Wiccan (William "Billy" Kaplan)

• Core Identity: Wiccan is the magically-gifted, reincarnated son of the Scarlet Witch, a founding member of the Young Avengers, the husband of Emperor Hulkling, and the immensely powerful future sorcerer destined to become the Demiurge. * Key Takeaways: * Role in the Universe: Billy Kaplan serves as a cornerstone for the next generation of Marvel's heroes. He is one of the most powerful magic-users on the planet, with a lineage connecting him to both the Avengers and mystical forces that shape reality itself. His destiny is to one day rewrite the laws of magic as the Demiurge. * Primary Impact: Wiccan's existence, along with his twin brother Speed, resolved one of the most tragic and complex storylines in Avengers history—the fate of the Scarlet Witch's lost children. His loving, openly gay relationship with his teammate and eventual husband, Hulkling, is one of the most celebrated and prominent LGBTQ+ relationships in mainstream comics, breaking new ground for representation. * Key Incarnations: In the comics (earth-616), Billy Kaplan is a teenager who discovers he is the reincarnation of Wanda Maximoff's magically-created son. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was first introduced as a child, Billy Maximoff, who was directly and magically created by Wanda within the Westview Hex and ceased to exist when it was dismantled, though his spiritual echo remains a powerful multiversal influence. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== Wiccan first appeared in Young Avengers #1, published in April 2005. He was co-created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung. The creation of the Young Avengers team was a direct response to the “Avengers Disassembled” storyline, which saw the original Avengers disband. Heinberg and Cheung envisioned a new team of teenage heroes whose powers, codenames, and identities were directly inspired by classic Avengers, creating a legacy-driven narrative. Billy Kaplan, initially codenamed “Asgardian,” was conceived as the team's Thor analogue, wielding lightning-based magic. However, Heinberg quickly planned to evolve the character beyond this homage. Central to his conception was the idea of exploring the long-unresolved plot thread of the Scarlet Witch's twin sons, William and Thomas, who had been erased from existence years prior in a traumatic storyline. Heinberg intended from the outset for Billy and his teammate Tommy Shepherd (Speed) to be the reincarnated souls of these lost children. Furthermore, a core element of Billy's character was his romantic relationship with teammate Teddy Altman (Hulkling). Heinberg and Cheung developed their romance subtly at first, confirming it explicitly later in the series. This made them one of the highest-profile gay couples in Marvel Comics, a decision lauded for its positive and nuanced representation that has since become a defining aspect of both characters. The name change from Asgardian to Wiccan in Young Avengers #6 was a deliberate move to better reflect the nature of his powers and establish his own unique identity. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The origin of Wiccan is one of the most intricate and emotionally resonant in modern Marvel history, built upon decades of retcons and storytelling surrounding his mother, the Scarlet Witch. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === Wiccan's story begins long before his birth, with the magical machinations of the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff). Desperate for a family with her synthezoid husband, the Vision, Wanda used her reality-warping chaos magic to conceive twin sons, Thomas and William. For a time, they lived happily, but it was eventually revealed that Wanda had unconsciously used fragments of the soul of the demon lord mephisto to give her children life. When the villain Master Pandemonium, who had sold his soul to Mephisto, sought to reclaim the fragments, Mephisto reabsorbed the twins, effectively erasing them from existence. The trauma of this loss, combined with manipulations by Immortus, caused Wanda to lose her memory of ever having had children, though the psychic wound remained, eventually leading to the catastrophic events of “Avengers Disassembled” and “House of M.” Years later, the souls of William and Thomas, unable to be destroyed by Mephisto, were reincarnated into two separate boys, born to different families: Billy Kaplan and Thomas Shepherd. Billy Kaplan was born as the eldest of three sons to Jeff and Rebecca Kaplan, a cardiologist and a psychologist. From a young age, Billy was a fan of superheroes, particularly the Scarlet Witch. During his school years, he was relentlessly bullied for his sexuality and interests. One day, while cornered by a bully outside the gates of the Avengers Mansion, he lashed out with his burgeoning magical powers, nearly killing his tormentor. This incident made him terrified of his own abilities. His life changed when the time-traveling Iron Lad, a teenage version of Kang the Conqueror, came to the present to form a new team of heroes to stop his future self. Using a database compiled by the Vision, Iron Lad located several teenagers with connections to the Avengers, including Billy. Believing his powers were similar to Thor's, Billy adopted the codename “Asgardian.” Alongside Hulkling, Patriot, and Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), he became a founding member of the Young Avengers. During the team's early adventures, Billy's powers and their true source became a central mystery. The Super-Skrull Kl'rt, during the first Kree-Skrull conflict involving the team, noted that Billy's scent was identical to the Scarlet Witch's. This, combined with the uncanny resemblance and similar powers of his teammate Speed to Quicksilver, led Billy to accept the overwhelming evidence: he and Tommy were the reincarnated sons of Wanda Maximoff. This realization set him on a long and arduous quest to find his mother, who had been missing since “House of M,” a journey that would define his life and culminate in the “Avengers: The Children's Crusade” storyline. It was during this quest that he fully embraced his magical heritage and his destiny as the Demiurge. