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Tuesday 5 January 2021

VISION AND THE SCARLET WITCH READING ORDER: Bizarre Break-Up (1984-1990)

After Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch were probably the most recognisable couple in the Marvel Universe. Mention one and you're thinking about the other. But despite them being such a staple couple for so many years, it all came crashing down in 1989 when Immortus would set a plan in motion that would push the Scarlet Witch over the edge once again and see the Vision literally go to pieces.

This is part three of a three part reading order that focuses on the relationship between the Scarlet Witch and the Vision with the aim of introducing fans of the Disney+ 'WandaVision' series to the comics background that will probably act as inspiration for the TV series.

Remember, this reading order focuses on this pair and their relationship and other key moments in their lives, rather than the role of the Avengers as a whole. So not every story featuring the team will be given the spotlight treatment. Still, every appearance of the Vision and Scarlet Witch (together or separately) is listed so go ahead and read what you want!

MCG Notes:
  • Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Vision & Scarlet Witch stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
  • Issue listings in grey: Part of the Wanda & Vision's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
  • Chronology: Every appearance of the Vision & Scarlet Witch from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
  • Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
  • JUST WANT TO KEEP IT SIMPLE? Scroll down to THE CORE LIST to see a version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the essentials.
See the first two reading order entries covering the Vision & Scarlet Witch's relationship:
Captain America #292(p.13) (1984)
Scarlet Witch cameo.
Avengers #240-241 (1984)
Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) and the other female Avengers investigate the mystery of the forgotten Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) in San Francisco; the Wasp begins to question the Vision's motives; the Avengers and Doctor Strange fight save Jessica Drew from Morgan le Fay, but at the cost of her powers; Vision senses mysterious power surges that he fear may upset his plans.

Avengers #242(pp.1-18) (1984)
Avengers #242(pp.19-20) (1984) / Captain America #292(p.23) (1984)
Avengers #242(p.21) (1984)
Fantastic Four #265[2/2] (p.5) (1984)
Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #90(pp.16-18) (1984)
Just as Hawkeye returns to the Avengers, the Vision reveals he's also back on his feet in his synthezoid body; Vision has detected an energy source and forcefully stirs up the Avengers to oppose it; the Scarlet WItch notices the marked change in the Vision's behaviour; the Avengers investigate a massive construct in Central Park; the Vision and Scarlet Witch watch as their team mates walk into it and it disappears; the Vision offers the Black Cat Avengers membership, uncertain that the others will return during SECRET WARS.
Avengers #243 (1984)
The Vision publicly announces himself as leader of the remaining Avengers; the missing Avengers return; Wasp officially hands the role of Chairman to the Vision; Vision announces his plans for Hawkeye to set up a team of West Coast Avengers to tackle the threat of the invading Dire Wraiths during SECRET WARS / TOTAL WAR!

Incredible Hulk #300 (1984)
First appearance of the Crossroads; the Vision unsuccessfully leads the Avengers against the rampaging Hulk; Doctor Strange transports the Hulk to another dimension.
Avengers #244-245 (1984)
The Avengers face an embarrassing defeat under the Vision's leadership defend when Dire Wraiths disguised as the Rocketeers steal an experimental rocket from the John F Kennedy Space Centre; the Vision's plans to lead the war against the Wraiths himself are in ruins, despite an eventual victory; Hawkeye begins his search for a HQ for the West Coast Avengers during TOTAL WAR!

Avengers Annual #13 (1984)
The Vision sends a team of Avengers to face Arnim Zola's Hulk duplicates.

Wonder Man #1 (1986)
Vision cameo.

Avengers #246-248 (1984)
First appearance of Frank Rambeau, Maria Rambeau and Avengers Compound; the Vision and Scarlet WItch meet with the President; the Vision and Scarlet WItch show up late to save the Eternals from Maelstrom; Hawkeye and Mockingbird set up the West Coast Avengers' headquarters in California.

West Coast Avengers #1 (1984)
First appearance of the West Coast Avengers; Vision cameo; Hawkeye checks in with the Vision to let him know how the set up is going; Tigra, Wonder Man and Iron Man (James Rhodes) join Hawkeye and Mockingbird as the West Coast Avengers.

