WandaVision released its first episode on January 15, 2021, on Disney+ for the viewers to watch. And with this, Marvel officially commenced its Phase 4, leading into the events after Avengers: Endgame. WandaVision focuses heavily on Wanda Maximoff’s power of alternating realities and reintroduces Vision for the first time after the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Originally, WandaVision was to follow another Marvel Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and lead directly into Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But then again the course of the current pandemic somehow allowed Marvel to reshuffle their roster and they kicked off Phase 4 with WandaVision.
But even so, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a connected universe at the very core, so whatever events happen in WandaVision, they will anyway pave the role for Wanda in Doctor Strange 2. Let’s switch gears for a while. Loki is another Disney+ series from Marvel’s end, and will also directly lead into Doctor Strange 2. And if we recall, in Loki’s trailer, we got a glimpse of one of the most powerful villains who can manipulate memories, reality, and even time – Mephisto. The layman theory is that Mephisto is going to be the main villain of Loki. But we cannot afford to ignore Mephisto’s connection with Wanda and Vision in the comics. Speaking of this, a fair clue of Mephisto’s connection with Wanda and Vision might be given in WandaVision’s second episode.
In the comics, Billy and Tommy, Wanda and Vision’s children, are originally created from aspects of Mephisto’s soul. But being the aspect, they disappear when the devil’s soul is completed and this drives Wanda off the handle, and she explodes with grief, which leads to the events of the iconic House of M story. The comic then sees Wanda using her powers, yet again, to alter reality and create a world for herself where she is with her children, again. WandaVision isn’t strictly based on any particular Marvel comic, but it’s clear the Disney+ show is pulling some ideas from House of M for its MCU version of Vision and Wanda’s story. Billy and Tommy, for instance, will appear in future episodes, and the sitcom-based world the show takes place in is obviously an alternate reality to that of the usual MCU.
But we know the Marvel Cinematic Universe need not be exactly like the comics. As such, an MCU version of Mephisto – a devil is known for striking deals with lost, grief-stricken heroes – could be who’s behind the strange world Wanda and Vision are now in. Wanda, completely bereaved following Vision’s death in Endgame, may have struck a deal with Mephisto in order to get Vision back. And rather than just gifting her that life, Mephisto may have helped her unlock the full scope of her powers, allowing Wanda to create this new reality all by herself. This new happy life comes at a cost, though, because it also appears the other people in Westview are trapped there against their will. Wanda’s powers are growing wildly and out of control. And giving her some part of control over the world is an issue. But someone else’s also partially responsible for this mishap.
A voice was heard on the radio in WandaVision which said, “Who’s doing this to you, Wanda?” If it’s Mephisto, then his influence over Wanda could be his introduction to the MCU ahead of his role in Loki and possibly even Doctor Strange 2. In fact, Mephisto could wind up being the main villain for all of Phase 4 and is perhaps right now merely using lieutenants like Agnes to enact his evil. Loki could then see the God of Mischief helping the Time Variance Authority to investigate these strange occurrences, and come Doctor Strange 2, the Sorcerer Supreme gets involved because Mephisto’s meddling is now having ramifications for the whole multiverse. Only time will tell if Mephisto is working his magic in the MCU, but if so, WandaVision teasing a devil working behind the scenes could very well be where the villain is first introduced.
WandaVision is available for streaming on Disney+, and will also include The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki as well. Marvel is branching out into television more, which is actually a good thing as fans can have more close-up time with their favorite characters.
