Marvel Calls Out the MCU's Most Controversial Trope, Delivering Justice to the Scarlet Witch

WARNING! Spoilers for TVA #4

It's happening: Marvel is finally addressing its fridging problem, and this acknowledgment of a common issue in comics may lead to the Scarlet Witch's MCU fate being undone. Over the years, countless female characters have suffered tragic ends in order to push their male counterparts' narratives forward. Now, Marvel has admitted to this mistake in one of its new releases at long last.

In TVA #4 by Katharyn Blair, Pere Pérez, Guru-eFX, and Joe Sabino, Spider-Gwen ventures into the TVA's mysterious Department of Deferment and discovers that the Scarlet Witch - specifically, a variant of her who resembles her MCU counterpart - has been locked away following her death against Doctor Strange.

Spider-Gwen and Wanda Maximoff in TVA #4

Spider-Gwen comments, "She's not dead. She's fridged. Literally. No matter who she is, she doesn't deserve this." Using the term "fridged" to describe the Scarlet Witch getting eliminated from the MCU and locked away highlights a major problem within comics as a whole, suggesting that Marvel could turn over a new leaf with Wanda Maximoff.

Thanks to Scarlet Witch, Marvel Has Acknowledged Its Fridging Problem

Wanda Maximoff Is The Latest in a Long Line of Mistreated Female Characters

The term "fridging" was coined by Gail Simone in reference to the infamous death of Alexandra DeWitt in Green Lantern #54 by Ron Marz, Derec Donovan, Steve Carr, and Darryl Banks. In this issue, Kyle Rayner's girlfriend was horrifically murdered and shoved into a fridge by Major Force. Fridging, therefore, refers to when a female character is brutalized in order to fuel a male character's pain and drive forth his story. Although this word is inspired by a DC comic, Marvel has utilized this trope a number of times as well, which many readers deem problematic.

"She Doesn't Deserve This": Marvel Admits It Mishandled Scarlet Witch In the MCU

Issue #4 of TVA, released March 19, officially confirms Wanda Maximoff’s survival, opening a world of possibilities for the future of the MCU.

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One of the most notable examples of fridging can be found in the death of Gwen Stacy, depriving Spider-Man of his love interest and serving as yet another example of his "Parker luck". She may be the victim, but it's Spider-Man whose grief takes center stage. Another example of a fridged Marvel character is Karen Page, whose death impacted Daredevil deeply. Scarlet Witch has now joined this club of fridged characters, albeit in a more literal sense, and it's through her that Marvel has admitted that these women don't deserve such a fate. Hopefully, Marvel owning up to this mistake means that changes will be made.

Will Marvel Comics Undo the Scarlet Witch's Tragic MCU Death?

Scarlet Witch's "Fridging" May Be Reversed in Marvel's New Tie-In Comic

Scarlet Witch killing herself in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Now that Marvel is finally owning up to its rampant issues with sidelining women in stories, there's a possibility that the Scarlet Witch's death in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness will be rectified at long last. The TVA series teases her awakening at the end of the latest issue, and this Wanda's similarities to her MCU variant could indicate parallels between her comeback and the possible comeback of the live-action version. In any case, this Wanda's return frees her from literal fridging, and Marvel should take notes with its other female characters moving forward - including, but not limited to, the MCU's Scarlet Witch.

TVA #4 is available now from Marvel Comics!