Faith Of The Heart — Reviewing ‘Scarlet Witch Vol 2: Magnum Opus’

Wanda Maximoff found a new life and purpose through helping others. Unfortunately, it left her as the one needing help. A darker, harsher power has been waiting in the wings all along with an unexpected foothold in her life.

Scarlet Witch Vol 2: Magnum Opus brings the first ‘season’ of Wanda’s new solo series to a close with stories from Steve Orlando, Sara Pichelli, Lorenzo Tammetta, Frank William, Joe Sabino, and Cory Petit.

One thing I really enjoyed 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. Orlando pulls from the recent and distant past and rekindles relationships that are seen far too little on the page together.

Overall, it’s our chance to see Wanda getting over her trauma and becoming a hero again, but there is more. It’s also a very interesting way to explore not only her family tree but those that are important to her. All wrapped up in a way that allows Orlando to really do some inspired stories that explore the vast depth of the Marvel Universe.

Bringing Joseph in (with Magneto dead at the time of the story) was an inspired choice. It fits Orlando’s love to pull characters from the depths, but also presented a character in need of a ‘redemption.’ Orlando does a very solid job in the small amount of space to move Joseph forward as a character. Unfortunately, that forward also comes with death (or does it?) again, but I’m glad we spent more time with one of my favorite characters. Sorry, what can I say, I sort of really came on board X-Men as a youth during the “Operation Zero Tolerance” era.

Most Marvel heroes who haven’t had numerous solo series don’t really have their own rogues gallery or arch nemesis. The introduction of the Hexfinder is kind of a way to maybe bring one for Wanda that isn’t just things to do with the Darkhold and Chthon. I’d be down to see more of her or ones like her down the line.

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.

Choices in paneling help to maximize this aspect. Even when things are a bit bigger in scale, we’re kept relatively close to the action. Right down amongst the characters, able to really feel what is happening whether it be a fight, a conversation, or an emotional beat. Such tight framing and pacing in action keep us engaged with every single piece on the page. Nothing is extraneous or without purpose.

One of the best things about the growing number of artists’ jams as of late is the work being done to find artists with complementary styles. We can tell the difference between the artist’s work, but they are very similar and close enough that it’s a smooth connected read.

It all pairs well with the colors that William brings to play. Big vibrant splashy colors are reserved for moments befitting them, while the rest of the palette hues more on the toned-down and even shadowy, darker side. Each space they visit keeps to the same palette tone overall but has a uniqueness as the colors shift around to fit the space’s personality.

A number of the stories in this collection are very verbose, lots of characters standing around talking or monologuing. Meaning that Sabino and Petit have a lot of room to get creative and show their craft lettering wise.

Both are so good at infusing every word with the right energy and power to allow us to glide through the story, alongside the compelling artwork. Making sure that we the reader get all the dialogue we’re meant to but in a way that never overwhelms is truly a skill. Every bubble dances around the pages just like the characters, filling spaces with all their words but at the same time guiding us through the pages alongside the rest of the artwork.

Colorful caption boxes, SFX that are colorful and right at the moment, bolds, and so much more make sure we hear voices as we’re meant to.

Scarlet Witch Vol 2: Magnum Opus is now available from Marvel Comics.