Iron Man Annual #7 (1984)
First appearance of Erik Josten as Goliath; Vision cameo; Vision agrees to send supplies to the West Coast Avengers to help them against Goliath.
Avengers #249(pp.1-10) (1984)
Avengers #249(pp.10-12) (1984) / Thor #350(pp.13-14) (1984)
Avengers #249(pp.12-22) (1984)
Thor #350(pp.14-22)-351 (1984-1985)
The Vision and ISAAC study Maelstrom's corpse; the Avengers assist Thor in defending New York from Surtur's invading demon army during THE SURTUR SAGA.

Code of Honor #4(p.6) (1997)
Vision fights demons above the streets of New York.

Thor #352-353 (1985)
The Vision leads the Avengers as the push the demonic army out of New York during THE SURTUR SAGA.

West Coast Avengers #4 (1984)
Vision cameo; the Vision contacts the West Coast Avengers to congratulate them on a job well done.

Captain America #299, 301 (1984-1985)
The Avengers learn the Red Skull has returned and captured Captain America; the Avengers rescue Cap who informs them that the Skull is now dead.

Avengers #250 (1984)
Hercules rejoins the Avengers; Maelstrom returns in a new cloned body; the Vision leads the East and West Coast Avengers against Maelstrom; the Scarlet Witch ultimately brings about Maelstrom's downfall.

Iron Man #190 (1985)
Tony Stark calls on the Vision and Scarlet WItch to help him Iron Man defeat the Termite.
Avengers #251 (1985)
First appearance of the Tavern on the Green; the Vision and ISAAC plot paradise on Earth by taking over the world's computer systems; Vision experiences nightmares as his human and mechanical sides begin to clash, raising concerns for the Scarlet Witch; the Wasp hooks up with Paladin.

Uncanny X-Men #190-191 (1985)
First appearance of Earth-8591 and its inhabitants; Hyborian Age sorcerer Kulan Gath alters reality around Manhattan, shaping it to match the world he knew; the Vision and Scarlet Witch work as agents of Kulan Gath, defending him from the X-Men and Avengers.

Rom #65-66 (1985)
The Vision and Scarlet Witch are among the heroes who rally to the planet's defense when the Dire Wraiths attempt to merge Earth with Wraithworld during
WRAITH WAR.

Avengers #252-254 (1985)
An anti-mutant group burn down the Vision and Scarlet Witch's New Jersey home; the Vision sends the Avengers to act as advisers to the US Army as they deconstruct Thanos' old Arizona base; the Black Knight returns but is held prisoner by the Vision as he initiates his plan to take over the world; the Black Knight escapes and the Avengers return, talking the Vision out of his plan; the Vision reveal he used his new abilities to manipulate the Wasp into handing leadership of the Avengers over to him and he then removes Ultron's Control Crystal from his brain.
Avengers #255 (1985)
The Avengers' standing with the US Government is severely damaged; the Vision passes leadership of the Avengers to Captain America ; the Vision reveals what he'd planned to do to 'save' the world to the Wasp when she returns to the Avengers; the Vision and Scarlet Witch leave the Avengers during THE LEGACY OF THANOS.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1 (1985)
West Coast Avengers #2 (1985)
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2 (1985)
First appearance of Brady Kent and Norm Webster; after forcibly releasing themselves from Project PEGASUS and Henry Peter Gyrich's experiments on the Vision, the Vision and Scarlet Witch return to New Jersey to restart their lives away from the Avengers, to start a family and to prove themselves as good neighbours; they soon end up contacting the West Coast Avengers for help when they're attacked by the Lethal Legion during FAMILY TIES.

West Coast Avengers #3 (1985)
The Vision and Wonder Man part as brothers; the Vision and Scarlet Witch return to their New Jersey home.

Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3-6 (1985-1986)
First appearance of Glamour (Glynis Zarkov) and Illusion (Ilya Zarkov); the Vision and Scarlet Witch are attacked by Salem's Seven after they kill the Scarlet Witch's magical mentor, Agatha Harkness; Harkness appears to the Scarlet Witch as a vision, helping her channel her powers and defeat Salem's Seven; Doctor Strange reveals to the Scarlet Witch that she's pregnant, clearly having used her focused powers to make it so; the couple befriend neighbours, the magic double-act Illusion & Glamour;  Wanda is briefly pulled into Samhain's realm; Magneto attempts to reconcile with the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver again.

Secret Wars II #9 (1986)
The Vision and Scarlet Witch are among the heroes who join the final battle against the Beyonder; the conclusion hits the Scarlet Witch quite hard during SECRET WARS II.
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #7-10 (1986)
The Toad attacks the Vision, jealous that he chose a machine over her former Brotherhood of Evil Mutants teammate; Luke Cage alerts the Scarlet Witch to the return of the High Priest of Zor; the Enchantress manipulates the Vision; Quicksilver realises his wife, Crystal, is having an affair and leaves her.

Incredible Hulk #323 (1986)
The Vision helps merge the separated Bruce Banner back into the Hulk's body but becomes trapped in the Hulk himself.
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #11-12 (1986)
First appearance of Thomas & William Maximoff; Spider-Man assists the Vision when the Toad returns to try and steal the Scarlet Witch away from him; the Scarlet WItch is rushed to hospital; Nekra attacks the hospital with the reanimated Grim Reaper and Wonder Man lookalike Brady Kent; Magneto assists in the villains' defeat; Wanda gives birth to twin boys, Thomas and William.

West Coast Avengers Annual #1 (1986)
Due to his recent personal issues and other past betrayals, Quicksilver turns against the Avengers; the Vision arrives talks him down from causing global chaos by showing him a picture of Quicksilver's infant nephews during SINS OF THE PAST.

Marvel Super-Heroes Special #10[1/3] (1992)
The Scarlet WItch investigates the reason why the dead are rising in their new home town of Leonia, New Jersey; despite discovering the cause of the incident, the residents of Leonia still see the Vision and the Scarlet Witch as the cause of the strange incidents plaguing their town.

West Coast Avengers #30 (1988)
Wonder Man reads a story to his new nephews when he drops in to visit the Vision and Scarlet Witch.

Solo Avengers #5[2/2] (1988)
The Scarlet Witch battles John Kowalski, the agent of Death.

Marvel Comics Presents #60[3/4]-63[3/4] (1990)
The Past Master removes the Scarlet Witch's spirit and sends it back in time to merge with her past self until she manages to return to the present.
West Coast Avengers #33-37(pp.1-9) (1988)
Quicksilver decides to make himself 'King of the Evil Mutants' and captures the Vision and Scarlet Witch, taking them to Bratislava; the West Coast Avengers free the Vision and Scarlet Witch but they all quickly become prisoners of the new Doctor Doom (Kristoff Vernard); Quicksilver fights Doom for ownership of the Avengers, but Doom lets the Avengers go; the Vision, Scarlet WItch and Avengers free Bratislava from Quicksilver's control during WEST COAST AVENGERS DISASSEMBLE!

Nick Fury vs SHIELD #2 (1988)
Vision and Scarlet Witch cameo; Henry Peter Gyrich comes to the West Coast Avengers in search of the fugitive Nick Fury.

West Coast Avengers #37(pp.10-22) (1988)
The Vision and Scarlet Witch consider joining the West Coast Avengers; the Voice controls Mantis, forcing her to attack the West Coast Avengers until Hawkeye frees her during WEST COAST AVENGERS DISASSEMBLE!
West Coast Avengers Annual #3[1/3] (1988)
The Vision and Scarlet WItch travel to Wakanda with Mantis and the West Coast Avengers to help the Black Panther beat back the High Evolutionary's forces during WEST COAST AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED! / THE EVOLUTIONARY WAR.