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === In the MCU, Wiccan's origin is significantly different and streamlined, introduced in the Disney+ series WandaVision. Here, he is not a reincarnated soul but a direct, magical creation of Wanda Maximoff. Following the death of Vision in Avengers: Infinity War, a grief-stricken Wanda Maximoff unleashes an immense wave of Chaos Magic, creating a pocket reality known as the “Hex” around the town of Westview, New Jersey. Within this idyllic, sitcom-inspired world, she magically manifests a new version of Vision and, through an accelerated and spontaneous pregnancy, gives birth to twin sons, Billy and Tommy Maximoff. Unlike his comic counterpart's teenage debut, the MCU's Billy is shown growing from an infant to a ten-year-old in a matter of days. His powers manifest differently at first, focusing primarily on psionic and empathetic abilities. He demonstrates telepathy, clairvoyance, and an empathic connection to his father, Vision, being able to sense when he is in danger outside the Hex's immediate vicinity. His magical aptitude is present but less defined than in the comics, often appearing as blue energy projections, a visual contrast to his mother's red energy. The tragedy of his comic origin is mirrored in the MCU's narrative. Billy and Tommy are not independent beings but extensions of Wanda's spell and the Hex itself. When Wanda is forced to confront her grief and dismantle the Hex to free the citizens of Westview, both Billy and Tommy fade from existence along with their father. However, the series' post-credits scene and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reveal that their existence has left an indelible mark. While studying the Darkhold, Wanda hears the faint cries of her sons calling for her from across the multiverse. This belief that her children are alive and trapped somewhere in another reality, amplified by the Darkhold's corrupting influence, drives her to become the primary antagonist of the film. She hunts America Chavez to steal her multiverse-hopping powers, intending to find a reality where she can be with her sons. While she ultimately fails and seemingly sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold, the MCU leaves the door open for a version of Billy (and Tommy) to return, perhaps as a multiversal variant or through some other cosmic event, potentially as a teenager closer to his comic book age. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === Billy Kaplan is an Omega-level power, a nexus being, and one of the most powerful sorcerers in the universe. His abilities are vast, innate, and possess a potential that is nearly limitless. ==== Powers and Abilities ==== * Reality Warping (Spell-casting): Wiccan's primary ability is to manipulate reality by casting spells. His method is unique: he achieves magical effects by stating his intent in a clear sentence, often beginning with “I want…” For example, saying “I want to find the Scarlet Witch” will create a powerful locating spell. This functions as a form of reality-warping, bending the laws of physics and probability to match his desires. * Limitations: Initially, he could only cast spells if he could hear them, making him vulnerable to being gagged or deafened. Through training with other sorcerers and extensive practice, he has largely overcome this limitation and can now cast spells non-verbally, though vocalizing remains his most focused and powerful method. His control is also tied to his confidence and emotional state; doubt or fear can cause his spells to fail or backfire spectacularly. * Vast Magical Aptitude: Beyond his unique spell-casting method, Billy can perform a wide array of magical feats common to powerful sorcerers: * Energy Manipulation: Generation and projection of concussive magical blasts, force fields, and bolts of lightning (electrokinesis). * Elemental Control: Pyrokinesis, cryokinesis, and other forms of elemental manipulation. * Teleportation: He can teleport himself and large groups of people across vast distances, including across dimensions. * Flight: Achieved through magical levitation. * Psionics: Telepathy, illusion casting, and astral projection. * Healing: He can magically heal himself and others from severe injuries. * The Demiurge: This is Wiccan's ultimate destiny and the source of his immense potential. The Demiurge is the sentient life force of the Earth's biosphere, a cosmic entity that first emerged when life began on the planet. It is destined to one day define the laws of magic for all of existence. Billy Kaplan is the current inheritor of this power and consciousness. When he accesses this state, his power becomes absolute. As the Demiurge, he exists outside the normal flow of time and can perceive all of reality—past, present, and future—simultaneously. In this form, he possesses nigh-omnipotence and can reshape reality on a universal, and potentially multiversal, scale with a mere thought. He has only accessed this state a few times, as its power is overwhelming and dangerous. ==== Personality ==== Billy is defined by his compassion, empathy, and deep-seated sense of responsibility. Having been bullied as a youth, he is fiercely protective of the vulnerable and always strives to do the right thing. For much of his early career, he was plagued by insecurity and self-doubt, overwhelmed by the scale of his powers and the legacy of his mother. He often feared becoming like the Scarlet Witch at her worst. His relationship with Hulkling is his emotional anchor. Teddy's steadfast love and support helped Billy grow into a more confident hero and individual. He is a romantic at heart, deeply devoted and loyal. While generally level-headed, he can be prone to emotional decision-making, especially when his loved ones are threatened. Over time, he has matured into a capable and confident leader, comfortable with his identity, his power, and his place in the universe as both a hero and the future Demiurge. