Wiccan (William "Billy" Kaplan-Altman) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been depicted as a member of the Young Avengers, a team of teenage superheroes, as well as Strikeforce and New Avengers. Created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung, the character first appeared in Young Avengers #1 (April 2005). The character's appearance is patterned on that of two prominent Marvel superheroes, Thor and Scarlet Witch (Wiccan's mother), both of whom are members of the Avengers. Like the Scarlet Witch, Wiccan possesses powerful magical abilities which make him a key member of his superhero team.
Recruited to the Young Avengers by Iron Lad, Wiccan's story includes the discovery that he and fellow teen hero Speed are in fact long-lost twin brothers, and that the pair are reincarnations of the sons of Scarlet Witch and her husband Vision, Billy reincarnated from William Maximoff. Significant storylines for the character include his and his brother's search for their original mother, learning to master his powers, and an ongoing relationship with his teammate (later husband) Hulkling.
Alongside his permanent role as a member of the Young Avengers, Wiccan has also been a member of Avengers Idea Mechanics, Strikeforce, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers. He is known for being a prominent openly gay Jewish superhero in Marvel Comics.
Billy Maximoff appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Disney+ miniseries WandaVision (2021), played by Baylen Bielitz and Julian Hilliard, with Hilliard returning as a Billy from an alternate universe in the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Maximoff returned in his teenage reincarnation, William Kaplan's body, in the series Agatha All Along (2024), portrayed by Joe Locke.
Contents
Publication history
Wiccan first appeared in Young Avengers #1 (April 2005). The issue was scripted by Allan Heinberg and drawn by Jim Cheung. One of the original four members of the Young Avengers, the team was founded after the Avengers disbanded in the story line Avengers Disassembled.
Initially, Heinberg assumed that Marvel would not allow him to write two lead gay characters. Because of this, he originally planned to write Billy's love interest, Hulkling, as a female shapeshifter named Chimera. Chimera would discover that her true form was male, which would force Billy to decide if he was still in love with him. However, due to the complexity of this proposed story line, editor Tom Brevoort suggested simply making both characters gay.
Afterward the series concluded, Wiccan continued to appear alongside the Young Avengers in series such as Young Avengers Presents and Dark Reign: Young Avengers; the event comic tie-ins Civil War, Secret Invasion and Siege: Young Avengers (co-starring with The Runaways in the former two); and various other guest appearances. From 2010 to 2012 he was a part of the main cast in Avengers: The Children's Crusade, written and drawn by the original Young Avengers creative team of Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung.
Wiccan was again a main character in the 2013 Young Avengers series by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie.
As part of the All-New All-Different Marvel relaunch in 2015, Wiccan became a main character in New Avengers vol. 4, written by Al Ewing, as a member of an Avengers team led by Sunspot, alongside Hulkling, Songbird, Squirrel Girl, Hawkeye, Power Man and White Tiger. During this time he also briefly appeared in the Scarlet Witch series by James Robinson. New Avengers ended at issue #18 (January 2017) with Wiccan and Hulkling in semi-retirement.
An alternate-future version of Wiccan who became the Sorcerer Supreme appears in Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme.
In 2019, Wiccan appeared in Unstoppable Wasp #7 (July 2019) and War of the Realms: War Scrolls #2 (July 2019). Later that year, he and Hulkling co-starred in the four-issue miniseries Death's Head written by Tini Howard. Soon after, Wiccan became a main character in Strikeforce, also written by Howard, alongside Blade, Angela, Spider-Woman, Monica Rambeau, Daimon Hellstrom and Winter Soldier. The series ended at issue #9 in August 2020.
