Marvel "confirms" MCU icon will return from the dead

The number one rule of comic books is that nobody stays dead (unless you're, well, you know, those few unfortunate characters that never do). Thanks to the Multiverse Saga, that appears to be the case in the Marvel Cinematic Universe too, as the franchise has come up with some unique ways to bring back some previously dearly departed characters. Now, fans are convinced that they've done it again.

In 2022, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was released in theaters and it ended with the apparent death of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch. Most people (this writer included) didn’t believe that she died. As weird as it is to say, tons of rocks falling on her isn’t enough to keep Wanda down because she's the most powerful being in the whole universe (remember, the Scarlet Witch's power knows no limits). And since Elizabeth Olsen hasn’t confirmed or denied if she’s returning to the MCU, the door to her return remains open. That said, the internet has recently went into meltdown over the possibility that Marvel Comics may have randomly revealed Wanda’s fate in TVA No. 3.

Back in July of 2024, Loki writer Katharyn Blair announced that she would be writing a Marvel comic book called TVA and it would connect both the MCU and the world of comics. Issues Nos. 1 and 2 of TVA made good on that promise with the comic book debuts of B-15, Mobius, and Sylvie, all of whom first appeared in Disney Plus' Loki show. The TVA comic book series started with the Time Variance Authority attempting to rebrand itself. Interrupting that goal is a mysterious sickness that leads people to go mad and see the TVA even though they’ve never been there. All the while, Ghost-Spider (a.k.a. Spider-Gwen of Earth-65) is having visions of a place under the TVA’s R&A and someone tries to kill Mobius.

In issue No. 3, James Hudson of the former Ultimate Universe is accused of attacking Mobius. No one believes it, but he’s the only suspect and B-15 is trying to make the company more legit. The only way to do that is to treat everyone equally. Thankfully, his teammates haven't given up on him. Despite B-15 telling everyone to stay put, Gwen follows the path her dreams have shown her. That's when she discovers a lab with none other than the Scarlet Witch unconscious inside a sealed container.

It’s one thing to say you’ll connect two universes and throw in beloved characters from Loki and Marvel Comics’ heroes like Ghost-Spider and James Hudson. It’s another to bring in The Scarlet Witch, especially when there has been such speculation about her fate in the MCU. Wanda became one of the most popular superhero movie characters almost immediately with her debut appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron. WandaVision and Doctor Strange 2 amplified her popularity, allowing her to achieve her full potential as the Scarlet Witch. But the question mark surrounding the character's demise has slowed that momentum, but increased her popularity as fans continue to await her eventual return.

So here's the big question: Is this really the MCU's Scarlet Witch? Interestingly, artist Pere Perez originally claimed that it was indeed the version of Wanda Maximoff that we met in the movies, but he has now posted a new statement saying that this is actually a variant of the MCU and not the exact version that Elizabeth Olsen played, adding that the next issue will reveal more information, closing out with "MCU and Marvel Comics are not the same thing."

The Scarlet Witch's comic book "return"

Naturally, fans aren't sure what to believe. Despite the similarities, there is no guarantee that this is the MCU’s Scarlet Witch. Sure, her costume is exactly the same and it would make sense that the TVA grabbed her after the damage she caused around the multiverse. But, let’s not get our hopes up. It’s an infinite multiverse. This could be a Wanda Maximoff who retired from sorcery. However, Occam's razor suggests it’s her and I’m here for it. It’s not as if she couldn’t escape from The Void.

There's one noticeably important element that suggests this could be the MCU's Wanda, and that's the dark fingers. Any sorcerer who wields the dark powers of the Darkhold develops those darkened fingers, which highlight the corrupt nature of that magic. Agatha Harkness had them in WandaVision (and seemingly succeeded as the only person to successfully wield it as she was corrupt to begin with), and Doctor Strange had them in Multiverse of Madness. And, of course, so did Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda when she infamously allowed herself to be corrupted by its power on her rampage before she sacrificed herself and destroyed all copies of the Darkhold across the multiverse.

So now we have a Wanda in the exact same suit, with the exact same dark fingers, trapped in the only organization that likely could have rescued her from impending doom and imprisoned her for her crimes against the multiverse in a place that not even Doctor Strange can find. Yes, you can see why fans are thrilled at the prospect, because there is a lot to suggest that this is the MCU's Scarlet Witch. And if it is, it confirms that Wanda isn't dead, and will return someday.

Potentially bringing her back in the comics is a smart way to let people know she’s still around. It could also bridge the gap to her rumored return in Avengers: Doomsday. And if it really is the MCU's Wanda, it confirms that she wasn't crushed to death in Multiverse of Madness. Plus, if she never steps foot in the MCU again, she’ll be in the comics.

We'll have to wait and see if the Wanda in TVA turns out be the MCU's version, but - canon or not - there is no denying that this series of events once again confirms just how popular the Scarlet Witch is with audiences. And how much they want her to return to the franchise.