Artist Bryan Hitch teased the upcoming Contest of Chaos last week with a promotional image, but this summer the new Marvel Comics saga is live and ready to start trouble! Agatha Harkness, following her thrilling part in Midnight Suns, is hellbent on making a new Darkhold and if that means using chaos magic, then so be it. With lead writer Stephanie Phillips (Rogue & Gambit, Cosmic Ghost Rider) at the helm, Contest of Chaos will span multiple annuals over the summer bringing along a host of all-star creators, starting with Scarlet Witch Annual #1.
A spin-off from Steve Orlando and Sara Pichelli’s hit, ongoing series, Scarlet Witch, Scarlet Witch Annual #1 will see Orlando back in the writer’s seat with art by Carlos Nieto—known most recently for his debut Murderworld: Wolverine. The prelude centers around Agatha, back from rejuvenation with bold new ideas for the Marvel Universe, as she reunites with her former pupil Scarlet Witch after her long absence. Wanda has recently absorbed Chthon, and Agatha’s got some words of warning for her. But Wanda’s grown up a lot since they last met, and Agatha’s motives aren’t what they seem. The collision of these massive magical powers will have far-reaching consequences that stretch across special annual editions of Marvel’s trendiest ongoing titles.
The Contest of Chaos annuals will be battle royales orchestrated by Agatha in an effort to harness Chaos magic so she can finally sit on the throne among the universe’s greatest sorcerers. These mystically-charged challenges will see some of your favorite heroes fighting for her twisted cause. Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Cyclops, Storm, Moon Knight, Ghost Rider, Human Torch, Taegukgi, Ghost-Spider, White Fox, and Deadpool will be corrupted by chaos then made to fight each other in a bloody tournament! With each annual comes a new matchup that promises to be more thrilling than the one before it, building to an epic finale care of Agatha’s master plan to turn Marvel magic on its head!
“CONTEST OF CHAOS is the kind of story I would absolutely sprint to the comic store to buy as a reader,” Phillips said. “There’s action, mystery, magic, and my favorite characters from all over the Marvel Universe. To be spearheading the storyline is just incredibly cool for me as a creator. It’s going to be big with ramifications for the larger universe… See you this summer – THWIP!”
Check out Russell Dauterman’s SCARLET WITCH ANNUAL #1 cover below and stay tuned for more news about CONTEST OF CHAOS!
SCARLET WITCH ANNUAL #1 – “Contest of Chaos” Prelude
Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art by CARLOS NIETO
Cover by RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
On Sale 6/21
