Scarlet Witch

Marvel Comics will reprint the first three issues of several of its All-New, All-Different comics under the imprint Timely Comics. Debuting in June, Timely Comics presents the opening issues of these series in one oversized comic, at the reduced price of $2.99. The initiative offers readers the chance to catch up on cornerstones of the Marvel Universe like All-New, All-Different Avengers and Invincible Iron Man, but it also features collections of critical darlings such as Doctor Strange and Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, providing an easy access point for readers to try something new.

Although cosplay has been present for decades within the comics, anime, and sci-fi/fantasy fandoms, social media has played an integral role in the thriving communities of costuming that exist, such as Cosplay.com and the Superhero Costuming Forum. Over the years, the cosplay community has evolved into a creative outlet for many fans to establish and showcase some impressive feats of homemade disguise, craftsmanship, and sartorial superheroics at conventions. In honor of the caped crusaders of the convention scene, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), an ongoing collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we’ve discovered and assembled into a super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.

The interdimensional forces of the Emperikul are looking to cleanse the Marvel Universe of all magic in the aptly titled "The Last Days of Magic," a storyline beginning in Doctor Strange #6, by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. In fact, the preview shows these creepy Stormtrooper-looking guys attacking not only Stephen Strange, but other characters including Magik, Shaman, and the Scarlet Witch.

We're 121 days away from Captain America: Civil War hitting theaters, and that seems like the perfect time for Funko to reveal its first line of figures from the upcoming film. Already we've seen Hot Toys and Lego hint at respective plans for toys based on the third Captain America film, and with Funko now diving in, that leaves just a few stragglers (including Hasbro) to show us what to expect on the toy front from the Marvel film that will divide it's two biggest stars. Typically, Funko just reveals its own proprietary mass market figures in the Pop line, but this time the vinyl-maker has also given a glimpse into the variants we'll be able to find, and which retailers will be home to those alternate looks. Curiously enough, the biggest characters in the film wound up with the fewest versions. At least all three of the major female leads are all present and accounted for this time.

This past weekend Hot Toys displayed a number of new products at the annual Toy Soul convention. While new Star Wars figures are nice and all, the real meat and potatoes was in the unveiling of the first Captain America: Civil War figures. These are the first new collectibles for the upcoming sequel that anyone has shown to this point, though only returning characters have been given the public spotlight so far. At least as far as the sixth-scale line is concerned. There were a few vinyl figures for some of the newcomers, but it would appear anyone holding out hope for the sixth-scale Black Panther or Agent 13 will have to wait until 2016 for a glimpse. Still, that we've been given a look into the future of Hot Toys' Marvel Cinematic Universe plans this early is exciting. Typically these sorts of tie-in figures are kept under wraps until the last possible moment. That nine have been revealed already certainly doesn't bode well for anyone hoping to grab a complete set, especially considering the characters that aren't included so far, and that Iron Man likely changes armor at least seven times in this film. So that's another dozen figures right there. Probably.

The 2016 Lego catalog is out, and with it come some surprise reveals for upcoming sets based in the Marvel universe. Just like the 2015 catalog revealing a bit about Avengers: Age of Ultron, Lego's latest teasers show a great deal of what to expect from the upcoming cinematic adventure, Captain America: Civil War. These sets are not to be confused with the other recently announced Marvel Super Hero sets, which included the first ever Captain Marvel and Thanos mini figures, though those are also due out in early 2016 and do make an appearance in the catalog. While there have been countless Lego sets based on the Marvel movies (and countless others) that haven't panned out with an exact 1:1 representation to the movie, the Avengers: Age of Ultron sets were fairly spot on. That's what makes these new Civil War sets so interesting. Each shares at least a little bit in common with some of the teasers and trailers we've seen so far, though there are still some surprises that should make Marvel fans excited if they do work out.

In honor of the caped crusaders of the convention scene, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), an ongoing collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we’ve discovered and assembled into a super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent.

Scarlet Witch has been a growing force in the Marvel Universe of late. Not only has she been a fixture of Uncanny Avengers, but she’s made appearances in the all new Doctor Strange, and The Vision, and of course she made her big screen debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron, played by Elizabeth Olsen. And now she's the star of her own ongoing series, from writer James Robinson and a roster of star artists, including issue #1's Vanesa R. Del Rey. The series sees Wanda dig in to the nature of witchcraft in the Marvel Universe, and the book has received particular buzz for its new costume designs; created by the always stylish Kevin Wada. ComicsAlliance spoke to Wada about the redesign, its cues from modern fashion, and how modernization plays into Wanda’s new direction.

Scarlet Witch #1 opens with a flashback to the press conference from Avengers (vol. 1) #16, in which Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch officially join the team. It’s hard to imagine now, but this was the first time the Avengers ever had a new lineup. Wanda doesn’t always get the respect that this deserves, but she's been an Avenger since almost the very beginning. In fact, she’s only the second female member after the Wasp. But in this fractious post-Secret Wars Marvel Universe, being a longtime Avenger doesn’t necessarily mean what it used to. Many things have been cast into doubt. For decades, being the mutant daughter of Magneto was a huge element of the Scarlet Witch’s story, and now it seems that she’s neither his daughter nor a mutant. That may be frustrating for her longtime fans (it certainly is for me), but it doesn’t feel important to this story. This isn’t a story about mutants, or Inhumans, or people who’ve been experimented on by the High Evolutionary. This is a story about witchcraft.

That tiara in her hair; that not-Magneto's-daughter stare, which strips mutant-dom bare, it's Scarlet Witchcraft. As one of the biggest female heroes in the Marvel Universe never to have had her own book before, it's welcome news that Wanda Maximoff is finally getting her time to shine in Scarlet Witch #1. Written by James Robinson, the series promises to dig deep into the question of how witchcraft works (or doesn't) in Wanda's world, and might even explain how her formerly-mutant powers work. Check out a preview, with art by Vanesa R. Del Rey.