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Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3: Review

Dec 1985
Steve Englehart, Richard Howell

Story Name:

Ancestors

Review & Comments

Rating:
4 stars

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3 Review by (November 15, 2022)

Review: A lot of witchy doings in this issue and little of it comes from the Scarlet Witch. Agatha Harkness, a staple of Fantastic Four titles, is killed and a band of witches takes over for her—but they and their village are wiped off the map in a single issue, thanks to Wanda. The issue is rather talky but since Wanda kills all the baddies in five seconds once she and Vision get their powers back, I’m guessing they had to pad the page count. Oh and though they are all dead, this isn’t the last we see of Salem’s Seven.

Comments: Agatha Harkness dies here and returns (of course) in AVENGERS WEST COAST #51-52. Salem’s Seven were introduced in FANTASTIC FOUR #186 and returned in FF ANNUAL #14 and FF #233; they next appear in issue #5 of this limited series. The sound made by the exploding mountain is “Barsoomm!” which is also the name of Mars in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars series (minus an M at the end); no idea what this signifies.





 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

In New Salem, Agatha Harkness has been captured by Salem’s Seven, and is being burned at the stake. She curses her betrayers but Vertigo, her successor as High Priestess, assures her followers that, as her grandchildren, they have the power to prevail over the Scarlet Witch….

Two months later, Vision and the Scarlet Witch are having an idyllic walk in the Rocky Mountains; Vision revels in his new-found family though his recently discovered connection with Simon Williams. Wanda brings up Vision’s suggestion they have a baby (end of last issue), pointing out the difficult mechanics of it all. They then discover a village not on the map. It is New Salem and they are then attacked by Salem’s Seven. The two heroes prevail until Vertigo puts a mind-bending spell on them—which only affects Wanda. It takes Vakume draining Vision’s energy that causes the Synthezoid to shut down….

Wanda awakens inside a cage with the unconscious Vision beside her. The cage is reinforced with multiple spells to ensure she cannot escape. Vertigo invites Wanda to join their community—but without Vision as only witches are welcome there. Vertigo also mentions that it is Lammas when a sacrifice is made as a tribute to the Corn God and this year it is Gazelle, who opposed trapping Wanda. Vertigo also casually mentions that they have killed Agatha Harkness (and also that she is Agatha’s granddaughter). Wanda refuses to join them and they leave. She then tries to power up Vision but the binding spells prevent her from using any of her hex power. Wanda appeals to Gazelle to help them escape but the young witch is proud to be a sacrifice for her people. Vision quietly reveals that he is awake, only “playing possum.” Gazelle is so moved by Wanda’s great love for the Vision that she offers her blessing for their escape….

At dawn, Gazelle is taken out and burned at the stake. Salem’s Seven (minus one) bring Wanda and Vision out and tie them to stakes but Vision absorbs energy from the sun and responds with his eye lasers, escaping and rescuing Wanda. Vertigo unleashes her magical power on him but Vision repels it, knocking the High Priestess out and without her to contain all of the magical energy, it strikes against the inhabitants of New Salem. Wanda tries to contain the energy and channel it into the mountain but Agatha’s ghost appears, telling her not to merely channel it but to use it. The mountain explodes and all 666 (actually 665) citizens of New Salem perish. Wanda tells Vision about Agatha appearing to her and she wonders if her advice to use the magic referred not to the battle but her desire to have a baby….

“Not a Text Page, or, Vamping Till Your Letters Come in”
Everything: Fred Hembeck.
Synopsis: Vision and Scarlet Witch appear in a comical page plugging the other projects of the creative team (including Fred Hembeck) and inviting readers to send letters.



Richard Howell
Jim Mooney
Janet Jackson
Richard Howell (Cover Penciler)
Richard Howell (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Letterer: L. Lois Buhalis.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch

(Wanda Maximoff)

Plus: Agatha Harkness.

> Vision and the Scarlet Witch: Book info and issue index

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