In The HeX Factor, this series is introduced to the complex and formidable character of Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch. With the arrival of Wanda, a powerful but mentally unstable mutant, the episode highlights Wanda’s significant impact on the X-Men and the Brotherhood, as well as the intricate relationships between the characters.

We begin with Wanda causing massive destruction as a patient in a mental institution, only to be subdued by Professor Xavier. Mystique, always scheming, kidnaps Wanda and brings her to the Brotherhood. Wanda’s introduction to the Brotherhood is anything but smooth; she creates chaos before being calmed by Agatha Harkness. Meanwhile, at Bayville High School, lighter moments unfold as Kurt deals with Kitty’s homemade (and seemingly indestructible) muffins, and Scott struggles to express his feelings to Jean. However, the real action kicks in when Mystique introduces Wanda to the Brotherhood, and she single-handedly defeats the X-Men at the mall, showcasing her overwhelming power.

Wanda’s strained relationship with her twin brother, Pietro, adds emotional depth to the story, highlighting the lingering scars from their past and her time in the asylum. Mystique’s reassertion of leadership within the Brotherhood and Tabitha’s decision to leave further complicates group dynamics. We even have time to explore the romantic tensions between Scott and Jean and Lance’s concern for Kitty, adding layers of character development – in a very Buffy-esque way!

Professor Xavier visits a containment facility to see Wanda Maximoff, who is restrained but escapes and causes massive destruction. He uses a psychic blast to subdue her and talks to her about controlling her powers. Wanda asks to leave the asylum, but Xavier says he can’t risk it. As they’re walking, Wanda realizes she’s being kidnapped by Mystique in disguise. An elderly woman, Agatha Harkness, calms Wanda with a spell.

At Bayville High, Kurt struggles with his locker until Kitty helps him. She offers him a muffin, which he finds disgusting (it bounces – off the floor!). After school, Scott tries to express his feelings to Jean, but Duncan arrives and she leaves with him. At the Brotherhood House, Mystique returns and introduces Wanda to the team. Wanda starts causing destruction, but Agatha calms her again. Mystique says Wanda will help them get revenge on Magneto. Tabitha decides to move out, feeling there are too many women in the house.

At the Xavier Institute, Kurt hides from Kitty to avoid eating another muffin (these ones dent the kitchen tiles). Professor Xavier calls a meeting to inform the students that Wanda has escaped and might be used against them. Wanda undergoes training with Agatha, struggling to control her anger. Pietro tries to talk to her, but she rebuffs him, accusing him of being like Magneto. Mystique arranges a test against the X-Men.

The X-Men confront the Brotherhood at a mall. Lance warns Kitty to leave, but she refuses. Wanda arrives and causes chaos, easily overpowering the X-Men. Jean insists they retreat, acknowledging Wanda is too powerful. The Brotherhood celebrates their victory, crediting Wanda, now called the Scarlet Witch. Professor Xavier takes responsibility for the defeat, admitting he failed to prepare the X-Men for a mutant like Wanda. The X-Men leave, frustrated by their loss.

Wanda’s mental health, and the problems caused by them, has been the focus of various comic storylines over the years, in particular Avengers: Disassembled and House of M.

Similar to this episode, Xavier also tries to access Wanda’s mind in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It didn’t go so well…

Mystique has once again, infiltrated a prison. She knows her stuff, as she released the Juggernaut in season one and will break into another in later episodes.

The more agitated Wanda becomes, the more her powers rage out of control. She’s aided in this control by comic book character Agatha Harkness, long time friend to the Fantastic Four and usually Wanda’s mentor. In recent times, due to MCU shenanigans, she’s slightly more adversarial (not to mention younger!) – as seen in live-action with Kathryn Hahn in WandaVision and Agatha All Along.

In a rarity, it seems that in this timeline, Magneto actually raised the twins himself. In every other iteration of the story he is unaware of their connection until adulthood.

Toad attacks Scott and removes his visor with his tongue – just as he does in the first X-Men movie.

“WINDS OF DESTINY… CHANGE!”

In the Nineties and the early 2000s when this episode was written, Wanda’s relationship was less centred around her mutant roots and rather her magical, as seen when she was a regular in the Avengers titles for decades. As a result, Wanda’s ‘hex powers’ have been retconned more than once from mutant ability to magical to genetically engineered into her and even supernaturally passed down! A general mix of all is sometimes also possible!

Very rarely interacting with her mutant cousins, the Scarlet Witch has long been a constant in Marvel Animation and films: just not with the X-Men. In the 90’s, Avengers: United They Stand featured a Wanda dissimilar to this one, with a European accent and with the above quirky (if rather annoying) catch-phrase. She had a similar role in the Iron Man cartoon of the same era, but was named Wanda Frank as a member of Force Works. She was also spoofed in wacky animation, The Superhero Squad.

On the big-screen, she has had a momentous journey and a huge following with fans since she debuted in the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Played by Elizabeth Olsen, she has since joined the Avengers in four movies, a spin-off that spawned it’s own spin-off and a turn as the villain in the Doctor Strange sequel. In that movie, Wanda was presumed dead at the story’s climax but, in the Marvel Universe, we know that means nothing…

Retreat | Day Of Reckoning (Part 1)