The Scarlet Witch is the only character in this corpus whose major crossovers are events that it causes : Avengers Disassembled (2004) and House of M (2005). Elsewhere - Avengers vs. X-Men (2012), Civil War (2006), the major events of the 1990s: she participates like the others.
Sorting is simpler here than elsewhere, because the distinction is clear: two events of which it is the cause, and a long list where she is one member among others.
This position of author of disaster has almost no equivalent. She explains both the importance of the character and the reservations he gives rise to.
The two events of which it is the cause
Avengers Disassembled (2004)
The character destroys the team to which he belonged for forty years. This is not an external attack: the threat comes from within, and from someone everyone considered one of their own.
This corpus notes what this produces editorially. It is common for a team to disband; it is rare that it is done by a member, and extremely rare that this member then remains in the catalog.
To aim for: Avengers #500, opening arc. Recent issue, widely printed, whose value rests entirely on the gradation.
House of M (2005)
The character rewrites reality, then revokes part of it. The consequences of this decision structured the mutant franchise for an entire decade.
This is probably the most consequential event of the 2000s at this publisher, and it rests entirely on her.
⚠️ Market point to know: this crossover is highly sought after, but by collectors of the mutant franchise, whose situation he turned upside down. As is often the case with this issue, the request that bears the price does not belong to the character.
To aim for: House of M #1 and #8. The tie-ins, which are very numerous, remain at the price of all comers.
Those where she participates
Avengers vs. X-Men (2012)
The conflict between the publisher's two major teams, where his past responsibility weighs on his position: the mutants have not forgiven him for anything.
This is the only event in the second category that concerns her. indirectly: it is not the cause, but it is an issue.
Civil War (2006)
The conflict over the legal framework for vigilantes, where it plays a marginal role: a direct consequence of the above: it is then out of the loop.
The major events of the 1980s and 1990s
The character goes through the crossovers of these decades as a member of his team, without his situation changing.
⚠️ Considerable circulation periods for the 1990s: excellent reading purchases, poor placements. The collections are more rational than the fascicles.
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Start my trial →What this file teaches about crossovers
A general observation, which this character illustrates better than any other.
In a cross event, a character can occupy three distinct positions, and they do not have the same collectible value.
Participant. He acts, he fights, nothing happens to him. This is the case for the vast majority, and these numbers have no value of their own.
Stake. The event plays out around him without him deciding. More interesting position, but the demand remains that of the event.
Cause. It triggers. This is the rarest position, and the only one that lastingly attaches the character to the event in the readers' memory.
The Scarlet Witch is one of the very rare characters in the catalog to have occupied third position twice. That's what makes it in the catalog, and it's measurable: its most expensive issues are event issues, not first appearances.
Collection strategy
Prioritize the two events from 2004-2005. They contain the essentials of the modern character, and they are recent and therefore accessible. Buy high grade: during these periods, nothing else retains value.
Don't overlook the House of M tie-ins. The event includes a very large number of them, scattered throughout all of the publisher's series. They remain priceless even though they belong to the most important story of his career.
Treat the 1990s in collections. Nothing in this decade justifies a purchase of booklets on this character.
Know what you're paying for. On House of M as on X-Men #4, the price is set by the demand for the mutant franchise. This is the constant of this file, and it deserves to be integrated before buying.
As always, condition and gradation determine value; relying on real recent sales is strongly recommended.
Find the complete selection in our key numbers and our tier list of key issues.
Track each crossover and identify missing tie-ins with our collection management application.
Frequently asked questions
In only two: Avengers Disassembled (2004) and House of M (2005). In the first, she destroys the Avengers team she had belonged to for forty years. In the second, she rewrites reality and then revokes part of it, with consequences that shaped the mutant franchise for an entire decade.
For Avengers Disassembled, target Avengers #500, the opening of the arc, a recent and heavily printed issue whose value rests entirely on grading. For House of M, target #1 and #8. The numerous tie-ins remain at ordinary back-issue prices.
In Avengers vs X-Men (2012) she is not the cause of the conflict but she is a stake in it: her past responsibility weighs on her position, since the mutants have forgiven her nothing. In Civil War (2006) she has a marginal role and is out of the picture.
Participant, stake or cause. The participant acts while nothing happens to them, and their issues have no value of their own. The stake sees the event unfold around them, but demand remains that of the event. The cause triggers it: this is the rarest position, and the only one that durably ties the character to the event.
In collected editions. That decade is marked by enormous print runs: these make excellent reading purchases but poor investments, and nothing justifies buying single issues for this character. Collected editions are the more rational choice.