Marvel Studios’Agatha All Alongseries has brought Billy Maximoff’s Wiccan back to theMCU, and he has already shown off abilities that rival those of his superpowered mother, Wanda Maximoff’sScarlet Witch. The reintroduction of Billy Maximoff in the MCU’s Phase 5 has spurred popular theories that theScarlet Witch will also soon be returning, despite her confirmed death inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Prior to her demise, the Scarlet Witch was one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, so her possible reprisal is very exciting.
Joe Locke’s appearance asBilly Maximoff inAgatha All Alonghas instantly drawn comparisons to Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. With similar abilities, it’s hard to deduce which magical hero might be the more powerful of the two. In the MCU,Wanda Maximoff’s powers seem to be innate, but enhanced by exposure to the Mind Stone, while Wiccan’s abilities appear to be entirely physiological. It seems likely theScarlet Witch and Wiccan will reuniteat some point in the MCU’s future, which would be a significant, powerful and exciting pairing.
Scarlet Witch’s Powers Have Increased Massively Since Her MCU Debut
Elizabeth Olsen Debuted As Wanda Maximoff In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Elizabeth Olsen made her first appearance in the MCU in the post-credits scene of 2014’sCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, revealed to be one of the subjects ofHYDRA’s “Miracle” experiments in Sokovia. In her debut appearance, Wanda Maximoff was seen using her magic on small boxes, though she showed off more abilities in 2015’sAvengers: Age of Ultron, including mind manipulation, telekinesis and energy projection.In the decade since her debut, Wanda Maximoff’s powers have only increased exponentially, almost becoming limitless.
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
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Avengers: Infinity Warmarked a huge step forward for Wanda Maximoff, as she demonstrated the power to destroy an Infinity Stone. 2021’sWandaVisionsaw this move leaps and bounds, however, asshe constructed an entirely fabricated world inside a hexagon-shaped barrier surrounding Westview, New Jersey, and played out sitcom style scenarios in different decades within the walls of the Hex. Battling Salem witch Agatha Harkness allowedWanda Maximoff to transform into the Scarlet Witch, and culminated in her stealing the powerful Darkhold.
Claiming the Book of the Damned meant that the Scarlet Witch was able to peer through the multiverse in 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and even dream-walk into her variants' bodies. In the MCU’s Phase 4,Wanda Maximoff learned of her significance as the Scarlet Witch, as she was prophesied to either rule or destroy the world, and had power rivaling that of the Sorcerer Supreme. This prophecy had persisted for centuries, and will likely still be in effect should the Scarlet Witch return despite her tragic death in theDarkhold Castle on Mount Wundagore.
Wiccan Has Already Shown Off Impressive Powers In The MCU
Wiccan Was Introduced To The MCU In WandaVision
Initially portrayed by Julian Hilliard inWandaVision,Billy Maximoff is the son of the Scarlet Witch and Vision who was created through Wanda’s use of magic inside the Westview Hex. Billy was born alongside his twin brother, Tommy, inWandaVisionepisode 3, “Now in Color,” and magically aged to ten-years-old during the 1980s-set episode 5, “On a Very Special Episode…,” to be allowed to keep their new dog, Sparky. As a ten-year-old, Billy began to exhibit some magical powers, though his magic is blue instead of his mother’s red.
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Joe Locke
InWandaVision,Billy Maximoff was able to read the minds of those around him, and could use his magic to stop bullets and even bring his speedster brother to a halt. However, he ceased to exist when the Scarlet Witch brought down the Westview Hex, leaving his future uncertain.Agatha All Alongepisode 6, “Familiar By Thy Side,” revealed that Billy Maximoff’s soul had entered the body of the recently-deceased William Kaplan, allowing him to live on. This unfortunately wiped his memories of both William Kaplan and Billy Maximoff.
Where Is Scarlet Witch’s Other Son, Tommy Maximoff?
Agatha All Along has confirmed the return of Billy Maximoff, but the Scarlet Witch’s other son, speedster Tommy, is yet to return to the MCU.
Now portrayed by Joe Locke, Billy Maximoff revealed himself inAgatha All Alongepisode 5, “Darkest Hour, Wake Thy Power.” This saw “Teen” control the minds ofpowerful witches Lilia Calderu and Jennifer Kaleand force them to throw Agatha Harkness off the Witches' Road, and he used his magic to launch Lilia and Jennifer off the Road, too.Agatha All Along’sBilly Maximoff hasn’t shown off a lot of his power, but breaking a spell cast by the Scarlet Witch in the series' premiere was a strong start, and it’s surely only going to improve from there.