Fictional character biography
William Maximoff
Thomas Maximoff and William Maximoff were twins born to the superhuman sorceress Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, and the android hero Vision, both members of the Avengers. The pregnancy and births were the result of Scarlet Witch temporarily tapping into a great source of magical energy that allowed her to grant herself a wish for family. Later, the twins are taken by the villain Master Pandemonium, a servant of the demon lord Mephisto. Mephisto claims that after his defeat at the hands of the powerful Franklin Richards, his essence was divided into several pieces and scattered, and that Wanda inadvertently used two of these pieces to give life to her twins, who in reality are magical constructs. Mephisto then apparently wiped the boys Thomas and William from existence, reabsorbing their energy. Following these events, Wanda and Vision end their marriage.
Somehow, years before the marriage of Wanda and Vision, their twins are reborn as Thomas Shepherd (later the hero called Speed) and Billy Kaplan, two boys physically identical (except for hair color) but born to different families.
Billy Kaplan
William "Billy" Kaplan is the eldest of three sons born to Jeff Kaplan, a cardiologist, and Rebecca Kaplan, a psychologist.
Regularly bullied in school, Billy looks up to superheroes, particularly the Avengers team. He finds solace outside the gates of the Avengers Mansion. One day after being injured in a fight with bullies, Billy encounters the Scarlet Witch, who tells him to stand his ground the next time he's bullied and touches his head, healing him.
A few weeks later, Billy acts to defend another kid being bullied, demonstrating his magical powers for the first time and nearly killing his tormentor. Afterward, he begins practicing with his powers, learning he can generate lightning and fly. He can also cast spells by chanting his intentions.
A few years later, due to the influence of Doctor Doom and being overwhelmed by temporarily increased power, Scarlet Witch attacks the Avengers, destroying Vision and Avengers Mansion. Before his destruction, Vision created a protocol to activate and recruit a team of young people with superhuman abilities and who are connected in some way to the Avengers team. One of those selected is Billy, indicating that Vision and others learned his power was similar to that of Wanda Maximoff. Iron Lad, a young version of Kang the Conqueror, becomes leader of these Young Avengers. Billy is known as Asgardian, and later Wiccan. During the team's initial adventures, Billy starts flirting with teammate Teddy Altman / Hulkling. The main Avengers group reforms, with the Young Avengers continuing to operate. Billy and Teddy begin dating.
During the Civil War, Billy and Tommy plan to look for Wanda. S.H.I.E.L.D. arrests the Young Avengers. Falcon and Captain America intercept the S.H.I.E.L.D bus which is transporting the prisoners and Wiccan teleports the team out of the situation, into the Resistance Fighters base of operations.
When the Runaways try to stay out of the conflict, they barely escape from the government forces. Hearing of this development in the news, the Young Avengers decide to help the Runaways even though Captain America vetoes the plan. Wiccan uses his magic to locate and teleport to the Runaways. However, the Runaways believe that the Young Avengers have come to capture them and a fight ensues until Eli Bradley (Patriot) convinces Nico Minoru to stop the hostilities. The two teams are later attacked by Noh-Varr, who captures Wiccan and Hulkling. Hulkling is vivisected while in prison, with Wiccan nearly killing the prison's warden in retaliation.
Powers and abilities
As Wiccan, Billy Kaplan is able to manipulate magical energies which allows him to alter and warp reality at will. While patterning himself after Thor in the guise of Asgardian, Billy limited himself entirely to flight and lightning-based spells. By stating an intent and focusing on the outcome, Wiccan is capable of a variety of feats, including, but not limited to tracking and locating others, illusionary disguises, tearing down force-fields, mass teleportation, concussive blasts, enchantments, astral projection, and telekinetic force beams.
In the past, Billy had to be able to hear his spells for them to be successful, but this is no longer the case. He has consistently been able to create force fields, teleport others, and generate lightning and force blasts with little or no effort.
Wiccan was one of the many possible candidates for the title of Sorcerer Supreme, and has been described by the Vision as "one of the most powerful mages on the planet." Doctor Strange has partnered with a time-traveling Wiccan from the future and was confirmed that he succeeds Strange being the Sorcerer Supreme. Loki predicted that Wiccan will evolve into a god by his own right one day.
