WandaVision is less than a week away. This is huge because the show launches Phase 4 of the MCU. It’s also a massive move because it means that Marvel Studios will finally give Wanda Maximoff the attention she deserves. The Internet has made it very clear that, for the most part, they believe Wanda is the most powerful Avenger, which makes it sting even more that she’s been given so little screen time in the past.
All of that changes this week when WandaVision premieres on Disney+ on Friday. Wanda Maximoff will finally be front and center in her own story. She’s the most powerful Avenger, and she’s one of my favorite Marvel characters. I’ve written other lists like this before for Natasha Romanoff and Pepper Potts. These are 5 reasons why I love the superhero and super woman that is Wanda Maximoff.
1. A New Era of the Avengers & a New Era of Fans
For me, there’s a different level of accessibility to Wanda’s story when we meet her in Avengers: Age of Ultron. I cannot fathom what it’s like to become an orphan at the age of 10 or sign up for government experimentation in the name of justice. Her trauma is her own. I can empathize with her journey in other ways.
If you do the math, Wanda is 17 or 18 years old in Age of Ultron. I, too, was 18 when Age of Ultron was released. A lot of the other superheroes seemed out of reach to me by then. I admired them and what they stood for, but I could never really picture myself in their shoes. Wanda let me see everything in the MCU from a new perspective. Wanda reaches a different group of people than the Avengers had at the point, or at least she did with me.
She made everything seem possible, even though being a superhero with superpowers like hers is impossible (for now). Teenagers are some of the most influential, powerful, outspoken people in the world — especially teenage girls. As a teenage girl, I could look to the big screen and see another girl using her powers for good. It had an effect on me then, helping me know that even I can do something to create change.
I’m privileged that Wanda isn’t the only powerful, teenage girl I could see myself represented through on the big and small screen. Representation matters. I hope that Marvel Studios continues to do better, because a lot of their upcoming projects look promising. Everyone should be able to see themselves as a hero. It stays with you.
2. Her Powers Aren’t Her Only Strength
Wanda’s powers are cool — some of the coolest in the MCU. Wanda’s powers aren’t her only strength. They’re a part of it; they’re a part of her, but they’re not all of her. Wanda’s an asset to the Avengers because of her abilities, but she also knows how important to it to fight for those who can’t protect themselves. She’s a hero because of everything she’s lived through and the work she does to choose goodness every day.
Nevertheless, Wanda’s powers are pretty badass. I don’t think I’ll ever forget watching her hold Thanos — a Titan with FIVE Infinity Stones — back with one hand while she has to kill the love of her life with the other. Avengers: Infinity War is an emotional whirlwind, but at least it gave us that. Wanda Maximoff is more powerful than even she knows, which is one of the reasons why WandaVision is going to be so fun.
3. Vulnerability Isn’t a Weakness
Wanda hasn’t had the easiest time with people in the MCU. She’s obviously closest with her brother Pietro and Vision. Wanda does have unique relationships with Clint and Steve. The movies teased a friendship between Wanda and Natasha but never really delivered. One would think Wanda would take a step away from the Avengers after losing Pietro.
Let’s not forget that a shell with Tony Stark’s name on it blew up her world when she was a child. Then her brother died fighting alongside Tony and his friends. Wanda could have easily lived a very different life than we see play out, and that would have been okay and totally understandable. However she chooses to use her powers for good. She finds another family through the Avengers by allowing herself to be vulnerable around them.
Then we see her be even more vulnerable in Captain America: Civil War when she learns that she can’t control everyone else’s fear, only her own. That’s a powerful and freeing sentiment that lets Wanda believe in herself. All of this is to say that Wanda has every reason to retreat from everything and everyone, but she doesn’t. She leans into her vulnerability after building up her trust in herself. I love that, and I carry that with me in my life.
4. Love, Loyalty, and Vision
Wanda’s heart is one of my favorite things about her. She’s fiercely loyal to the ones she loves. It should be noted female superhero’s journey shouldn’t hinge solely on their romantic relationships. The same is never expected of their male counterparts. I do believe that female superheroes who have romantic relationships shouldn’t be dismissed or called weak because of them.
That being said, there’s a nobility in Wanda fighting Thanos as a means to avenge Vision and the version of her life she lost when he snapped her out of existence. It’s noble, brave, and honest that Wanda chose to give herself so wholeheartedly to someone even though she’s been burned so many times.
Wanda’s connection to Vision is more than just romantic love to me. I would believe they did even if they weren’t supposed because Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany have great chemistry. Wanda and Vision get each other in a way that no one really can. This is mostly seen in their scenes in Captain America: Civil War. Just as Vision is trying to understand his existence and relationship to the stone, Wanda is still learning so much about herself.
They go on respective journeys of self-discovery beside each other. That love and loyalty results in an impeccably strong bond between the two of them. I believe it’s one of the strongest in the MCU.
5. Story about Control
Going off of Wanda’s relationship with Vision, it makes sense that those two escaped to Scotland for some time to themselves. Wanda has spent a lot of her life being held against her will. A lot of things have happened to Wanda, and it’s understandable that she looks for outlets to regain control of her life. I’ve written about this before in a look at what’s to come on WandaVision.
All of the reasons I listed of why I love Wanda Maximoff lead to this one. It’s because of those reasons that she’s become one of my favorite superheroes and characters ever. It’s because of those reasons that I want her to have more. It looks like she’s finally going get that on WandaVision. We’ll be lucky to watch as she, yet again, ushers in a near era of the MCU and likely new fans with it. We’ll get to see her connect with new people and learn more about herself along the way. Plus, her powers are only going to get bigger and better.
Most importantly, we’ll hopefully get to see Wanda lean into her vulnerability more, trust her heart again, and take back the reins of her narrative. The Scarlet Witch is almost here, and I can’t wait to follow her journey.
Watch WandaVision this Friday, January 15th on Disney+!