Scarlet Witch & Wiccan Have Similar Abilities In Marvel Comics
Scarlet Witch & Wiccan Both Have Magical Powers
The Scarlet Witch is, just like in the MCU, one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe of the comics. For decades,she was depicted as the mutant daughter of iconic X-Men villain Magneto, but this was retconned in 2015, makingWanda and Pietro Maximoffsubjects of genetic experiments by the High Evolutionary, while Wanda was also born a witch. She is described as a Nexus Being, with the ability to manipulate probability, possibility and freedom. She also has access to Chaos Magic, which gifts her reality warping abilities, enhancing her natural witchcraft powers.
The Scarlet Witch was introduced to Marvel Comics in 1964’sThe X-Men #4, followed by Billy Maximoff in 1986’sThe Vision and the Scarlet Witch #12. Billy was reabsorbed by Mephisto shortly after his debut, but was reincarnated as Billy Kaplan in 2005’sYoung Avengers #1.
To name a few, she can intuitively cast spells, teleport, use telepathy and telekinesis, cast illusions, project and absorb energy and manipulate time. As her reincarnated son,Billy Kaplan’s Wiccanharbors many of these same powers. He is able to manipulate reality at will, and has command over the natural elements, while he is also a gifted spell-caster and has the potential to transform into the godly Demiurge, though this state is very rare. Aside from when he is the Demiurge,the Scarlet Witch is clearly more powerful than Wiccan in Marvel Comics.
Scarlet Witch & Wiccan Both Have The Same Weakness In The MCU
Both Scarlet Witch & Wiccan Are Flawed
While both the Scarlet Witch and Wiccan have displayed some impressive abilities throughout their careers in the MCU, they have also both shown that they have exactly the same weaknesses, too, proving the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Namely, neither Wanda nor Billy Maximoff can fully control their abilities, so their attempts to harness the full scope of their powers have often led to tragedy.For Wiccan, it seems he can only use his magic when feeling sheer anger and rage, but doesn’t have access to it when calm and considered.
I’m Even Madder About The Scarlet Witch’s Multiversal Crimes After Agatha’s Latest Reveal
Agatha All Along has completely changed how I view Wanda’s story from Doctor Strange 2, specifically via the reveals about Billy Maximoff.
This is similar for Wanda Maximoff, as she has shown some of her greatest feats of power when feeling pure emotion and distress. Most notably,the Scarlet Witch erected the Hex around Westview without meaning to, with unbridled energy emanating from her which was rooted in her griefafter losing Vision inAvengers: Infinity War. TheDarkhold helped the Scarlet Witchlearn more about the full range of her powers, but corrupted her, too, and there is surely still a lot of untapped power living inside her that could be seen if she returns to the MCU.
Who Is More Powerful In The MCU, Scarlet Witch Or Wiccan?
It’s Hard To Compare The Scarlet Witch & Wiccan
It’s tough to deduce whether the Scarlet Witch or Wiccan is more powerful in the MCU, especially sinceWanda Maximoff has been in the MCUfor a decade, while Billy Maximoff has only had two brief appearances in live-action over three years.The Scarlet Witch has had more opportunities to display some of her most impressive gifts, including her intuitive witchcraft, reality warping, mental manipulation and dream-walking. It seems unfair to compare Wiccan, who’s only demonstrated his powers a few times, to his superpowered mother.
Elizabeth Olsen has been heavily rumored to be returning to the MCU, despite Wanda Maximoff’s emotional sacrifice at the end ofDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The Scarlet Witch returned after apparently dying in Marvel Comics, so there is precedence for this to happen in the MCU, too.
It seems that Wiccan has the potential to become as powerful, if not more powerful, than the Scarlet Witch.He has already proven himself capable of reading minds and emotions, controlling minds from great distances away, and harboring strong telekinetic gifts. As he continues to grow and develop his repertoire afterAgatha All Along, perhaps among theMCU’s Young Avengers team,Wiccancould gain the power to rival that of theScarlet Witch. Of course, Wanda Maximoff’s return to the MCU will change the franchise’s power hierarchy again, as her power is almost incomprehensible.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
