Merge:Wiccan

Wiccan, whose real name is Billy Kaplan, is a member of the Young Avengers. His appearance is patterned on that of Thor and the Scarlet Witch.

He first appeared in Young Avengers #1 (April, 2005). The issue was scripted by Allan Heinberg and drawn by Jim Cheung.

Character history
Billy Kaplan is the eldest of three sons born to cardiologist Jeff Kaplan and psychologist Rebecca Kaplan.

Regularly beaten up in school for being gay, Billy found solace outside the gates of the Avengers Mansion. One day, Billy encountered the Avenger Wanda, who told him to stand his ground the next time it happens. She then touched his head, causing a red light to flash briefly. The flash heals Billy's wounds and a few weeks later he stands up for another kid being bullied, and demonstrates his powers for the first time, but is not fully prepared for their effects.

Young Avengers
He was one of the Young Avengers chosen as a result of the Vision's plan for the reformation of the Avengers, in the event the team ever disbanded. He originally chose the code name Asgardian.

The full extent of his powers are unknown, though they include flight and lightning generation. In Young Avengers #5, it is revealed that he can cast spells using a technique learned from "self-help books" owned by fellow Young Avenger Hulking's mother. By chanting a mantra/statement of intent (for example, "I want Iron Lad to forget") and focusing on the outcome he wants to achieve, he can cause different events and effects to happen.

The team was then told to disband by Captain America. The Young Avengers decided to ignore him. Kate Bishop told Billy that he should change his codename to avoid the obvious puns when the press discovers that he's in a relationship with Hulkling. Kate, along with Stature, suggested the codename, "Wiccan". Billy, smiling, replied that he doesn't hate it.

Parentage
Billy has said that Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, was his favorite Avenger, and it has been implied that his powers are linked to hers. In Young Avengers #11, Billy's possible relationship to Wanda was revealed by the Super-Skrull and Vision. In the past, Scarlet Witch was so desperate to have children that she used her reality warping powers to create twin sons out of fragments of the soul of the demon Mephisto. When the boys' souls were reabsorbed into Mephisto, they destroyed him and their souls were reincarnated as Tommy and Billy.

Heinberg stated on the situation in a transcript with fans, "According to Billy's theory, the souls of Wanda's twins inhabited his and Tommy's bodies when they were dispersed from Mephisto. But it's only a theory." He also stated in another interview that his plans for the new 'season' involved the two searching for Wanda, stating "If everything goes according to plan, Wanda will indeed return to Young Avengers early in Season Two, when Billy and Tommy embark on a search for the true source of their powers." .

Much conjecture has been made as to their appearance and powers, and while interviews have stated that they are, indeed, her children, in the comics the only indication there of is K'Lrt's statements and Vision's files. Billy believes himself to be Wanda's son. However, Tommy has been more skeptical about the situation. At this time, while it is exceptionally likely that the two are indeed the reborn souls of Scarlet Witch's children, it does not confirm that Scarlet Witch is their 'mother,' only that she may once have been so in a previous life.

Civil War
Billy and Tommy plan to look for Wanda, in the hopes that revealing that her sons appear to be alive and well will help her heal. Their plan is disrupted by the attack by the Zodiac on the UN, and the subsequent events of the Civil War.

The Young Avengers, as seen in Civil War #2, were captured and arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. Sam Wilson (Falcon) and Steve Rogers (Captain America) intercepted the S.H.I.E.L.D bus and Wiccan subsequently teleported the team out of the situation, into the Resistance Fighters base of operations.

Wiccan also took part in the first major battle of the Civil War - in fact, he was one of the first two casualties of that clash. He and Cloak were shot with tranquilizer darts and rendered unconscious, as seen in Civil War #3. Tony Stark and Peter Parker, intelligent leaders and quite capable of learning from past mistakes, had realized that the two Rebel Heroes with teleportation powers needed to be incapacitated to prevent an escape from the ambush. Steve Rogers was so infuriated by the attack on Wiccan and Cloak that he became even more determined not to join the government side. Instead of negotiations and reconciliation, a very violent battle ensued.


 * Meanwhile, Wiccan also plays a major role in the side-story Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways, which apparently takes place between the 2nd and 3rd issues of the main Civil War narrative. The Runaways, the rebellious children of supervillains known as "The Pride," try to stay out of the conflict, but they barely manage to escape from the government forces seeking their capture. Hearing of this development in the news, the Young Avengers decide to help the Runaways. Captain America vetoes the plan. Therefore, they go anyway. Wiccan uses a combination location-and-teleportation spell - basically "I will find the Pride's Kids." This succeeds brilliantly - but, unfortunately and predictably, the Runaways believe that the Young Avengers have come to capture them, not to help them.

Relationships
Exchanges between Wiccan and Hulkling (and the latter's character design) have led some readers to speculate that the two young men have a much more intimate bond than mere friendship. Allan Heinberg confirmed this speculation, stating that his intent was to reveal the relationship in issue #12, and he was surprised that his subtle clues were picked up on so quickly.

In Young Avengers Special, the team agrees to give an interview to Kat Farrell, and 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 her, with Teddy adding, "Why should Northstar have all the fun?"

Powers and abilities
When the Young Avengers tried to look like they were Avenger sidekicks, Wiccan demonstrated powers of lightning casting and flight, similar to Thor. After Kang died he found that he could cause effects by repeating chants or mantras, usually something like "I want..." until whatever effect he wanted occurred. It has been theorized that his true ability is reality warping, much like the Scarlet Witch. During the events of Civil War, Billy was able to "whip up" a teleportation spell on short notice to help save his team.

Trivia

 * Allan Heinberg has stated that Billy and his family are Reform Jews.
 * Asked about Billy's codename, Heinberg stated "Wiccan is another word for witch. It doesn't have an exclusively religious meaning."

External link

 * Gay League Profile