The Scarlet Witch discovered the Darkhold in WandaVision - and it can set up Blade and the Midnight Sons. Phase 4 has transformed the Marvel Cinematic Universe, unleashing the Multiverse and Kang the Conqueror, a villain who has the potential to be even more dangerous than Thanos. But, while all attention is currently focused upon these Multiversal arcs, it has had a far more pronounced impact on Wanda Maximoff.
WandaVision retconned Wanda's origins, revealing Wanda is in fact the Scarlet Witch - a being of phenomenal mystical power, who can wield Chaos Magic, the raw force of creation itself. "The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged," Agatha Harkness declared. "She has no coven, no need for incantation... Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme." Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch is next due to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and it's unknown whether she'll be an ally or enemy to the Masters of the Mystic Arts.
But there is more to the Scarlet Witch retcon than simply her expanding powerset. Agatha Harkness knew so much about Wanda's powers because she had read an ancient book of dark magic - and the Darkhold may be more important to the future of the MCU than viewers have begun to realize.
The Darkhold is the most dangerous book of dark magic in the Marvel Universe. In the comics, it was forged by one of the Elder Gods who ruled Earth before humanity ever evolved, a dangerous being named Chthon. He and his fellow Elder Gods were banished to another dimension, but Chthon left behind a collection of scrolls that served as a conduit for his power and a potential way for him to return. These scrolls were initially transcribed on to stone tablets, and then on to pages of a book that became called the Darkhold. It was guarded by Chthonic cultists who called themselves, appropriately enough, the Darkholders. And every time its dark magic is used, it damages the fabric of reality, increasing the chance Chthon will return and claim this planet once again.
The Darkhold is a sinister addition to the MCU, not least because according to Agatha Harkness it contained an entire chapter dedicated to the Scarlet Witch. According to comic book lore, Chthon knew that to name a thing is to possess power and influence over it. He deliberately inscribed details of potential threats in its pages, and by doing so he gained control over them. Wanda may be reading the Darkhold in order to learn magic, but the Darkhold could well trap the Scarlet Witch, binding her to an Elder God's will. This book is certainly not at all safe to read.
The Darkhold is best described as a WMD. Leaving aside its connection to the Elder Gods, the Darkhold contains spells of the darkest magic; in the comics it is the source of vampires and possibly werewolves as well. As a result, several of Marvel's preeminent magical superheroes have found themselves sworn to defending it, ensuring its magic is contained and is not used by any of the sorcerers who covet its power. This group of guardians are called the Midnight Sons, and their members have included characters like Doctor Strange, Blade the Vampire Slayer, several versions of Ghost Rider, and Werewolf By Night.
Doctor Strange is already a key figure in Phase 4, and he's soon set to be joined by Mahershala Ali as the MCU's Blade; there's been some speculation Doctor Strange 2 could directly set up Blade, given the Darkhold connection. Meanwhile, Moon Knight will be coming to Disney+ as well, played by Oscar Isaac in what promises to be one of Marvel's most creative shows to date. Marvel recently established a new LLC to work on an unknown title, but the LLC's name has links to Ghost Rider, suggesting one iteration of the Spirit of Vengeance could be on his way to the MCU. And there have been consistent reports Moon Knight will also introduce Werewolf By Night, with some rumors even suggesting Marvel's lupine superhero will get his own Disney+ TV series as well. Given so many of the Midnight Sons are appearing in Phase 4, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them all team up soon - and the Darkhold could be at the center of this story.
In the comics, a group of Darkholder cultists successfully tore out some pages from the Darkhold, and they began distributing them across the world. They scoured the globe looking for people who were suggestible, whose own evil desires - their greed, lust, pride, or longing for power - meant they would be tempted to use its magic. But every spell in the Darkhold is a trick, a trap laid by an Elder God. So a person who seeks immortality might be turned to stone, a woman who desires beauty may find every man fighting over her, a seeker of wealth could be transformed into a dragon who hoards its gold. Worse still, every one of these incantations does damage to reality itself - and, given the Multiverse has been unleashed in Phase 4, that could be particularly dangerous.
It's quite possible that, in a similar way, Doctor Strange 2 will see the magic of the Darkhold spread across the globe. If that is the case, Earth will need defenders to track down the men and women who are using this dark magic, defeat them, and reclaim this magic before it causes too much damage. Who better to do this than a team of mystical superheroes - Doctor Strange, prophesied by the Ancient One to be the greatest of the Sorcerers Supreme, Moon Knight, Blade, Werewolf By Night, and perhaps even Scarlet Witch too. Back in 2018, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted Marvel was planning a new superhero team, "a new franchise beyond Avengers," and the Midnight Sons could be that franchise. If that is the case, then WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are the launchpads for a whole range of supernatural adventures - one that will see humanity threatened like never before in the history of the MCU.
https://ift.tt/3yMucEm
August 29, 2021 at 11:30PM
