Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch: Required Reading

With the recent acknowledgement by Joss Whedon that Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will be a part of Avengers 2, we have a nice read today on the two beloved characters, and how their back story could play a role in the film. Check out the article below and share your thoughts after the JUMP!

(Source: mtv.com)

by Ryan Rigley

Before last week, the general public had never heard of the names Quicksilver or Scarlet Witch. Now however, thanks to a legal battle between Marvel Studios and Fox, practically everyone is talking about the mutant siblings! Born the children of Magneto, the legal rights to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are very tricky in that both characters have played integral parts in both the “X-Men” and “Avengers” comic book series.

Basically, as Joss Whedon made apparent in his initial “Avengers 2” reveal, when it comes down to these two characters, it seemed to be all about whoever got to them first. Now Bryan Singer’s cast Quicksilver in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” and Whedon still intends to use him in “Avengers 2.” But despite the attention, the vast majority of people still have absolutely no idea who they are. But not to worry! MTV Splash Page has the perfect introductory reading list for all of your Quicksilver and/or Scarlet Witch needs.

The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, “X-Men” #4-7 (1964)
Before it was revealed that Pietro and Wanda Maximoff were the children of Magneto, they were simply two more evil mutants in Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. However, stemming as far back as their comic book debut, it’s always been quite apparent that Pietro and Wanda shared a superhero’s sense of compassion. Even in this first story, Wanda refuses to help Magneto and Pietro defuses a bomb set to destroy the X-Men.

“The Old Order Changeth,” “Avengers” #16 (1965)
After the mysterious disappearance of Magneto and the complete reformation of Pietro and Wanda, Captain America recruits the two mutants for the latest incarnation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Joining Hawkeye, another reformed villain, the four Avengers quickly become known as “Cap’s Kooky Quartet” until Magneto kidnaps his two children and once again attempts to persuade them to fight for his cause.

“The Vision and the Scarlet Witch” #1-4 (1982)
Instilled with the brain patterns of the then-deceased Wonder Man (Wanda’s former lover), the Vision eventually becomes romantically involved with the Scarlet Witch. In this four-issue limited series, we see the lovable dynamic between the synthezoid and magical mutant culminating in the ultimate revelation of Magneto finally discovering that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are, in fact, his children.

“House of M” #1-8 (2005)
In this epic Marvel event, the Scarlet Witch uses her reality-altering powers to alter the entire world. With mutants ruling the vast majority of the planet and the few surviving humans living in fear, Wanda and her family reign supreme as the House of Magnus. But all of that comes crashing down when Wanda witnesses her father beating Pietro nearly to death. With a simple whisper (“No more mutants”), Wanda returns the Earth back to the way it was but with only a handful of surviving mutants.

“Avengers: The Children’s Crusade” #1-9 (2010)
Taking place years after the mysterious disappearance of Wanda Maximoff following “House of M,” “The Children’s Crusade” sees the Young Avengers’ Wiccan and Speed in search of their long lost mother: the Scarlet Witch. With unanimous disapproval from both the Avengers and the X-Men, the Young Avengers travel to the home of Victor Von Doom in search of the Scarlet Witch and come face to face with Kang the Conqueror.