The Scarlet Witch Is Strong, But Spider-Man's Ex Just Proved She's a Magical Threat
Scarlet Witch is widely considered one of the most powerful magic users in the Marvel Universe – but she has some competition from a surprising character, Black Cat, the former love interest of Spider-Man, who just attempted a major heist targeting no less of an intimidating target than Wanda Maximoff herself.
The Scarlet Witch #9 – writtenby Steve Orlando, Jacopo Camagni – brings Black Cat into the mix, and while fans might consider there to be a power disparity between Wanda and Felicia Hardy, the issue depicts them as being on surprisingly even ground.
On the surface, it may seem like a massive risk to steal from one of the most powerful magic users in Marvel Comics, but given Black Cat's powers, she may be one of the few people who have a leg up on the Scarlet Witch, one Marvel's greatest heroes.
Black Cat’s Powers Make Her More Than An Even Match For Wanda Maximoff
The Scarlet Witch #9 – Written By Steve Orlando; Art By Jacopo Camagni; Color By Frank William; Lettering By Ariana Maher
Over the years, Black Cat – originally a baseline human with exceptional abilities – has been given luck-based powers in the Marvel Universe, but instead of bringing her good luck, she causes those around her bad luck. This is why robbing Scarlet Witch is not as much a risk for Black Cat as it would be for others. Despite Scarlet Witch wielding godly power, Black Cat destablizes Wanda's powers in Scarlet Witch #9. However, this isn't exactly what Black Cat wants, especially since it leads to reality warping. This gets the better of Black Cat, who is eventually apprehended by Scarlet Witch.
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To be fair, Scarlet Witch #9 largely reads like a teaser of a potential conflict between Black Cat and Wanda; the issue proved Black Cat's powers to be an effective counterpoint to Wanda's magical abilities, as mighty as they might be. While the encounter never escalates to a full-on conflict, it establishes that the potential is there for a future head-to-head. It also signifies the possibility of further upgrades to Black Cat's powers, as fans traditionally understand them, in future stories.
Black Cat's Probability Powers Make Her A Potent Foil For Marvel's Magical Characters
Scarlet Witch #9 Could Be A Turning Point
It is worth noting that while Doctor Strange nullified her luck abilities in the past, now, Black Cat's powers practically make her immune to magic. This means that she could, at some point, become a powerful adversary, or ally, for the magic-users of the Marvel Universe, something Scarlet Witch #9 opens the door to, in an exciting move from the publisher and the book's creative team. It is high time Black Cat became known for more than being Spider-Man's ex, and this Scarlet Witch story starts that process.
Scarlet Witch #9 is available now from Marvel Comics.
