Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch, born Wanda Maximoff, is a mutant hero known for what seems to be a mastery of magic, including pyro- and telekinesis. She is the sister of Pietro Maximoff, better known as Quicksilver, and both are members of the Avengers. The two had previously been members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants led by Magneto, who rescued them from anti-mutant prejudice as children. Though they felt a responsibility to Magneto, over time his anti-human zealotry wore thin, and they left the Brotherhood. Shortly thereafter, eager to prove their valor, the Maximoffs joined the heroic Avengers, forming a largely new version of the team alongside Hawkeye and leader Captain America.
Biography
Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
In their youth, Wanda and Pietro were rescued from their village in central Europe by Magneto after Wanda's powers were met with fear and revulsion by the townsfolk. Around early 1964, Magneto formed the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, a group designed to oppose the heroic X-Men and advance his "homo superior" agenda. Magneto had been defeated by the X-Men for the first time a few months prior to the Brotherhood's formation. The Maximoffs were among the original members, along with Magneto, Toad, and Mastermind. The siblings soon found themselves in a difficult position, as they realized that Magneto was readily willing to murder innocents to advance his agenda, which they did not agree with, but they felt nonetheless indebted to Magneto for saving them. For the remainder of the year, the Brotherhood enacted a number of schemes, all of which were foiled by the X-Men. They invaded the country of Santo Marco;[1] kidnapped the X-Man Angel;[2] and failed to recruit a number of people, namely Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Blob, Thor, and Unus the Untouchable.[3][4][5][6]
The Maximoffs grew ever more frustrated with their place at Magneto's side, but they knew that they wouldn't be able to escape his clutches without reprisal. They decided to contact the Fantastic Four for assistance, but upon arriving at the team's Baxter Building headquarters, the siblings were attacked by the Thing and the Human Torch. The Maximoffs fled after a brief battle, frustrated that the humans would attack them without provocation.[7] Some time later, the Brotherhood attempted to recruit an alien whom they thought was a mutant known as the Stranger. Stranger wasn't entirely receptive however, and petrified Mastermind with a powerful laser beam. The X-Men intervened, and Iceman completely froze Quicksilver during the ensuing fight. Stranger, Magneto, and Toad fled together, while Wanda stayed to check on her brother. Cyclops melted Pietro free, and the siblings declared that they were finished serving Magneto: their life-debt to him had by now been repaid "many times over." Cyclops asked them to join the X-Men, but they decided to return home to Europe, weary of the endless battles between mutants. Shortly afterward, the Stranger abducted Magneto and Toad into space, effectively putting an end to the Brotherhood for the time being. The X-Men took Mastermind back to their base and maintained control of his petrified form.[8]
The Avengers
The twins lived for a short time in a snowy chalet in Switzerland before learning that the Avengers were accepting applications from interested heroes: Iron Man, Giant-Man, and Wasp sought a leave of absence, but needed to find their own replacements on the way out. The Maximoffs were accepted alongside the archer Hawkeye, another reformed villain, and the three were publically introduced alongside the team's new leader Captain America.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ The X-Men #4: "The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants!" (March 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Reinman, Paul (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ The X-Men #5: "Trapped: One X-Man!" (May 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Reinman, Paul (i), Rosen, Sam (let).
- ↑ The X-Men #6: "Sub-Mariner Joins the Evil Mutants." (July 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Rosen, Sam (let).
- ↑ The X-Men #7: "The Return of the Blob." (September 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ Journey into Mystery #109a: "When Magneto Strikes!" (October 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Rosen, Sam (let).
- ↑ The X-Men #8: "Unus, the Untouchable!" (November 1964) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Rosen, Sam (let).
- ↑ Strange Tales #128a: "Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch." (January 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Ayers, Dick (p), Ray, Frank (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ The X-Men #11: "The Triumph of Magneto!" (May 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Stone, Chic (i), Simek, Artie (let).
- ↑ The Avengers #16: "The Old Order Changeth!" (May 1965) Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Ayers, Dick (i), Simek, Artie (let).