The Scarlet Witch's new series is about to begin, and fresh official art showcases her latest costume update. Heavily influenced by her 2022 Hellfire Gala outfit, Wanda Maximoff's new look signals a hopeful direction for the hero going forward. Between the resolutions of last year's Trial of Magneto and Darkhold stories, Scarlet Witch seems to finally be free of the past traumas that have held her back as a character. The debut of a new solo series and costume is a perfect way to reintroduce Wanda to the larger world of Marvel after this period of change and growth.
Wanda's new costume is an altered take on her attire from this summer's Hellfire Gala. She's not the first hero to use the event as a testing ground for new costumes. Notably, the X-Men's Jean Grey retired her Marvel Girl outfit in favor of a modified take on her formal wear for the inaugural Hellfire Gala. Social events and Halloween parties can be a special ground for test-driving a new presentation of self, whether that's in terms of gender identity or an evolution in self perception. Similarly, a superhero's costume can speak volumes about a how a character understands themself in the context of their own larger narrative. Taken together, auditioning a new costume at the Hellfire Gala is a great way for Scarlet Witch to celebrate her current sense of self with readers and her peers in the superhero community.
Just last week, cover artist for the new Scarlet Witch solo series Russell Dauterman shared new design art with Wanda's updated costume. Dauterman also designed Wanda's Hellfire Gala ensemble this year, and the majority of the outfit remains the same. Notably in addition to her typical power signature, Wanda's own hair ombrés out into a starry design when she's using her abilities to match her skirt. The revisions on the Hellfire redesign mainly aim to streamline her outfit for superheroics: Scarlet Witch's crown returns to a single piece as opposed to a delicate work of jewelry, she's wearing fewer rings, and her heel is shortened to a more sensible length. It's still a gorgeous costume, but now one that's more sustainable for the level of work put on monthly comic artists.
Scarlet Witch's Look Reflects Her New Era.
For nearly 15 years following her role in Avengers: Disassembled and House of M, Wanda Maximoff has been an irredeemable character to many readers. Even when her own mental illness is not written to interfere with her superheroics, Scarlet Witch has been perennially plagued by the elder god and somewhat obscure character Chthon. Arguably, these aspects of Wanda's history made it hard to take her narrative in an innovative new direction. Scarlet Witch's romance with Brother Voodoo seeded Wanda's desire to move forward, and two key stories last year brought this to fruition. Trial of Magneto ultimately ended up being a story about Max and Wanda collaborating as she atoned for the Decimation in a fulfilling manner. Likewise, last year's mini event Darkhold saw Scarlet Witch finding a solution for her ties to Chthon. Having made peace with mutantkind and a sense of finality around her new entrapment of Chthon, Wanda's new costume has come at the perfect time narratively.
The solicit for January's Scarlet Witch #1 promises that, "Wanda Maximoff is familiar with hitting rock bottom – and now that she’s finally found peace, she’s pledged all her power to help others who are languishing at their lowest." She does not have to pretend like her past mistakes and losses never happened, but she's in a place now where she's truly able to move forward and help others. It's only fitting that Scarlet Witch gets a costume update to help visually mark the transition into her new era. Enchanting and ethereal, Scarlet Witch's new costume shines in this new art ahead of her upcoming solo book.
Scarlet Witch #1 will be available from Marvel Comics on January 4, 2023.
Source: Russell Dauterman.