Originally Posted by
gurkle
The answer to all these questions is that there is no answer. We never got anything beyond a few panels in Children’s Crusade, some of which were narrated by Doom and are intentionally unreliable.
The retcon was intended to explain why Wanda was suddenly omnipotent, but everything else just raised more questions and no other story has followed up.
Well, Damn.
Another dropped ball.
I was in the middle of doing pre-work for a "Trial of Wanda Maximoff" thread, when all these threads popped up and it became redundant.
Contrary to my previous post history, I actually try very hard to remain objective during those threads (I conducted one for Scott Summers).
The more I look into Wanda's case, the more I sympathize with her fans.
Marvel keeps circling around some really great ideas, but they keep botching it - to the explicit detriment of her character.
I think most X-fans are willing to...'forgive' is too strong of a word...excuse/overlook events that occurred during a possession.
But that is dependent on: the ramification of those events, the events leading up to the possession, and the events following the possession.
And Marvel has really screwed over Wanda when it comes to all three.
The Ramifications of the Possession
"No More Mutants" is the single biggest tragedy to affect the X-line.
Full Stop.
It doesn't matter that it was explained away (poorly) in Children's Crusade.
It doesn't matter that it was reversed in AvX.
It's just too big of an event. It affected the line for years.
That Marvel chose to use Wanda for that purpose...is bad.
Unlike say, the Death of Charles Xavier, a character that has died and returned many times (in true comic book fashion), there is no real coming back from something like that.
Not unless you tell a really really good story.
The Events Leading Up To the Possession
So, I'm just going to come out and say it: Children's Crusade was trash.
It was an okay idea, beautifully rendered, and we got some sweet moments, but it's trash because it ultimately failed at its purpose.
The Dr. Doom 'retcon' was executed poorly, and we did not really get Wanda's point of view.
It failed Wanda. It failed the Avengers. And it failed the X-men.
Let's take a brief aside here and talk about Scott Summers.
IMO, the strongest argument that Scott was ultimately responsible for the events during his possession by the Phoenix is this:
It can be argued that Scott's violent disruption of the Avengers' plan (i.e. Tony Stark's desperate "Shoot it with a BFG" plan) caused or contributed to Scott's own possession.
Basically, if Scott and the X-men hadn't been there, Tony's plan might've worked properly.
I personally think there are lot of flaws with that argument, but its an argument that has legal merit and deserved to be fully explored.
And It really wasn't. Not by Marvel, and not even really by the fans in the ensuing discussions.
We have the same scenario with Wanda, but worse.
Marvel never gave us Wanda's POV for this time period.
If CC hadn't happened and HoM stood on its own, Wanda's case would actually be stronger.
Extreme Duress, Catatonia, Violence, Memory Loss, Loss of Reality - these are legitimate symptoms of someone experiencing a mental health disorder.
As much as X-fans would hate it, Wanda would be very easily diagnosed with a Brief Psychotic Disorder and be subsequently acquitted of criminal culpability.
Obviously that wouldn't or shouldn't mean no repercussions whatsoever, but in terms of criminality, that would be end.
But Children's Crusade complicates this.
Things actually became less clear because of this story.
Basically, if Wanda was of sound mind when she went to Doom, then she may be guilty.
If not, then she's acquitted. But the facts during this time period, as laid out, can be used for both the Prosecution and the Defense.
The idea to resurrect her kids with magic seems crazy to the lay person.
But sorcerers use magic to do 'crazy' things all the time.
She went to Dr. Doom for help. That's crazy.
Yes, absolutely. But there's a certain rationality to it too.
Wanda knew she couldn't do it alone (1), so she went to the Sorcerer Supreme for help (2), and failing that, she went to the second most powerful sorcerer on Earth, Dr. Doom (3).
All that seems fairly logical and can lend itself to the argument that she was rational.
She was under extreme emotional stress.
Yes, but to what extent. Enough to render her unable to discern right from wrong? Enough for her to be legally unable to appreciate the possible consequences of her actions?
We just don't know.
And that's a problem.
The Events Following the Possession
Wanda seemed remorseful in the Children's Crusade.
That's good. It could've gone a long way towards "redemption".
But that didn't last.
What we got was Remender's Uncanny Avengers.
And this is where X-fans hatred of Wanda was truly cemented.
Now, UA was a bit of a dumpster fire that I actively avoided, so I don't have the deets.
Do correct me if I get all of this wrong.
During UA, Wanda was not remorseful. She was the opposite - apathetic, downright insulting towards mutant-kind.
This ultimately culminated in Rogue stabbing Wanda.
And it's in this moment that, I think, Remender dropped the ball.
If Rogue, through her power, had learned of the immense crippling guilt that Wanda felt for "her" actions,
If Rogue had learned that Wanda's perceived antagonism was nothing more than a facade,
That she was actually lashing out because she felt she "got off too easily" and "deserved punishment",
And was actively looking for Rogue to punish her,
I mean...that's so good, that's so compelling, and it was right there.
And that's just the guilt aspect. If Remender had explained what happened to Wanda, through Rogue...
But I don't think we got anything like that, did we?
Again, another dropped ball.