This week, Agatha Harkness returns in Scarlet Witch Annual (2023) #1! We cowl the situation in our major evaluate however watch out for SPOILERS. For much less spoiler-y critiques, scroll on right down to the Rapid Rundown and try our blurbs for Ultimate Invasion #1 and Avengers #2.
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Scarlet Witch Annual (2023) #1
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Carlos Nieto
Color Artist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: Cory Petit
Main Cover: Russell Dauterman
Just as House of M had main implications for Marvel Comics’ 616, so does the Scarlet Witch Annual (2023) #1 – and if we’re to imagine Agatha Harkness, possibly much more so. This Wanda stan provides this situation two chaos-magick encircled thumbs up!
Wanda’s Year
The ongoing Scarlet Witch collection written by Orlando, with artwork by Sara Pichelli and Russell Dauterman, lately accomplished its first main arc, wrapping up a Wanda Maximoff story that took main steps in “tone, characterization, and thematic plotting to move her far and away from her time in the 2000s as an event comics punching bag,” to cite Comics Watch.
With the Scarlet Witch Annual organising the subsequent part of Wanda’s latest journey, author Steve Orlando, artist Carlos Nieto, colorist Tríona Tree Farrell, letterer Cory Petit, and editor Alanna Smith discover the good steadiness between new reader accessibility and Easter eggs for the hardcore Wanda stans. So in the event you haven’t been following the ongoing Scarlet Witch however would possibly need to begin (eh? eh?), the Annual is a superb place to leap again into the Scarlet Witch storyline.
This situation units up a crossover battle that can proceed throughout varied annuals this summer season. But as a result of Agatha is the solely character in the Marvel Multiverse who can believably greatest the Scarlet Witch, the situation feels prefer it has reputable stakes. Even higher, between Wanda, Agatha, and Darcy, it simply passes the Bechdel Test.
New Salem
Furthermore, I used to be notably excited to see the return of New Salem. Considering this location performed a key position in one among my favourite Scarlet Witch tales, Vision and the Scarlet Witch, its shock return (together with loads of different Easter eggs) had me laughing and clapping my fingers whereas I used to be studying the situation.
Agatha Harkness! Here is the panel element of one among the preview pages from Scarlet Witch Annual. I attempted new issues right here, I did my greatest and I’ve discovered quite a bit! I hope all of you dig it! On sale June 21 @Marvel! #marvel #marvelcomics #comics pic.twitter.com/qO911vY75i
— Carlos Nieto (@CarlosNietoArtwork) May 30, 2023
Finally, artist Nieto explains on Twitter that he utilized new inventive strategies for this situation. That paid off huge time, as this annual is a delight to take a look at!
Verdict: An absolute delight for a Wanda stan like myself.
Rapid Rundown!
- Avengers #2
- I do know it’s early in the run however I’m very into this Avengers lineup with its brilliant, daring paintings, tight plotting, and participating dialog. Writer Jed Mackay and artist C.F. Villa are constructing one thing attention-grabbing with this Avengers crew loaded with heavy hitters and icons, foreshadowing cosmic threats. This situation has the Avengers being warned by Kang of the coming menace, in trade for his or her assist he’ll give them info that can save 1,000 lives. The stakes are easy and there are a bunch of nice motion scenes in this situation as the Avengers go about saving the day, however the spotlight for me was Captain America’s resolution to saving lives, easy and filled with coronary heart. — GC3
- Ultimate Invasion #1
- The story: The Maker escapes and the Illuminati reunite to attempt to cease him. They don’t and the Ultimate Universe seemingly begins anew. This situation is essentially set-up for what’s to return, and the story itself doesn’t completely choose up till the reasonably brief epilogue on, judging by the title web page, Earth 6160. The brunt of the situation reads like an extra exploration of Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers run, choosing up the characters proper the place they have been left off eight years in the past, although acknowledging what’s occurred in that point span. The artwork right here is effectively performed, if a bit flat. Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie are nice, although it actually would have been good to see a extra modern tackle this world and these characters. The panels really feel reasonably stiff, with tighter poses and layouts that really feel a bit restrictive to the story. Alex Sinclair and Joe Caramagna’s colours and letters are stellar, if additionally considerably tame with the story that’s being offered. Admittedly, there isn’t quite a bit to this situation, and I’m shocked by that in a 50 web page first situation. The character work is enjoyable however the precise story doesn’t get going till the finish, however even then it’s reasonably minimal. Bringing again the Ultimate Universe eight complete years after it ended and twenty three years after it began is one factor, making it work and really feel simply as fashionable as the unique initially felt is one other. I’m eager for this inventive crew going ahead, however as of now, the form of that is reasonably unclear. — CB
Next week brings Deadpool #8, Thor #35, and Silver Surfer: Ghost Light #5! Catch up on previous entries in The Beat’s Marvel Rundown archive.
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