Marvel Rivalshas not only reintroduced old and niche characters from Marvel Comics to its character roster, but redesigned aspects of Marvel characters that the public have latched onto thanks to the MCU. No character better represents a return to comics form thanMarvel Rivals’ adaptation of Scarlet Witch.
While not every character that is featured in the MCU andMarvel Rivalshave stark differences, Scarlet Witch is definitely one of the few. Only a few characters onMarvel Rivalsroster have yet to appear in the MCU,including Peni Parker, Luna Snow, Jeff the Land Shark, Venom, Squirrel Girl, and all members of the X-Men.
The MCU’s Adaptation of Scarlet Witch
Since the main hook toMarvel Rivals’ lore focuses on the multiverse, the game is able to justify tweaking characters to be vastly different or more similar to the MCU or various Marvel Comics universe versions of characters. Inthe case of Scarlet Witch,Marvel Rivalsseems to lean more towards her original characterization in Marvel Comics, which represents some key differences to the MCU’s adaptation.
Because mutants have yet to be introduced to the MCUandAge of Ultronwas releasedprior to Disney’s acquisition of Fox, the MCU gave the Maximoff twins their powers through experimentation rather than birth. While this change was understandable due to copyright, it cannot be overstated how important Scarlet Witch’s mutant identity is in Marvel Comics. Her impact on mutantkind leaves a drastic mark on comics history and is still a major plot point in comics running to this day.
Additionally, the Maximoff twins are of Jewish-Romani descent. WhileElizabeth Olsen initially gave Scarlet Witchan accent when portraying her inAge of Ultron, this accent eventually went away. Olsen is also not of Jewish-Romani descent, leading some fans to be critical of her casting.
The MCU’s portrayal of Vision and Scarlet Witch’s romantic relationship is fairly accurate.WandaVisionandAgatha All Alongcontinue this storyline by introducing their twins, Billy Kaplan and Tommy Shepherd. This storyline is also fairly comics accurate,with Wiccan being officially introducedinAgatha All Along.
Marvel Rivals' Adaptation of Scarlet Witch
Theabilities of Scarlet Witch inMarvel Rivalsare fairly congruent with her powers in the MCU and Marvel Comics. The descriptions of her abilities specifically mention “Chaos Magic”, which has been mentioned both in the MCU and in the comics alongside Scarlet Witch previously. Scarlet Witch’s ability “Reality Erasure” is also in line with these abilities, considering she is able to manipulate reality at will.
However, there are key differences between the MCU’s adaptation andMarvel Rivals’. Namely,Marvel Rivalstook the opportunity to make Scarlet Witch more comic accurate.Marvel Rivals’design of Scarlet Witchis one example of this. Her skin and hair are darker, more in line with her appearance as a Jewish-Romani woman, and she has an accent. Players can see the design difference betweenMarvel Rivalsand the MCU as aMultiverse of Madnessskin exists for Scarlet Witch in-game.
Scarlet Witch is a Mutant Again
Magneto is the biologicalfather of both of the Maximoff twinsinMarvel Rivals,as discussed through several voicelines between Magneto and Scarlet Witch. The characters also have a team-up together.
Additionally,Scarlet Witch has a voice linethat mentions “No more mutants.” This is also an achievement Scarlet Witch players can unlock after taking down mutant enemies ten times as her. The quote “No more mutants” is a direct reference to the “House of M” storyline, in which Scarlet Witch took away mutant abilities from the majority of mutantkind. This plot point radically changed Marvel Comics. Of course, the MCU has not officially introduced mutants to its main timeline, making Wanda’s heritage and this important plotline impossible to adapt so far.
Ultimately, most of the differences between Scarlet Witchin the MCU andMarvel Rivalsare thanks to Marvel Comics. Scarlet Witch is a sign thatMarvel Rivalsis likely to turn to the comics for character roster inspiration going forward, rather than basing anyone primarily off their MCU counterparts.
Marvel Rivals
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Marvel Rivals is a Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter!Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!A Deep and Varied Marvel RosterChoose from a vast array of fan-favorite and cult-classic Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains from across the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and many more from across the Marvel Multiverse.Fast and Fun 6v6 Action with Ever-Changing Game DynamicsWith intricate environments, fast-paced gameplay, and ever-changing battlefields, there’s never a dull moment in Marvel Rivals! Battle as Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible abilities and combine your powers to bring unexpected fun to the battlefield in a matter of seconds.Dynamic Hero SynergyCoordinate unique combinations between characters to ignite surprising Team-Up Skills! Unleash the synergy of combined superpowers and invent new tactics that can turn the tide of combat. Ride on Groot’s back as Rocket Raccoon to take on your enemies as a dangerous duo, unleash Gamma energy as Hulk to charge Iron Man’s armor for massive damage, and so much more!Creative Environment DestructionTear your way through iconic Marvel worlds across destructible environments! From Asgard to the Tokyo of 2099, use superpowers to alter these environments, reshape the terrain, and craft a strategic advantage on the battlefield! Take cover to dodge attacks or use makeshift weapons to strike down enemies. Players will find countless ways to utilize the environment to claim victory!Continually Evolving Universe and Robust Post-Launch UpdatesThe Marvel Multiverse brings infinite possibilities! Each seasonal drop will introduce new Super Heroes to the battlefield along with challenging and diverse maps! Unlock new content to implement across various gameplay strategies while experiencing thrilling action and endless possibilities in these adventurous team battles!
