Getting By With A Little Help From Your Mom: Reviewing ‘Scarlet Witch’ #6

Once upon a time, the Scarlet Witch had two children. One of them is now married to the Skrull/Kree Emperor. Mother and son are once again reunited. Too bad they stand on opposing sides over the latest person to walk through Wanda’s door of help.

With a new arc, of sorts, there are a few changes to be found on and behind the pages. While regular artist Sara Pichelli is still on board, she is joined by new artist Lorenzo Tammetta. It’s a solid pairing. There are, of course, very noticeable differences, but it’s close enough in many respects. Artist pairings like this often are the best because it’s not jarring to switch between the art, and it carries some familiarity still too.

Tammetta and Pichelli both have very energetic styles that work for both quieter and louder moments. There is a ton of emotion in it all, not just on the faces, allowing us to feel every panel. Some very solid paneling choices give a good perspective and make sure we’re right in the middle of all things. Tons of depth and detail in various panels make sure we feel like this is a fleshed-out lived-in world.

Another change at hand comes from the coloring side. Frank William brings a different sort of energy than we saw with Matthew Wilson in previous issues. There is a bit more vibrant popping appearance to things here. A lot of really colorful reds and blues, especially during the magical moments, amongst other colors. There are a lot of alien, magical, superhero, and other types of individuals and spaces within this story.

All of them have very fantastical color palettes befitting their status and their difference from our perceived reality. A lot lighter and in-your-face coloring works here. That’s not to say that there isn’t darkness or some of the grit we saw in the previous issues. There are still darker pieces or shadows added to deepen the overall presentation. Such things play quite well but differently with the vivid nature of everything else.

Changes upon changes continue. Joe Sabino slides in here to take on all the lettering for this next trip for the series. Big bold words and colorful speech bubbles set the tone and match the rest of the issue energy. Lettering is such an intriguing part of the art because many assume it to be simple. Just laying out words and calling it a day.

One could do that, but it would be underselling what this portion of art really brings to a comic. Sabino always does a tremendous job at making sure tone, volume, energy, etc. are present in every single letter. The way a bit of dialogue is presented and placed can change all meaning and alter how we perceive what the characters are saying/doing.

Numerous times characters are yelling and angry, and sad here, and that is clear on their faces and in their voices. We cannot hear a comic in the conventional sense but a great letterer, like Sabino, makes sure we hear it in our heads.

One thing I really enjoy about this series, beyond Wanda herself, is the contained but wide aspect. By that I mean these are essentially one-off type issues (for the most part) in concept but are deeply connected. Not just to one another but to the whole of the Marvel Universe as a tapestry. Steve Orlando pulls from recent and distant past and rekindles relationships that are seen far too little on the page together. From Wanda and Lorna/Polaris a few issues ago to now Wanda and her son & son-in-law.

Wanda was believed dead/under control much of the time that Wiccan/Billy was first appearing. Eventually, she was back but they still spent very little page time together. While Billy has birth parents, it’s still nice to see him getting to spend time with his magical/spiritual mother. It plays into how well Orlando can mine the Marvel Universe for these oft-forgotten or overlooked bits and pieces.

We need more exploration of the deep space side of things in books. Guardians Of The Galaxy does that in most volumes, but the MU characters crossing paths with new or lesser-used cosmic folks is always fun. Personally, I would love a book that features Teddy and Billy more as the rulers of the Kree/Skrull Alliance. Empyre as an event elevated them to a big position and we don’t see far enough of them since.

Scarlet Witch #6 is now available from Marvel Comics.