Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel’s MCU tie-in TVA comic!
The MCU’sScarlet Witchtook a harsh turn from Avenger, to suburban mom, and then to multiversal hellspawn. Until recently, the MCU fan-favorite character has been believed to have been corrupted by the ancient power of the Darkhold. However, I think Marvel Comics just proved that the MCU’s Scarlet Witch was never truly evil. The secret behind her rapid corruption lies in the Time Variance Authority and a nightmarish evil.
InTVA#4–writtenby Katharyn Blair, with art by Pere Pérez– Gwen Stacy, aka the Ghost-Spider, has been plagued with dreams of a sinister figure cloaked in green. The recurring nightmare has continuously led Ghost-Spider to the same location in the TVA: the holding cell ofa Scarlet Witch variant with a strikingly similar appearance to the MCU’s variant.
When Gwen decides to follow the guidance of her visions, she releases the Wanda variant from her cell before being met by the mysterious figure from her dreams. Emerging from the shadows, the Fear Lord Nightmarethanks Gwen for her service
Marvel Confirms The Cinematic Version Of Wanda Mximoff Appears In Its “TVA” Comic
TVA #4 (2025) -Written By Katharyn Blair; Art By Pere Pérez; Color By Guru-eFX; Lettering By VC’s Joe Sabino
While it’s hard to say for certain that the Scarlet Witch featured inTVA#4is the MCU’s variant, this Wanda Maximoff shares an identical look with her movie counterpart. Given MCU Wanda’s gruesome wave of chaos across time and space inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,it’s not surprising that the TVA would have targeted Wanda as a threat. Despite the Doctor Strange film implying that theScarlet Witch died after the climactic battle, the Disney+ seriesAgatha All Alonghinted that fans should never assume anything from the Scarlet Witch.
Marvel Comics has been unclear whether itsTVAcomic series is canon to the MCU. While Marvel has insinuated that Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios exist within the same Multiverse, Marvel Studios has previously contradicted Marvel Comics’ multiversal lore. That said, until Marvel clarifies this issue later, I’m going to assume theTVAseries is officially canon to both the MCU and the Comics.
However, I’m less concerned about whetherthe MCU’s Scarlet Witch is alivebut by the possibility that she may have never been evil. Assuming thatTVA #4’s featured Scarlet Witch is the MCU variant,Nightmare’s sinister interest in the TVA’s captive could suggest that the Fear Lord had been twisting Wanda’s fearsand guiding her closer to the Darkhold’s power. InMultiverse of Madness, dreaming is described as being a window into the lives of alternate selves throughout the Multiverse. While the MCU’s Scarlet Witch used this power to travel the Multiverse, she unknowingly exposed herself to a supernatural force.
Who Is Nightmare? The Demon’s Power Is As Formidable As The Multiverse’s Itself
A Force On Par With Eternity
Nightmare is an abstract entity who exists as the living manifestation of all people’s nightmares. From his domain within the Dream Dimension, Nightmare can feed off and control the dreams of anyone across the Multiverse. InScarlet Witch#13,it was insinuated thatNightmare’s sphere of power rivals that of Eternity, the living embodiment of the current Multiverse.The demon is an omniscient cosmic force with the power to appear in any dimension or reality through others’ minds. Like Marvel’s other ancient demons,like Mephisto, Nightmare’s purpose is to expand his power through the fear of others.
These tormenting dreams are what ultimately pushed her to pursue the Darkhold and America Chavez’s power. This is how Nightmare controlled the Scarlet Witch.
For Nightmare, the MCU’s Scarlet Witch is the perfect opportunity to seed chaos, strife, and terror across the Multiverse. In the wake of Vision’s death and the collapse of the Westview fantasy, Scarlet Witch had nothing but sadness, rage, and the Darkhold. I think, if Nightmare did exert his control, this is where it happened. ByMultiverse of Madness,Wanda was plagued by nightmares of a happier life, one she would later realize is her variant’s. These tormenting dreams are what ultimately pushed her to pursuethe Darkhold and America Chavez’s power. This is how Nightmare controlled the Scarlet Witch.
In My Opinion, Nightmare Isn’t Responsible For All Of Wanda’s Crimes
Westview Gave Nightmare His Opportunity
If my theory is true, and the MCU’s big supernatural bad guy has been Nightmare and not Mephisto this whole time, theScarlet Witch may not be as guiltyof her crimes as first assumed. Sure, Nightmare may have only stoked Wanda’s natural fear and jealousy, butwithout the persistently haunting influence lurking inside her dreams, she may have never submitted herself to the Darkhold.I don’t think Nightmare is responsible for Wanda’s crimes in Westview, but it’s more than likely that he would have seized his opportunity when the Scarlet Witch was forced to kill her hexed family.
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While it’s not on Disney+, Loki Season 3 is essentially happening in the comics, connecting the events of the MCU show with lots of familiar faces.
However, even if Nightmare was involved and not all of Wanda’s actions were her own, the MCU’s Scarlet Witch still unleashed unthinkable horrors across the Multiverse. Her actions, even as a hero, threaten the sanctity ofthe timelines the TVA protects. If the Scarlet Witch that’s housed inside the TVA is the MCU’s variant, she is about to become Nightmare’s pawn all over again. Now that she has been set loose, Wanda is free to wreak new destruction outside the confines of the Multiverse. That said, I think Nightmare has just given this MCU variant a chance at redemption.
Marvel’s “TVA” Serues Has Brought Wanda Closer To Her Status As A Cosmic Powerhouse
Marvel’s Third Multiverse Could Free The Scarlet Witch
Earth-616’s Scarlet Witch is considered a Nexus being, an avatar of the Queen of Nevers, the livingembodiment of the third Multiverse. No longer the active Multiverse, the Queen of Nevers now exists outside the confines of space and time, just like the TVA does. With the MCU’s Scarlet Witch now free in the TVA, and far away from the Darkhold’s influence,she is much closer to the one cosmic entity most likely to free her from Nightmare and Chthon’s control.With the help of the TVA, hopefully, theScarlet Witchwill have a chance to right her wrongs and defeat Nightmare.
