WandaVision Official Handbook (Review)
Coming from Titan Comics, we get the Marvel Studios Official handbook of the Creative Arts Emmy Award-winning series WandaVision. It includes interviews with the cast and crew, a behind-the-scenes look at each episode, and character profiles.
By: Titan Comics
Publisher: Lynn Wagganer
Editorial Director: Bianca Coletti
The book goes through the history of the characters involved in WandaVision and becoming part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This introduction includes not just the title characters but also Darcy, Jimmy Woo, and Monica Rambeau.
WandaVision Episode Guide
The main feature and draw are the detailed behind-the-scenes of each episode. There is a summary of the episode, character breakdown, and the twist with behind-the-scenes trivia. The entry for episode one that was super unique is that it was filmed in front of a live studio audience, including them sitting on wooden chairs. Doing so gave a proper feeling as if it was filmed in the ’50s.
They do this for each episode, and the quality of the recap is consistent throughout. When discussing supporting characters, the information is essential to help understand the setting and mood for the episode. For the first episode of WandaVision, the information regarding Mr. and Mrs. Heart helps to know why Vision is concerned about making a good first impression.
They do this for all nine episodes, and for the key characters, do not repeat them unless something significant changes them. Examples of this are Pietro Maximoff, Geraldine, and Herb. Not bogging down the section with repeated information makes these recaps stand out.
After the episode recap section, we get dedicated sections to parts not featured earlier. One of these sections is the commercials from each episode where they explain and analyze without revealing their true meaning. A more extensive recap of who Agatha Harkness is featuring what motives drive her to investigate more into who or what Wanda Maximoff is. These minor features add additional content and insight that complements the show and gives readers an edge on their first or second viewing.
Interviews
The interviews in the book are a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan dream. They include Paul Bettany (Vision), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda, Scarlet Witch), Kathryn Hahn (Agnes, Agatha Harkness), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo), and more. These interviews are great as they get into being a part of the show, experience in the MCU, and overall experience. This section of the book stands out because of how well constructed the questions are and their length.
The questions asked are great and brings out the actors personality and how they experienced the whole madness of WandaVision. The interview with Kat Dennings touches upon her character’s return to the MCU and how it felt to be back after her last appearance in Thor: The Dark World.
Overall Thought on Wandavision
WandaVision Official Handbook is an excellent piece for any MCU, Wanda, or Vision fans. The perspectives used to give readers a look into a show that was crazy, weird, and out of the norm for a Marvel property and any limited series.
The episode and character recaps are great to help understand the setting without giving away the whole episode. The twist section is great for those who missed it and didn’t want to rewatch or YouTube the scene.
The main draw for the handbook is the interviews with the cast and crew. Head writer Jac Schaeffer’s interview is a gem in understanding their approach to the show and each episode. The only negative is how short it was compared to the others. Also, the lack of crew interviews like a director or producer makes it difficult to justify that claim.
Lastly, the only flaw with the WandaVision handbook is the vagueness of certain key moments and how it relates to the enormous scope of the MCU. It is not a negative as we do get a lot of information regarding the series. It would be nice to have a few snippets on how it connects to the other properties like Loki and maybe Shang-Chi.
Order the WandaVision Official Handbook from Amazon.