In Young Avengers vol. 2, Loki reveals that Wiccan is destined to become a powerful magical entity known as the Demiurge who will rewrite the rules of magic. He briefly achieves this form, and is able to view the past, present and future, as well as freely alter the universe. However, deciding that he is not ready to wield this power, he relinquishes it and reverts to his human form.
In Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme, Stephen Strange travels to a dimension in which past and future Sorcerer Supremes are all gathered. Billy is revealed to become the Sorcerer Supreme in the future after Stephen.
Analogy to the Arthurian legend
Several comics showed stark similarities between Wiccan and Hulkling and the mythological figures Merlin and King Arthur. Both Arthur (at least in one popular version of the legend) and Hulkling grew up unaware of their destiny. Both are prophesiesed to unite their people and bring peace, have a strong wizard on their side, use magical swords and become the beloved kings of a big kingdom/empire.
The first time this connection was made was when Hulkling was a member of A.I.M. He was kidnapped by the "Knights of the Infinite", an analogy to the Arthurian "Knights of the Round Table" and told about his destiny as prophesied ruler of the a united Kree/Skrull Empire. He was then told to get a sword out of a light beam and pronounced "King of the Space", an obvious adaptation of the famous Arthurian legend of the sword in the stone. Hulkling even named his sword "Excelsior", King Arthur's sword being "Excalibur". Two of the knights seem to be named after characters of the Arthurian Mythos, Lan-Zarr (after Lancelot) and Mur-G'nn (after Morgana, also a magic-user). There is also M'ryn the Magus (named after Merlin), an old magic-user, who spoke the prophecy.
It is again heavily referenced during the Empyre event; Wiccan even says "Like Merlin? I'll take it!" after being crowned court wizard of the Kree/Skrull-Alliance.
Relationships
Exchanges between Wiccan and Hulkling shows that the two teens are definitely lovers. Allan Heinberg confirmed this speculation, stating that his intent was to reveal the relationship, and he was surprised that his subtle clues were picked up on so quickly.
Kate advises that Asgardian should change his codename to avoid puns regarding his sexuality when the press discovers that he is in a relationship with Hulkling, implying that the others already knew the two are gay. Kate, along with Stature, suggested the codename "Wiccan", which Billy adopts.
When the team agrees to give an interview to Kat Farrell, Jessica Jones warns Billy and Teddy that Farrell will probably ask if the rumors about them are true. After some deliberation, the two decide to tell Farrell, with Teddy adding, "Why should Northstar have all the fun?"
In Young Avengers Presents #3, Hulkling and Wiccan's romantic relationship is handled much more openly than previous issues. In it, they refer to one another as boyfriends. Speed also asks if their relationship is "getting hot and heavy" and jokes that Billy and Teddy would have a disastrous "mixed marriage" due to Teddy's alien heritage.
In the aftermath of The Children's Crusade, Billy falls into a months-long depression, watching from the sidelines as New York is turned into "Spider Island" and the Human Torch is resurrected. Teddy is able to bring Billy back "out of the dark" by proposing to him.
In Young Avengers Vol. 2, Billy and Teddy's relationship is tested due to the meddling of Loki, who plants the idea in Teddy's head that he is not real and was unknowingly created by Billy using his reality warping powers. Teddy is kissed by Prodigy. The couple reconcile at the conclusion of the storyline and are last seen happily dancing together at Marvel Boy's party.
In New Avengers, the hybrids refer to Teddy as Emperor Dorrek VIII and Billy as his "prince consort". A flashforward to possible future 20XX shows an older Billy and Teddy living happily together with a daughter, Katie.
