Wanda Maximoff has had no shortage of challenges since taking on the Sorcerer Supreme mantle in Steve Orlando's current comic run. From clashing with Agatha Harkness over the role once held by Doctor Strange to facing off against unexpected threats like Madelyne Pryor, the Queen of Limbo, the Scarlet Witch has been tested at every turn. But the biggest threat yet has been the Extinction King, an ancient being who escaped his imprisonment and now seeks to destroy all magic across every realm.
In Sorcerer Supreme #9, Wanda and her ally Turin Sud-Ba, the Sorcerer Supreme of the Quantum Realm, find themselves trapped inside the Torture Star, one of the Extinction King's devastating weapons. The living sun captures beings in an endless cycle of pain, and the two barely manage to escape and destroy it. But their victory is short-lived when they learn the Extinction King's true plan: he has sealed the Vishanti, the ancient beings who once imprisoned him, into a new weapon called the Hexatomb, which he intends to use at the Crossroads to wipe out all magic everywhere.
Realizing the stakes, Wanda rushes back to Earth to rally her cabinet of advisors, which includes her reincarnated sons Wiccan and Speed, the mystic arts master Clea, the dream-weaving Somnus, and her protégé Amaranth. To her surprise, she finds two additional powerful sorcerers waiting: Agatha Harkness and Wong. With these eight allies plus herself, Wanda forms a new team: the Nexus Nine.
This isn't just any magical gathering. The Nexus Nine represents one of the most formidable collections of magic users in Marvel Comics. It includes three current or former Sorcerer Supremes—Wanda, Turin, and Clea—plus two characters who have held the title in other contexts, Agatha and Wong. Together, they might just have enough combined power to counter the Extinction King's apocalyptic ambitions.
Interestingly, one potential member is missing: Chthon, the Elder God who Wanda had added to her cabinet with the promise of a pocket universe. His absence could be significant, as his chaotic nature might either help or hinder the team. For now, the Nexus Nine stands as the last line of defense against the Extinction King's plan to snuff out magic itself.
For fans of Wanda's journey, this issue is a must-read, especially after the preview that teased her eternal torment. The formation of the Nexus Nine also echoes some of the most fun team-ups in Marvel history, though this one is far more serious. With the fate of all magic hanging in the balance, the Scarlet Witch and her new allies face their greatest challenge yet.
Sorcerer Supreme #9 is available now, and the gallery above offers a first look at the Nexus Nine in action.