West Coast Avengers #38-40 (1988)
The Vision and Scarlet Witch return home to their children while the Avengers go back to helping Mantis; the Vision surprises the team by returning to assist them against the Cotati Swordsman; the Avengers clash with the Night Shift as the Vision and Scarlet Witch split their parenting duties with their resumed Avengers membership during WEST COAST AVENGERS DISASSEMBLED!
Web of Spider-Man #46 (1988)
Peter Parker's book tour takes him to Los Angeles where he teams up with the West Coast Avengers as Spider-Man when Nekra returns, looking to have her revenge on Hank Pym, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch.

Marvel Fanfare #48[3/3] (1989)
The Vision helps a struggling Vietnam veteran.

Fantastic Four #333 (1989)
Both teams of Avengers, the Fantastic Four and Doctor Strange visit the home of Marvel Comics writer 'John Harkness' to ask him to set their stories straight, primarily the FF who were recently replaced with evil duplicates.

West Coast Avengers #42-45 (1989)
Avengers Spotlight #23[2/2] (1989)
Tigra, Mockingbird, Hank Pym and Wasp return to the West Coast Avengers; a group formed by various intelligence agencies calling themselves Vigilance abduct and dismantle the Vision over his previous attempt to take over the world's computers; Hank Pym attempts to rebuild the Vision, but he is unable to restore emotions to his pale white form; Wonder Man refuses to allow his brain patterns to be copied again as he's secretly in love with the Scarlet Witch, himself; Thomas & William Maximoff start sporadically blinking out of existence; the USAgent is assigned to the West Coast Avengers; the Vision decides to publicly announce his new look on the Johnny Carson Show during VISION QUEST.
West Coast Avengers #46(p.22) (1989)
The Scarlet Witch receives a letter from the Absolon College of Robotics offering to help her restore the Vision during GREAT LAKES AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

Avengers #305-306, 308 (1989)
Captain America proposes the consolidation of all Avengers teams; the Avengers don't quite arrive in time to save Avengers Island from the Lava Men, but the Fantastic Four keep it afloat.

Avengers Spotlight #22[2/2] (1989)
Hawkeye teaches the West Coast Avengers about the Swordsman.

She-Hulk: Ceremony #1 (1989)
Scarlet Witch
cameo.

Marvel Comics Presents #38[2/2], 45[2/2] (1989-1990)
Scarlet Witch & Vision cameos.

Avengers West Coast #47-49 (1989)
That Which Endures takes possession of Charles Edison and uses him as a pawn to transform the Scarlet Witch into a host for the creature; the Great Lakes Avengers come to the aid of the West Coast Avengers and free the Scarlet WItch during GREAT LAKES AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!
Avengers Annual #18[1/4] (1989)
The Scarlet Witch weakens during a fight between all of the Avengers and the invading Atlanteans due to the involvement of the Serpent Crown during ATLANTIS ATTACKS.

Avengers West Coast #50-52 (1989)
The original Human Torch (Jim Hammond) returns, dispelling the idea that the Vision was built using his body; Iron Man rejoins the West Coast Avengers; Master Pandemonium returns to claim Thomas & William Maximoff as they're are two fragments of his lost soul, unwittingly used by the Scarlet Witch to become pregnant; reclaiming them, Master Pandemonium is destroyed by Mephisto; Mephisto attempts to claim the Scarlet WItch's soul are foiled by the Avengers and the resurrected Agatha Harkness, though Wanda is left in a near catatonic state.
Avengers West Coast Annual #4[1/5] (1989)
Thor Annual #14[1/6] (1989)
Fantastic Four Annual #22
[1/5] (1989)
The Scarlet Witch is among the seven female super-humans selected as the Seven Brides of Set; the Scarlet Witch essentially remains mindless until she's freed from Set's control and Ghaur is defeated by the Avengers and Fantastic Four during ATLANTIS ATTACKS.

