavez's abilities. All for the sake of spending time with her kids again.

Ultimately, Wanda does see her children in another dimension. But they fear her. To them, she isn't a mother — she is a monster.

That’s the moment that breaks through her pain. She recognizes what she has turned into. Guilt-ridden, Wanda destroys the Darkhold and topples the mountain upon which it was stored. She vanishes beneath the rubble, possibly dying — but it's also how she ends the damage she did.

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Why does Wanda Maximoff's story feel so real?

Wanda's story is painful. She loses everyone she cares about — her parents, her brother, her partner, and her children. And each time, she is compelled to make impossible decisions. Other heroes don't have to make those kinds of choices. She doesn't receive closure or peace like they do.

Her abilities also make things more difficult. They alienate her. Other people are afraid of her. And whenever she attempts to utilize magic to make her life better, things become worse.

But that's what makes Wanda's story so unique. It's not a superhero tale but a human one. It's about how pain can consume us. How humans handle sorrow. And how even the strongest of us can shatter when we try to bear too much.