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === As Billy only appeared as a child in the MCU, his powers were nascent and undeveloped. The full scope of his potential remains unknown. ==== Powers and Abilities ==== * Psionic Abilities: Billy's primary power demonstrated in WandaVision was a form of telepathy and empathy. He could hear the thoughts of his father, Vision, even when he was miles away and in distress. He could also sense the general emotional state of those around him. This focus on mental powers differentiates him from his mother's more overt reality-bending and his brother's super-speed. * Magic/Energy Manipulation: He displayed some ability to manipulate magical energy, though without the fine control or spell-casting of his comic counterpart. This was typically shown as a glowing blue aura, which he could use for minor telekinesis or to briefly stop soldiers. It's implied that had he been allowed to mature, these abilities would have grown to rival his mother's Chaos Magic. ==== Comparative Analysis ==== The MCU's adaptation chose to introduce Billy as a literal child of magic, tying his existence directly to Wanda's power and grief. This streamlines the convoluted comic backstory involving Mephisto and reincarnation, making his origin more immediate and tragic for the cinematic narrative. His initial powerset in the MCU appears to be a nod to his more empathetic personality, granting him psychic abilities first. This provides a clear contrast with his brother Tommy, who immediately develops Quicksilver's physical powers. It is widely speculated that if an older version of Wiccan is introduced, he will develop reality-warping and spell-casting abilities that more closely align with his Earth-616 version, potentially becoming the MCU's next great sorcerer. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== === Hulkling (Emperor Dorrek VIII / Theodore “Teddy” Altman) === Teddy is the great love of Billy's life and his most important relationship. They met as founding members of the Young Avengers and fell in love almost immediately. Teddy, a Kree/Skrull hybrid and galactic royalty, provides a calm, grounding presence for the often-anxious Billy. Their relationship has weathered intergalactic wars, magical threats, and personal crises. They are celebrated for being one of Marvel's most stable, loving, and supportive couples. Their relationship culminated in their marriage during the Empyre event, with Billy becoming the Prince-Consort and Royal Magician of the Kree-Skrull Alliance. === Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) === Wanda is Billy's mother, and their relationship is complex and deeply emotional. For years, Billy's primary motivation was to find his lost mother and prove their connection. Their reunion in The Children's Crusade was fraught with danger but ultimately healing for both of them. Wanda sees in Billy (and Tommy) a chance to atone for her past and reclaim the family she lost. Billy, in turn, loves his mother unconditionally but is also wary of her immense power and mental instability. They share a powerful magical and emotional bond. === Speed (Thomas “Tommy” Shepherd) === Tommy is Billy's reincarnated twin brother. Where Billy is thoughtful and cautious, Tommy is impulsive, impatient, and hot-headed, much like his uncle Quicksilver. They initially had a contentious relationship, often bickering like typical siblings. However, beneath the friction lies a deep, unbreakable bond. They have risked everything for each other on numerous occasions and provide a unique support system, as they are the only two people in the universe who truly understand their bizarre origin. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== === Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom) === Doctor Doom became one of Wiccan's most personal villains during The Children's Crusade. Seeking to attain godhood, Doom kidnapped Wanda and attempted to siphon the Demiurge power from a nascent Billy. He viewed Billy not as a person but as a font of cosmic power to be stolen. Doom's arrogance and immense power, both technological and magical, made him a formidable threat who nearly succeeded in killing the Young Avengers and reshaping reality to his will. === Mother (Interdimensional Parasite) === Mother was the primary antagonist of the 2013 Young Avengers series. She was a sinister, reality-warping parasite who fed on the potential of others. She was summoned when Billy, in an attempt to bring Hulkling's deceased mother back to life, accidentally created a construct of her that became the parasite's host. Mother was a deeply personal foe, psychologically tormenting the team by creating twisted versions of their deceased parents and specifically targeting the love between Billy and Teddy. ==== Affiliations ==== * Young Avengers: Billy is a founding member and the heart of the team. It is his found family and the context for his most significant character development. * Avengers Idea Mechanics: During a period when Sunspot took over and reformed the villainous A.I.M., Wiccan and Hulkling joined his “Avengers” squad, providing mystical and extraterrestrial support. * Strikeforce: Billy was a member of this short-lived, clandestine team assembled by Blade to hunt mystical threats preemptively. This showed a darker, more proactive side of the character. * Kree-Skrull Alliance:** As the husband of Emperor Hulkling, Billy holds the official titles of Prince-Consort and Court Magician. He is a key political and mystical figure in the new galactic order.