Origin of name
Asked about Billy's codename, Heinberg said "It turns out that code names are the trickiest part of creating new characters. When Kate suggests 'Wiccan' to Billy in Young Avengers #6, she, like me, was not thinking in terms of the specific religious practice of Wicca, but rather attempting to find a suitable counterpart for the word 'witch.' It was certainly not my intention to offend anyone with 'Wiccan.' And since adopting the code name, rest assured Billy has been doing his Wiccan homework, so keep reading..." During their time fighting the Mother, Loki eventually questions Wiccan about his codename. He complains that since he is a pagan deity, he takes some offence to its use, and jokingly states that he has a list of better names.
In the pages of New Avengers, Power Man questions Billy over his choice of codename. Although he explains that he has been researching the religion of Wicca, he admits that it is not his faith. Victor then suggests that he should change it (with Teddy begging him not to revert to Asgardian). Billy later changes his name to Demiurge whilst under the control of the ghost wizard Moridun.
Reception
Critical reception
Heinberg reported that when the relationship between Wiccan and Hulkling was initially suspected before its confirmation, most fans were supportive, with minimal negative reaction. Wiccan and Hulkling have been called "Marvel's most prominent gay couple," and received praise for showing diversity and progression in comics. While accepting the Corporate Vanguard Award for Marvel Entertainment at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Marvel's VP of Animation Development, Cort Lane, cited Wiccan and Hulkling's relationship as one of his favorite story lines featuring LGBT characters.
Andrew Wheeler of ComicsAlliance wrote, "Something about the sweetness of the love between Hulkling and Wiccan, aka Billy and Teddy, has struck a strong chord with readers looking for a little romance to melt their hearts. After dealing with time travellers, alien invasions and mad mutants, their story stands out as an It Gets Better for the superhero set." M.N Negus of CBR.com referred to Hulkling and Wiccan as "one of Marvel's most iconic LGBT+ couples," writing, "Wiccan and Hulkling have been together for nearly two decades, and are now living happily ever after. Their recent exploits are depicted in Hulkling and Wiccan Infinity Comic #1 (by writer Josh Trujillo and artists Jodi Nishijima, Matt Milla, and VC's Ariana Maher), in which they even explore a life without the other. Throughout their struggles as individuals and as a couple, they manage to come out on top with their bond becoming stronger than before. Their coupling has withstood the test of time and truly become an iconic development in Marvel comic books." Eric Diaz of Nerdist stated, "Marvel Comics took a big and necessary step into the 21st century today, as they announced the very first marriage between two LGBTQ superheroes will soon take place in their pages. The event occurs in Empyre: Avengers Aftermath #1, which will feature the union of longtime superhero couple Hulkling and Wiccan. Both heroes are famous for being founding members of the Young Avengers."
Accolades
In 2012, ComicsAlliance ranked Wiccan and Hulkling 6th in their " "50 Comics and Characters that Resonate with LGBT Readers" list.
In 2018, Nerdist included Wiccan in their "12 Avengers from the Comics Who We'd Still Love to See on the Big Screen" list.
In 2021, Screen Rant ranked Wiccan 1st in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The Young Avengers" list and ranked Wiccan and Hulkling 2nd in their "10 Best Relationships in Avengers Comics" list.
In 2021, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked Wiccan 1st in their "10 Most Powerful Young Avengers" list.
In 2022, CBR ranked Wiccan and Hulkling 5th in their "10 Best Marvel Couples" list and 7th in their "10 Healthiest Marvel Couples" list.
