Taking place after the events of Doctor Strange losing the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Doom and then Doom losing everything in the One World Under Doom event, writer STEVE ORLANDO and artist BERNARD CHANG introduce us to a vibrant and mystically-matured Scarlet Witch – whose taken up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Although, she’d prefer “Sorceress” Supreme, as Orlando likes to remind us on more than one occassion.
Every good comic book needs a cold open and as far as cold opens go – this isn’t the worst I’ve seen – although it’s far from the best. With no Doom and certainly no Doctor Strange to protect the earth from cosmic threats that bend time, space and magic to their will, Scarlet Witch takes on the threat of Dormamu as he lays waste to down-town New York. Rather than rely solely on her dark powers, we quickly learn that Wanda is the new bearer of the fabled Eye of Agamotto. Tapping deep into the eye’s powers and combining that with her own Darkhold magic, she exposes Dormamu to ten billion years of anguish in mere seconds. It’s a double-page spread courtesy of Chang and colorist RUTH REDMOND that is so cosmically intense that, for a moment, depowers Dormamu’s cursed energies as he falls to earth.
Thankfully, this sends Dormamu packing as he retreats back to his own dimension to lick his wounds. Giving Wanda time to meet her griend, Darcy, whose taking over Wanda’s store and a brief awkward interlude with the new intern, Eli, who couldn’t be no more creeped out by Wanda’s mystic abilities if he tried. Later returning to the Sanctum Sanctorum to meet with a less than impressed Wong, he subjects the Scarlet Witch to a barrage of nonstop questions bordering on accusation. All because he doesn’t believe she can measure up to the legacy of (a now missing) Doctor Strange.
What follows is a meeting with her Cabinet of Advisors who mostly reinforce Wong’s position. That the vacated position of the Sorcerer Supreme should be chosen within or by the Vishanti. While the advice she receives from Somnus, Speed, Wiccan and Amaranth are quite measured, with the obvious concerns over if she’s doing the right thing, it’s the aggressive response from Chthon, the Dark Elder, trapped in a pocket dimension, which visibly challenges Wanda’s intentions and begin to doubt herself. It’s during this part of the comic book issue where the vibrancy of Redmond’s colour palette begins to take on an otherworldy persona. Giving way for the Vishanti to make an appearance and challenge Wanda’s claim to the role of Sorcerer Supreme. A challenge she’s able to fight head-on, thanks to the combined powers of the Darkhold and the Eye of Agamotto, and banish from the last few pages of this issue. Leading to the Vishanti’s elected challenger appearing at the cliffhanger, looking to take on the Scarlet Witch in the second issue. No spoilers. Just a lofty recommendation you pick up Sorcereror Supreme issue 1 for yourself.
For no other reason than Bernard Chang’s artwork takes its stylistic cue as much from early 90s Marvel Avengers runs as much as it does Manga of the same decade. Wanda Maximoff is a stunning, beautiful creature in every panel, on every page. I especially like the decision to have her in a hippe-looking ensemble which adds a softer, sweeter resonance to her character while she’s “powered-down.” On the other hand, there are moments where Orlando’s dialogue feels clunky and unnatural but it’s a given when a first issue’s job is to set the seen, set the antagonist/protagonist up, and leaves little for extensive character development.
It’s a decent beginning for Sorcerer Supreme issue 1 as it looks to take us deep into more magic and mystical focused lore as opposed to its superhero offshoots. It’s a perfect introduction for anyone who fell for Wanda’s adventures in Wandavision and, by extension, Agatha All Along.
