Writer: Steve Orlando; Juan Ponce
Art: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Frank William
Letters: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Russell Dauterman
Variant Covers: Felipe Massafera; Marc Aspinall; Elizabeth Torque
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: 3.99
Release Date: November 1, 2023
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the Scarlet Witch #10 Review.
The Dispatch
SCARLET WITCH gave Wanda her best material in a long time. It uncomplicated her story, focusing on who she is working to become. At its best, the series was character centric, exploring Wanda via each of the people she helps. As the series ends with SCARLET WITCH #10, it doesn’t lose track of what made it so good.
Hexfinder came through Wanda’s Last Door looking for revenge. Long ago, her people were attacked by N’Garai’s legion of the damned. They prayed to their goddess, Witchcraft, for help but received no reply. Since then, Hexfinder and her people have hunted witches. In SCARLET WITCH #10, she brings her hatred to bear on Wanda. Hexfinder brought Joseph back to life specifically to manipulate Wanda. Hexfinder was also responsible for the low mysterium that Wanda has been puzzling over. She deploys both here in her quest to destroy Wanda whose situation turns grave almost immediately.
SCARLET WITCH #10 weaves together the series’ character oriented strengths and the somewhat weaker plot heavy elements into an effective final issue. It is exposition heavy at times, perhaps more than is desirable for a final issue. The “why” and “how” of Hexfinder’s attack on Wanda and how Joseph fits in are explained, and while it is a lot of information, Orlando is able to slip this exposition into the story in small pieces without hurting the issue’s pacing.
The combat between Wanda and Hexfinder is almost entirely magical. It’s fun and establishes that fast pace which never slows down even when Orlando drops in the aforementioned pieces of exposition. A consequence of it being a magical battle is that the two combatants call out what each of their attacks are. This is a nice touch in that we see Orlando was conscientious about what these two powerful characters are throwing at each other. But at the same time they go by quickly in each instance. They’re not exactly throwaway lines in that they do offer specificity, but they don’t interrupt the flow of action.
Joseph plays an integral part in SCARLET WITCH #10. It’s impossible to discuss in detail without spoiling key parts of the story. But his actions within the story tie into much more than this series. Orlando calls back to elements of Joseph’s character going back almost to his inception. He further touches on Joseph’s relationship to Magneto and through that explores what each of them mean to Wanda. The ultimate payoff also offers a nice justification for Wanda’s choice to refer to Joseph as Ioseph in the previous issue.
The Art & Letters
William’s coloring carries most of the combat and action in SCARLET WITCH #10. This has been the case throughout the series. The various spells and powers Wanda and Hexfinder use are brightly colored with very effective shading. In panels with very limited detail beyond the characters, the colorful elements are what holds the attention.
One sequence in particular stands out when Wanda strikes back against Hexfinder. She launches within a bird defined by white lines. It’s colored in a variety of shades of pink with Wanda floating in the middle colored as white and a very light pink. Pichelli provides more detail in this short sequence than almost anywhere else in the issue. But it’s Wilson’s coloring that makes it dynamic–easily the most dynamic combat encounter in the issue.
Pichelli succeeds in the same place here that she does in previous issues: character detail. The limited lines on Wanda’s face that create her softer features are consistent here whether shouting in anger or smirking in defiance. Pichelli uses more shading on Hexfinder in many cases which gives her a more sinister cast. By far the greatest level of detail is applied to Joseph. This comes in handy in the issue’s later sequences where Joseph factors in heavily.
SCARLET WITCH #10 goes heavier with sound effects than any issue to this point. They successfully punctuate the action, and Petit’s choices complement the artwork. In many cases they are transparent, heavily emphasizing impacts without obscuring any of the visuals.
Final Thoughts
Though SCARLET WITCH leaned more into plot than character in the immediate run up to this issue, Orlando balances both elements here and hits the kind of emotional beats that made the series successful. SCARLET WITCH #10 ties everything together and sends the series out on a high note.