Literary reception
Volumes
Hannah Rose of CBR.com called Hulkling and Wiccan #1 an "interesting love story," writing, "Instead of budding romance, it tells the story of a pair of newly-weds who have known each other for quite a while. By the time this story begins, Hulkling and Wiccan are already enjoying domestic bliss. But before they can settle into life as a married couple, they're forced to adjust to the responsibilities of their new royal positions. It's clear from their serious discussions and their playful banter that these two care for each other. But, Hulkling and Wiccan #1 reminds the audience that Teddy and Billy are both very young, very insecure, and very uncertain about their place in space. Their arguments and insecurities are realistically and excellently written." Jenna Anderson of ComicBook.com gave Hulkling and Wiccan #1 a grade of 3 out of 5, saying, "One of the most beloved LGBTQ+ couples in Marvel's arsenal gets the spotlight again, with a one-shot (reprinting the first portion of the digital Infinity Comic of the same name) that puts Wiccan and Hulkling's newfound married life to the test. To say any more beyond that would spoil (and probably complicate) the specifics of what is laid out, with the two being put through a crucible that will only make them further realize their bond. Some fans of the couple will surely love it, while some won't — but there's definitely a fun sense of artistry on display, particularly with Jodi Nishijima's art and Matt Milla's dreamy colors. Diehard fans of Billy and Teddy will surely want to add this to their collection, but this isn't a must-read on a larger level."
Other versions
Age of Revelation
A potential future version of Wiccan appears in Age of Revelation. He attempts to stop the spread of the X-Virus, but is attacked by Revelation, who renders him mute and unable to cast spells by speaking. Hulkling takes Wiccan under his care, having failed to find a cure for him.
Avengers Fairy Tales
In the one-shot Avengers Fairy Tales, Wiccan appears as the March Hare in an adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Exiles: Days of Then And Now
In a reality where after the Hulk was jettisoned into space and discovered by Annihilus, killing him and taking the Annihilation Wave to Earth; Wiccan appears as one of the few remaining superhumans and a member of Quentin Quire's Exiles.
The Last Avengers Story
In a one-shot story about the final Avengers story, Billy and Tommy grew up as the children of the Vision and the Scarlet Witch. As a child, Billy witnessed the accidental murder of his mother by his uncle, Quicksilver. Her death eventually caused Billy to become a villain, calling himself the Grim Reaper. Unlike Earth-616, Tommy inherited his mother's mystical abilities, with Billy's powers being unspecified. As the Grim Reaper, Billy wields a scythe that he can summon to him at will.
Battle of the Atom
In Battle of the Atom, Billy appears as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme and a member of the future X-Men.
House of M
In House of M, Wiccan and his twin brother are the twins of Wanda Magnus.
In other media
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Billy Maximoff and William Kaplan appear in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Billy first appears in the miniseries WandaVision, portrayed by Baylen Bielitz as a five-year-old and Julian Hillard as a ten-year-old. This version was created by Wanda Maximoff via chaos magic when she trapped Westview, New Jersey within a "Hex" and is named after William Shakespeare. Throughout the miniseries, Billy and his twin brother Tommy age rapidly until their powers manifest and Agatha Harkness kidnaps them in an attempt to steal Wanda's magic. After rescuing them, Wanda undoes the hex, ending Billy and Tommy's existences. In a post-credits scene, she hears them crying for help, which is later revealed to have come from their multiversal counterparts in Multiverse of Madness (see below).
A variant of Billy Maximoff from Earth-838 appears in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, portrayed by Hillard. Additionally, statues of Wiccan from Earth-616 appear in Mount Wundagore.
William Kaplan appears in Agatha All Along, portrayed by Joe Locke. Following his erasure in WandaVision, Billy's soul entered William's body after he died in a car accident. As he struggles with amnesia and adjusts to life with William's parents, Billy seeks out Agatha to enter the Witches' Road and find Tommy, unknowingly creating it with his chaos magic in the process. During their journey, they place Tommy's soul in another dying teenager before Death tries to take Billy, but Agatha sacrifices herself to save him before returning as a ghost to help him find Tommy.
Video games
Wiccan makes a cameo appearance in Doctor Strange's ending in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Wiccan appears as an enhanced costume for Scarlet Witch in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Kyle Hebert.
Wiccan appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers, voiced by J. P. Karliak.
Wiccan appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy.
Wiccan appears as an unlockable playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
Wiccan appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.
Wiccan appears in Marvel Snap.