'Scarlet Witch' First Impressions: I really enjoy the art in this one

Here I am yet again throwing out some first impressions on a comic book series into the seemingly empty world of Hive with 2024's release of Scarlet Witch. I can't say I know much about this character and it's definitely something that's very new to me, but I found some interest in the cover art that I stumbled across on Marvel's website while usually searching for something new to read. I do tend to base the interest I have in a comic book purely based on the cover art these days, and sometimes it leads to some really fun stories and inspiration panel and cover art that introduces me to new artists, but sometimes it of course leads to a few comics that just don't quite land with me. I don't mind finding things to read in this manner though, I inevitably find something that I love or something that I attempt to get through and then stop once the fatigue sets in and I realise I can't stick with it. I knew this would be something I stick with from the very first page where the pre-comic art showcased various drawings with inspiration from different time periods and cultures, showing different characters in this creative manner. This was in memory of an artist that had unfortunately passed away in 2024. I keep seeing this becoming the norm as of late, with so many comics being dedicated to artists that had sadly died at incredibly young ages. It was the art of Jeffrey Veregge with a Native American perspective.

It took me a bit of reading beforehand, but it came to my attention that Scarlet Witch was actually known as Wanda. I remembered that not long ago quite a popular television series was made based on the character under the title of WandaVision, though I never saw this, I did see it mentioned a lot and the glimpses I saw of it did speak of quite a lot of stylisation and character. It raised my expectations a little more with the comic book series which is now reaching its seventh volume. This is great for me given a lot of what I have been reading lately has been just starting off, and there's a few big breaks between the volumes that I need to fill. I've been in the mood for something a bit more related to the realm of fantasy as of late, and I think that's due to many of the comics I have been reading having a bit more of a grounded perspective, utilising the realm of superpowers but rarely anything more in the sense of fantasy creatures and styles. This is especially tiresome when it comes to reading a lot of superhero stuff that has you generally seeing the same characters here and there without much variety beyond art style. I was slightly worried that going into Scarlet Witch that this would suffer from the same fate. That I'd see the same connected universes and the same characters running around. I wanted something different. And so far this definitely feels different, even down to the idea of having different monsters and fantasy designs in its characters.

Over the first four volumes much of the story has been a bit of a fever dream with characters the sudden arrival of a rift in the sky that leads to the invasion of monsters. A few big character deaths and developments take place as Wanda is forced back into her Scarlet Witch persona, the drama that comes with it as the comic explores the fact that she varies between this attempt at being good while also being someone that could be considered evil. It has been a comic series that has been really all over the place in the narrative sense but it's a great read purely on how much is going on and how the characters feel more authentic. It's significantly darker than one would assume, and it toys with your emotions in various ways through this. Primarily in how one character immediately grabs our attention and seems good, having you question what the comic has waiting for them, only for them to get utterly obliterated in a rather horrific manner, ending with the comic having a panel that displays a really wholesome letter from him that he wrote in the past, detailing his wish to run off to the dog shelter and adopt a dog. It is quite brutal in that sense, it's cruel. But that's the kind of story I want, where it can really pull on my emotions, show me darkness, while also showing me character development in the process.

I've been really digging the art style in this though, it's incredibly vibrant and I really like the use of colour alongside the character designs. It has a level of simplicity to it yet a really nice use of form and line. I think it really suits the character and the style that almost feels psychological. Lots of shapes and colours in the panels. Wanda's death and revival is done with such creativity that it really captures the idea of her being in a death realm and having to bargain for her life back. Showing the sheer force she holds and sometimes lets back. It doesn't yet feel like that full power has been displayed yet, and I quite like that there's this slight teasing of what she's capable of so far. Though it seems like her abilities are ones that can be quite punishing even for herself. I don't know much about the character beyond this comic though. I do know that it's often met with various perceptions on reality and the question of what reality is. It might actually encourage me to take a deeper look once this comic is over, maybe check out that television series that supposedly caught a ton of attention upon its release.

It's definitely something I've been enjoying lately. It doesn't feel like a comic I'm trying to like and get into, but rather it's one that has managed to actually feel engaging in various levels. I'm surprised to see something new have such a creative art style, especially for a character that I assume is generally a bit more niche.