Name: Wanda
First Appearance: X-Men #4 (1964)
Affiliation: Avengers; formerly the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Powers: Hexes that cause unusual, disruptive effects.
Family: Quicksilver, her brother.
Scarlet Witch first appears among Magneto’s followers in X-Men #4, but her position in the Brotherhood is already uneasy. Magneto saved her life, leaving her with a sense of obligation to him. That debt does not mean she shares every part of his outlook, and her brother’s loyalty is directed above all toward her.
The distinction matters when the Brotherhood breaks apart in X-Men #11. Wanda and Quicksilver declare their independence from Magneto. They do not immediately choose the X-Men as a replacement: instead, they return to Europe hoping to leave the fighting behind.
The Avengers offer another possibility. In Avengers #16, Wanda joins the changing roster alongside Quicksilver and Hawkeye, with Captain America remaining to lead them. Her place on the team gives her a chance to act without Magneto directing her choices.
Her hex power adds something different to a group that also relies on speed, arrows, and physical skill. In Avengers #18, that power is crucial to overcoming the Commissar. Wanda moves from being endangered during the mission to helping decide its outcome. Her contribution makes clear that the new Avengers need her abilities, not merely her presence.
These reviewed appearances trace a relatively short but important change: an uncomfortable member of an enemy organization becomes a hero with a team of her own choosing. Her relationship with Quicksilver continues across that change, but her actions as an Avenger also establish her individual role. Her story here concerns that developing independence and the practical use of her hexes, without requiring answers about a larger family history.
Selected Reviewed Appearances
Coverage: based on reviews published on Reviewing Comics as of October 23, 2026.