This is Wiccan's debut storyline. The series establishes his personality, his powers, and his core relationships, especially with Hulkling. It chronicles the formation of the team, their initial conflicts with Kang the Conqueror, and their struggle to be recognized as legitimate heroes by Captain America and Iron Man. The storyline culminates in the team discovering Billy and Tommy's connection to the Scarlet Witch, setting the stage for their future quests.

This is arguably the most important storyline for Wiccan. Driven by his desire to find his mother, Billy's powers flare out of control, drawing the attention of the Avengers and the X-Men, who fear he may become another Scarlet Witch. The Young Avengers go on the run, seeking Wanda across the globe. The journey leads them into a massive conflict involving Doctor Doom, Magneto, and the resurrected Jack of Hearts. Billy finally finds Wanda in Latveria, amnesiac and engaged to Doctor Doom. The climax sees Billy briefly inherit the full power of the Demiurge to save reality from Doom, solidifying his origin and destiny and healing his mother's mind.

While not solely a Wiccan story, this cosmic event is a monumental milestone for him. The storyline centers on his now-fiancé, Hulkling, accepting his destiny as the heir to both the Kree and Skrull thrones and uniting the two warring empires against the plant-like Cotati. Wiccan stands by his side as his most trusted advisor and magical protector. The event culminates in their impromptu, beautiful wedding on their flagship, officiated by the Kree Supreme Intelligence. This event solidifies their status as a Marvel power couple and elevates Wiccan to a position of galactic importance.

Across various timelines and possible futures, Billy Kaplan is shown to have fully embraced his destiny as the Demiurge. In stories like Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme, a future version appears as an ancient, bearded, and immensely powerful being known simply as “The Mage” or “The Sorcerer Supreme.” This version is calm, wise, and operates on a cosmic scale, confirming that Billy's potential is eventually realized.

In the Ultimate Universe, a version of Wiccan appears as a member of the “Ultimate X-Men” after the events of “Ultimatum.” This version was a former member of a populist mutant militia and had a similar, albeit less-defined, powerset. His role was minor compared to his Earth-616 counterpart.

During the Secret Wars event, the multiverse was destroyed and reformed into a single “Battleworld” by Doctor Doom. In the domain of Arcadia, home to the all-female hero team A-Force, a version of Billy Kaplan is mentioned as being a resident. More significantly, in the Siege miniseries, a version of Billy is a key defender of the Shield (the massive wall holding back the multiverse's horrors), working alongside a variant of Kate Bishop.

• hulkling
• scarlet_witch
• speed_(character)
• young_avengers
• _the_childrens_crusade
• demiurge
• marvel_cinematic_universe

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