Avengers: Suffer the Children

AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE #1 preview art by Jimmy Cheung

By Kevin Mahadeo

Lately, when it comes to the reality-warping Wanda Maximoff, The Scarlet Witch, fans expect some sort of deception. But when it comes to the one-time hero's announced return in the nine-issue bi-monthly series AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort assures it's no trick.

"We've hinted and teased and messed around with this in the past," says Brevoort. "We are going to find her. Her whereabouts and circumstances and all the issues that revolve around her will form the backbone and the spine of this story."

Along with returning The Scarlet Witch to prominence, CHILDREN'S CRUSADE-first issue hitting stores July 8-also brings writer Allan Heinberg back to the Avengers after a near five-year absence and reteams him with YOUNG AVENGERS artist Jimmy Cheung. Heinberg says that "it feels very much like we just picked up where we left off creatively."

"Every page looks better than the last, and it's the best work I've seen him do," praises the writer of his creative partner. "I've tried to keep the panel count down, at least going into it, just to give Jim more room to play. We've got the Avengers, the Young Avengers, a number of [X-Men], guest stars; just an enormous cast."

Of course, Wanda's return almost necessitates a virtual army to greet her. After all, the last time readers and the heroes of the Marvel Universe saw the character she spoke three simple words that caused devastating effects and wrecked havoc on the entire mutant population.

AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE #1 preview art by Jimmy Cheung

"In terms of how people are viewing her, I think it certainly depends on the person," admits Brevoort. "As regards to the individual Avengers that were her friends, that all depends particularly on their relationship. The fact that Wanda is back again, to some that will pose a hideous threat. She has shown that she can turn the world upside down and inside out at a whim. On the other hand, these are characters that have a long history and connection with this woman who would want to find a way to save her and pull her back from the brink. In the middle of all that, the Young Avengers themselves have to figure out, even as they embark on this quest to find Wanda, once they get there, what then? What do they actually want to do?"

However, heroes won't be the only ones looking for Ms. Maximoff. Brevoort confirmed at least two "world-class, you'd recognize them if you saw them on a street" villains playing a role in the upcoming series. He adds that he feels one seems relatively obvious, but the other not as much. In truth, Heinberg says the upcoming title brings into question the ideas behind heroism and villainy. Many may argue on the side of her brother Quicksilver and his actions during House of M as his choices reflected a simple desire to save the life of his sister.

"Our hope is that at any point in this series you might find yourself rooting for the so-called villains," explains the writer. "Everybody's agenda is so deeply personal that it skews it ethically. A character like Magneto obviously has a vested interested in The Scarlet Witch. If he's operating as a dad trying to protect his daughter, how villainous does that make him?"

One of the biggest questions about the limited series follows on when exactly it takes place in comparison to Marvel's current Heroic Age. While Brevoort admits that Heinberg actually started writing the series two years ago, they do make an effort to fit the story into the here and now, albeit with one or two slight changes.

AVENGERS: THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE #1 preview art by Jimmy Cheung

"It is the post-Siege, Heroic Age Marvel Universe; however, because we began work on this book about two years ago, we had to take the best educated guess we could as to where certain elements shake out, and over the course of two years some things are in a slightly different place now," notes Brevoort. "We are basically asking people to trust us. By the time we are done with these nine issues and the 18 months of time it will take for [them] to come out, there will be a point in time where all these events will line up and sink up perfectly."

Brevoort also adds that he feels the gap between Heinberg beginning to write the series to its upcoming release actually helped enhance the story. By giving The Scarlet Witch's actions in the HOUSE OF M limited series time to ripple across the Marvel Universe, readers better saw the lasting affects she caused better.

As for Heinberg's future with both the Marvel Universe and the Young Avengers team, the writer admits only time will tell.

"I think Tom and I-and Jim too-came into CHILDREN'S CRUSADE feeling this would be our last stand with these kids. But the more time I spend working on the book, the more I realize that there are more stories I want to tell with these kids. It's certainly an event where all three of us aren't going to be able to pull off again in the near future. This could be it, but I hope it isn't."

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