What to know about ‘Agatha All Along’s’ Billy Maximoff: Here’s his backstory

What to know about 'Agatha All Along's' Billy Maximoff: Here's his backstory

As a long-time Marvel enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of countless heroes and villains, I find myself intrigued by the enigma that is Wiccan, or Billy Kaplan in the comics. With my years of immersion into the Marvel Universe, it’s safe to say that I’ve seen more than a few twists and turns, but the tale of this young sorcerer stands out as one of the most captivating.

This story contains spoilers for the first five episodes of “Agatha All Along.”

At last, the true identity of Joe Locke’s enigmatic Teen character has come to light: It turns out he was Billy Maximoff undercover the whole time.

In the fifth installment of “Agatha All Along,” we find the unnamed boy challenging Agatha (Kathryn Hahn), as he believes she was responsible for Alice’s (Ali Ahn) demise – a protection witch who had been attempting to save her during their recently concluded trial. He expresses his disappointment, as he perceives that all the witches in their makeshift coven are working solely for their own interests.

Agatha remarks to the upset young man, “You’re remarkably like your mother,” a comment that seems to be about Wanda Maximoff, better known as the Scarlet Witch.

In my perspective, the thrilling Episode 5 conclusively leaves the young protagonist’s identity unspoken. However, it appears that the enigmatic figure known as Locke’s Teen is none other than Billy, a theory that has been circulating among Marvel enthusiasts for quite some time now.

Here’s everything you need to know about Billy and his backstory.

Who is Billy Maximoff?

What to know about 'Agatha All Along's' Billy Maximoff: Here's his backstory

In the third episode of “WandaVision,” we meet young Billy Maximoff as a character. In an unusual turn of events, Wanda delivers her twins, Tommy and Billy, within just one day after experiencing a mysterious pregnancy.

The magical siblings experience a swiftly expedited childhood, with their growth progressing at a pace that outpaces even the briefest of naptimes. As infants, they leapfrog to 5-year-olds in no time flat. Later on, they mature instantly to 10-year-olds, allowing them to welcome a new addition – a puppy.

Ultimately, it becomes apparent that Tommy and Billy have acquired unique characteristics similar to those of their relative Maximoffs. Reminiscent of his uncle Pietro, Tommy exhibits the ability to run faster than ordinary humans. On the other hand, Billy demonstrates skills akin to Wanda, showcasing magical abilities.

However, similar to Vision’s version residing in Westview, which was crafted by Vision’s father using Wanda’s powerful magic that alters reality, the twins were also born out of this chaotic enchantment. In her confrontation with Agatha, Wanda recognizes she can no longer maintain a whole New Jersey township as a mere illusion of her dream. With a heavy heart, Wanda lays Tommy and Billy to rest one final time. Subsequently, Wanda releases the magical constraint over the town, causing the twins and their father to vanish since they were sustained solely by this enchantment.

In the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022), a heartbroken Wanda encounters two individuals named Billy and Tommy who hail from another reality.

What were the clues that Teen was Billy all along?

Initially, the true identity of the teen character in “Agatha All Along” remained shrouded in mystery. However, throughout the early episodes, there were numerous suggestions (some misleading) that eventually paved the way for the grand unveiling.

In Episode 1, it was hinted that the teen was searching for Agatha and assisting in her liberation from Wanda’s out-of-control enchantment, which served as an early clue suggesting he may have inherent magical abilities. Indeed, Agatha herself jokingly suggested he had to be quite potent to shatter a spell cast by the Scarlet Witch.

In Episode 2, it grew increasingly obvious that there was something mysterious about Teen as a magical symbol, resembling an ‘M’, muffled his name. This has led some to speculate that it signifies Maximoff, while others propose it might represent Mephisto, hinted at in Episode 3, but let’s delve deeper into that later on.

In Episode 3, a 16-year-old character named Teen discusses with Alice that he experienced significant events in his life at the age of 13. Since “Agatha All Along” takes place three years after the occurrences depicted in “WandaVision,” it implies that Teen was 13 when Wanda’s influence (or hex) was active.

In the Marvel universe, there are only a few teenage boy characters known for their interest in magic, potential ties with the Maximoffs (or Mephisto), who have romantic partners, and a connection to Agatha Harkness. For quite some time, it was thought that Locke would be chosen to portray Billy, a character fitting this description.

The series hinted at the idea that Teen might be Agatha’s son Nicholas Scratch. However, in Episode 4, Rio informs Agatha that Teen isn’t her child, and in Episode 5, Teen openly says “Nicholas Scratch.” By the time Teen uses his magic, all evidence seems to suggest he is actually Billy.

So who is Wiccan?

In the comic books, Billy Kaplan uses the superhero identity known as Wiccan. Originally referred to as Asgardian, Kaplan entered the scene as part of the Young Avengers team. His abilities include casting powerful energy blasts and shaping reality itself.

Through their adventures with the Young Avengers, Kaplan and his comrade, Speed (Tommy Shepherd), ultimately discover that they have past lives as Billy and Tommy Maximoff, the reborn children of Wanda and Vision.

In the world of comics, Wanda finds herself pregnant following an encounter with a coven of witches, who are actually the offspring of her former mentor Agatha Harkness. This event requires Wanda to tap into an enormous reservoir of magical power. Later on, Doctor Strange lends his aid in delivering Wanda’s babies.

In due course, a malefactor known as Master Pandemonium, serving under the demonic overlord Mephisto, sets out to pursue newborn twins. The plot unfolds such that these twin infants are discovered to have been (partially) forged from remnants of Mephisto’s power, which he then reclaims.

However, an unexpected consequence emerged as Wanda’s magical influence caused the fragments to detach from Mephisto, leading to their souls being spread across different families in a new life cycle.

In comic books, the character Billy Kaplan, who is Jewish, is involved romantically with Theodore “Teddy” Altman, more famously known as Hulkling.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, several of Billy’s future Young Avengers teammates have been previously introduced. These include Kate Bishop from “Hawkeye”, Cassie Lang from the Ant-Man series, and America Chavez in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”. To add to this, Kamala Khan is shown assembling a new superhero squad at the conclusion of “The Marvels.

But what about Tommy Maximoff?

If we know that Billy made it through the incidents depicted in “WandaVision,” it’s likely that Tommy also lived. Could it be possible that Billy is searching for him now?

As a movie enthusiast, in Episode 2, when Billy confided in Agatha about venturing on the Witches’ Path, he hinted that “the path guarantees what you’ve been longing for lies at its finish.” Initially, it seemed like he yearned for more power, but given his displayed abilities since then, it could be that he seeks his long-lost family instead. The upcoming episodes might reveal if a reunion with Tommy and possibly Wanda is in store for Billy on “Agatha All Along.

2024-10-16 04:01