Scarlet Witch Reading Order
From House of M to the modern solo runs.
By Web Admin
Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, is one of the most powerful and most complicated characters in the Marvel Universe — a reality-warping sorceress whose stories swing between world-shattering tragedy and quiet, personal redemption. Thanks to the movies and especially WandaVision, huge numbers of new readers want to explore her comics, only to discover that her defining moments are scattered across Avengers epics, X-Men crossovers and a handful of solo series.
This guide brings it all together. Below is a Scarlet Witch reading order that runs from her devastating turn in Avengers Disassembled through the reality-rewriting House of M and into the modern solo runs that finally gave Wanda her own spotlight. Whether you want the big tragic epics or a gentler standalone starting point, there is a clear path here.
Reading order at a glance
Here is the full path. The first two are the essential tragic epics; the last two are the modern solo runs that give Wanda her own voice.
| # | Story / run | Creators | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avengers Disassembled | Bendis, Finch | 2004 | Avengers epic |
| 2 | House of M | Bendis, Coipel | 2005 | Event |
| 3 | Avengers: The Children’s Crusade | Heinberg, Cheung | 2010–12 | Redemption arc |
| 4 | Scarlet Witch (Vol. 1) | James Robinson | 2015 | Solo series |
| 5 | Scarlet Witch (2023) | Steve Orlando | 2023 | Solo series |
1. The tragedy begins: Avengers Disassembled (2004)
Wanda’s modern story starts with Avengers Disassembled, the 2004 storyline by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch. Grieving the loss of her children and losing control of her chaos-magic powers, Wanda lashes out and destroys the Avengers from within in a genuinely shocking, tragic story. It is the inciting incident for everything that follows and a content warning applies — it is dark and features the deaths of major heroes. This is the essential first chapter of the “reality-warp era” Wanda.
2. The centrepiece: House of M (2005)
The single most important Scarlet Witch story is House of M, the 2005 event by Bendis and Olivier Coipel. Pushed to the brink, Wanda rewrites all of reality into a world where mutants rule and her family is whole — and then, with three words, changes the Marvel Universe forever. It is a landmark event with enormous consequences for the X-Men and the wider line, and it is the definitive showcase of just how frighteningly powerful Wanda is. If you read one Scarlet Witch book, read this.
3. The road back: Avengers: The Children’s Crusade (2010–12)
After House of M, Wanda vanished, and her search became the emotional engine of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung. Driven by the Young Avengers — including Wiccan, who believes he is Wanda’s reincarnated son — the story is about grief, family and the possibility of redemption for someone who did terrible things while not herself. It is beautifully drawn and begins the long process of restoring Wanda as a hero rather than a cautionary tale.
4. Wanda’s own voice: Scarlet Witch (2015) by James Robinson
The first solo series to really work is Scarlet Witch (2015) by James Robinson, with a rotating roster of star artists. Its mission statement is right there in the first issue: “witchcraft is broken, and I have to fix it.” Each issue is a largely self-contained story as Wanda travels the world mending magic, confronting her heritage, and — crucially — taking ownership of her identity and her past mistakes. Because the issues are episodic, it is a wonderfully accessible entry point that requires almost no prior reading. If House of M sounds too continuity-heavy, start here instead.
5. The modern take: Scarlet Witch (2023) by Steve Orlando
The most recent solo run is Scarlet Witch (2023) by Steve Orlando and artist Sara Pichelli, which finds a more settled, confident Wanda running “the Emporium,” a magical shop that helps people in need. It is a warm, hopeful, largely stand-alone series that reflects the character’s rehabilitated modern status — ideal for readers who came in through the films and want a Wanda who is heroic and in control. It also ties into her renewed relationships with the wider Marvel magical community.
A note on WandaVision and the movies
Many new readers arrive because of Disney+’s WandaVision and the films. It is worth knowing the comics and the movies tell different stories — the MCU’s version of Wanda draws on ideas from House of M and the reality-warping “hex” concept, but the specifics differ. If you loved the show’s blend of grief, domesticity and reality-bending power, House of M is the closest comic touchstone, while the 2015 Robinson series best captures the introspective, self-reckoning Wanda.
Which path is right for you?
- Loved the emotional, tragic side of WandaVision? Read Avengers Disassembled then House of M.
- Want a standalone starting point with no homework? Read the 2015 or 2023 Scarlet Witch solo series.
- Want the full redemption arc? Read all five in the order above.
Because Wanda is an Avenger, an occasional X-character, and tied to the wider Marvel magic scene, her stories touch a lot of the universe — which is part of what makes her so rewarding once you are in.
What makes Wanda so compelling
Few Marvel characters carry as much thematic weight as the Scarlet Witch. She is defined by an almost unlimited power to reshape reality and by a fragile grip on her own sanity and grief, and the tension between those two things drives every great Wanda story. When she is well written, she is a study in how trauma and power feed each other: the more she loses, the more dangerous she becomes, and the harder it is for her to tell what is real. That is why House of M lands so hard, and why her redemption in the solo runs feels genuinely earned rather than handed to her.
She is also one of Marvel’s great “grey” heroes. Wanda has been an Avenger, a villain, a victim, and a healer, sometimes within the same era, and modern writers have leaned into that complexity rather than smoothing it over. Reading her comics in order lets you watch a character claw her way from the lowest point imaginable back to heroism — a rare, complete arc that pays off enormously if you follow it from Disassembled all the way to the 2023 series.
Where Wanda fits in the wider Marvel Universe
Wanda has been an Avenger for most of her history, so our Avengers reading order is the natural companion to this list. Because House of M reshaped mutantkind, readers who want that side of the story should also see our X-Men reading order. And if you enjoy Marvel’s more mischievous, magical corner, our Loki reading order makes a great follow-up. Browse more of the publisher through the Marvel hub.
AmazonCheck price on AmazonA suggested reading path
- Step 1: Avengers Disassembled — the tragedy that starts it all.
- Step 2: House of M — the defining, reality-warping epic.
- Step 3: Avengers: The Children’s Crusade — the redemption arc.
- Step 4: Scarlet Witch (2015) — Wanda’s own solo voice.
- Step 5: Scarlet Witch (2023) — the modern, heroic take.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start reading Scarlet Witch?
If you want the big, essential story, start with Avengers Disassembled and House of M. If you would rather have a self-contained solo book with no prior reading, start with the 2015 Scarlet Witch series by James Robinson.
Is House of M important to read?
Very. It is the single most important Scarlet Witch story and had enormous consequences across the Marvel Universe, especially for the X-Men. It is the definitive showcase of her power.
Do the comics match WandaVision?
Not exactly. The MCU draws on ideas from House of M and Wanda’s reality-warping powers, but tells its own story. House of M is the closest comic to the show’s themes of grief and altered reality.
Is the Scarlet Witch connected to the X-Men?
Historically yes — her lineage and the fallout of House of M tie deeply into mutant history. Our X-Men reading order covers that side of her story.