Avengers West Coast #53 (1989)
Immortus prunes realities while monitoring the unresponsive Scarlet Witch; under the command of the Prime Movers (including Magneto), the U-Foes attack the West Coast Avengers; the Scarlet Witch hears the Vision is in danger and comes to; she joins the fight but appears deluded, believing the Vision to be restored during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Avengers West Coast Annual #5[5/5] (1990)
The Avengers tidy up after the U-Foes attack, searching for Hank Pym's Hyperatomic Anti-Proton Cannon.
Avengers #312 (1989)
Avengers West Coast #54 (1990)
Avengers #313 (1990)
Captain America #368[1/2] (1990)
Avengers West Coast #55(pp.1-19) (1990)
Avengers Spotlight #29[2/2] (1990)
The Vision and Scarlet Witch accompany Hank Pym back to the ruins of Avengers Mansion on the east coast where they clash with rogue members of Freedom Force; Pym flies the Scarlet Witch back to the west coast when she falls unconscious; on the east coast, the Vision joins the fight against the Mandarin and the Wizard; in the west, Magneto takes the Scarlet Witch into space; Vision joins the fight against the mastermind behind the 'Acts of Vengeance' while the USAgent and Wonder Man fail to retrieve the Scarlet Witch; Immortus loses track of the Scarlet Witch during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.

Avengers Forever #12 (1999)
The Scarlet Witch is briefly plucked from time by the Time Keepers to join their fight against the Avengers.

Avengers West Coast #55(pp.20-22) (1990)
Sporting a new look and a sinister attitude, the Scarlet Witch attacks the West Coast Avengers during ACTS OF VENGEANCE.
Avengers West Coast #56[1/2]-57 (1990)
Quicksilver rejoins Magneto and the Scarlet Witch as they stand over the defeated Avengers; with his family reunited, Magneto decides they should leave rather than hurt the Avengers for no reason, heading for the new Asteroid M; Quicksilver slyly tries to help the Avengers when they come to take the Scarlet Witch home, but Magneto sends them back to Earth with his children remaining at his side.

Avengers Annual #19[3/5] (1990)
The Vision, Captain America and Thor go over the events of the 'Acts of Vengeance'; the Vision appears to have rejoined the east coast brand of the Avengers at some point.

Avengers West Coast #60-62 (1990)
Quicksilver uses Lockjaw to teleport himself, Magneto and the Scarlet Witch to the West Coast Avengers on Earth; the Scarlet Witch falls into a trance and Magneto is defeated; Immortus emerges and, with coercion from Agatha Harkness, reveals he's been manipulating the life of the Scarlet Witch for some time, from the dismantling of her husband until now, using her role as a nexus being to prevent the Time Keepers from coming into being; the Scarlet Witch is restored to her old self.

Marvel Super Heroes Special #9[1/3] (1992)
Cupid
is tricked by Ares into attacking the West Coast Avengers.


Avengers #314-318 (1990)
The Vision and his fellow Avengers fights alongside Spider-Man when they clash with Nebula in space when she gains the Stranger's Infinity Union device.


Marvel Graphic Novel #68: Avengers - Death Trap, The Vault (1991)
The Vision and his fellow Avengers deal with a breakout at the Vault prison for superhuman criminals.

Marvel Comics Presents #38[2/2], 45[2/2] (1989-1990)
Scarlet Witch & Vision cameos.

Avengers #319-325 (1990)
The Vision, the rest of the Avengers, join forces with Alpha Flight and the People's Protectorate against the Combine; Machinesmith, Minister Blood and Mother Night infiltrate Avengers Mansion.

Avengers West Coast Annual #5[4/5] (1990)
Visiting the west coast, the Vision accompanies the male members of the West Coast Avengers to a monster truck rally.

Avengers West Coast Annual #5[1/5] (1990)
Avengers Annual #19[1/5] (1990)
Both Avengers teams join forces against Terminus (though the Scarlet WItch is not present as she's still recovering) during THE TERMINUS FACTOR.
Avengers West Coast #63 (1990)
First appearance of Living Lightning (Miguel Santos); the Scarlet Witch continues to recover at Avengers Compound; the Vision calls to wish her well, angering Wonder Man; the Living Lighting attacks the Avengers.

Avengers West Coast Annual #7[2/4] (1992)
While recovering from her recent ordeals, the Scarlet Witch practises using her powers which give her a glimpse of another reality (Earth-92077) in which the alternate Scarlet Witch of that world saved the Vision before he was dismantled and together they saved their children from Master Pandemonium; taking comfort in the existence of that reality out there somewhere, the Scarlet WItch begins to move on with her life.
A version of this reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns or less important appearances - just a list of the core Vision & Scarlet Witch stories and essentials:
  • Avengers #240-255
  • Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1
  • West Coast Avengers #2
  • Vision and the Scarlet Witch #2
  • West Coast Avengers #3
  • Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3-12
  • West Coast Avengers #33-37
  • West Coast Avengers Annual #3
  • West Coast Avengers #38-40
  • Web of Spider-Man #46
  • West Coast Avengers #42-46
  • Avengers West Coast #47-52
  • West Coast Avengers Annual #4
  • Thor Annual #14
  • Fantastic Four Annual #22
  • Avengers West Coast #53
  • Avengers #312
  • Avengers West Coast #54
  • Avengers #313
  • Avengers West Coast #55-57
  • Avengers West Coast #60-62
  • Avengers #314-325
  • Avengers West Coast Annual #5
  • Avengers #19
  • Avengers West Coast #63
  • Avengers West Coast Annual #7[2/4]
The Scarlet Witch will receive a solo reading order entry in the future:
  • SCARLET WITCH: No More Mutants (2004-2015)
Marvel Graphic Novel: Emperor Doom (1987)
The Avengers fall under Doctor Doom's control when he uses the Purple Man to take over the world; I've included this story more to reference the fact that I consider it to be an alternate universe story and not a part of regular continuity due to so many elements not coinciding with Earth-616 continuity; otherwise it would take place during the first issue of the 'Vision and Scarlet Witch' limited series.

What If #19 (1990)
On Earth-90110, the Vision successfully takes over the world (becoming the Ultra-Vision) and by the year 2126, the Cosmic Avengers bring peace to the Kree and Skrull worlds; on Earth-90111, when the Ultra-Vision takes over the world's computers, Genosha retaliates with a nuclear weapon, wiping out most of the population of America.
Avengers: Absolute Vision vol.1
Includes...
Avengers #240-241

Avengers: Absolute Vision vol.2
Avengers #242-254
Avengers Annual #13

Eternals: The Complete Saga Omnibus
Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga
Both include... 
Avengers #246-248

Incredible Hulk: Regression
Hulk vs the Marvel Universe
Both include...
Incredible Hulk #300

Avengers: The Legacy of Thanos
Includes...
Avengers #255

Avengers: Vision and the Scarlet Witch - A Year in the Life
Vision and the Scarlet Witch: The Saga of Wanda and Vision
Both include...
Vision and the Scarlet WItch #1-12
West Coast Avengers #2

Avengers: West Coast Avengers - Family Ties
Avengers: West Coast Avengers Omnibus vol.1
Avengers West Coast Epic Collection vol.1: How The West Was Won
All include...
Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1-2
West Coast Avengers #2

Avengers: West Coast Avengers Omnibus vol.2
Includes...
West Coast Avengers #33-40
West Coast Avengers Annual #3

Avengers West Coast Epic Collection vol.3: Tales to Astonish
Includes...
West Coast Avengers #33-37

Avengers West Coast Epic Collection vol.4: Vision Quest
Includes...
Avengers Spotlight #23
Avengers West Coast #47-51
Avengers West Coast Annual #4
West Coast Avengers #38-40, 42-46
West Coast Avengers Annual #3

Avengers by John Byrne Omnibus
Includes...
Avengers #312-318
Avengers Annual #18
Avengers Spotlight #23
Avengers West Coast #47-62
Avengers West Coast Annual #4
West Coast Avengers #42-46

Avengers West Coast: Vision Quest
Avengers West Coast #47-50
West Coast Avengers #42-46

Avengers West Coast: Darker Than Scarlet
Avengers Avengers #51-57, 60-62

Avengers West Coast: Along Came a Spider-Woman
Includes...
Avengers West Coast #63

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