The Rescue of Wanda Maximoff was an extraction mission carried out by Hawkeye to liberate Wanda Maximoff from the Avengers Compound.
Background[]
- "This is protection? It's internment, Tony."
"She's not a U.S. citizen."
"Oh, come on, Tony."
"And they don't grant visas to weapons of mass destruction." - ―Steve Rogers and Tony Stark[src]
Wanda Maximoff left Sokovia and joined the Avengers, flying with them back to the United States of America and residing at the Avengers Compound in New York.[4] The governments of the world called for the United Nations to create a system of accountability for actions carried out by the Avengers, especially due to the destruction of Novi Grad in Sokovia. This led to the formation of the Sokovia Accords, a set of documents that would establish a panel to monitor and control the movements of enhanced individuals, including all non-enhanced members of the Avengers.
The following year, an attack in Lagos was carried out by former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Crossbones, who attempted to commit a murder-suicide with a bomb with the intention of killing Captain America. In an effort to save her friend, Maximoff used her powers to hurl Crossbones into the air, causing the bomb to explode next to a nearby building, killing twenty-six people, eleven being relief aid workers from Wakanda.
Maximoff's actions in Lagos caused many to wonder what legal authority she had to operate in Nigeria. This led to the Sokovia Accords to be officially put in motion and approved by 117 countries, who were planning to meet in Vienna to ratify the Accords.
As she was in the country illegally and denied a visa by the United States government, who labeled her a weapon of mass destruction, Tony Stark confined Maximoff to the facility. Additionally, in order to prevent her from escaping and potentially causing another incident, Stark tasked Vision with supervising her. However, Steve Rogers contacted the now-retired Clint Barton to rescue Maximoff and help him deal with the threat of the Winter Soldiers.[2]
Rescue[]
Vision and Wanda Maximoff were asleep when an explosion suddenly went off outside the compound. Vision told Maximoff to stay inside before heading off to investigate the source of the explosion.
Maximoff did as she was told only to realize someone else was in the compound. She used her powers on a nearby kitchen knife to attack the intruder, only to realize Hawkeye was standing behind her and that he was responsible for the explosion, which was meant to distract Vision while he rescued her.
Before the two could escape, they were confronted by Vision, who had realized the truth and had returned to foil the attempt. Vision warned Hawkeye to consider the consequences of his actions only to be stopped when two trick arrows released an electric shock that paralyzed him. Barton then realized Maximoff was not following him towards the exit and learned that she was afraid of the damage she had caused.
As Barton tried motivating her into leaving, Vision broke free from the trap by using the Mind Stone to destroy one of the arrows and subdued his former ally. Vision told Barton that he could not hope to defeat them, but Barton told him that Maximoff could. Then, Maximoff stepped in and tried to convince Vision to let Barton go. When he refused, Maximoff used her powers to control the Mind Stone and forced Vision to release Barton before increasing his density and blasting him meters beneath the facility.[2]
Aftermath[]
- "You locked me in my room."
"Okay, first, that's an exaggeration. Second, I did it to protect you." - ―Wanda Maximoff and Iron Man[src]
Clint Barton and Wanda Maximoff recruited Scott Lang, who had been recommended by Sam Wilson, to their cause. The three then made their way to Leipzig-Halle Airport in Germany, where Steve Rogers, Wilson, and Bucky Barnes were waiting to take a Quinjet to the HYDRA Siberian facility where the Winter Soldiers resided. However, Iron Man and his own recruits were there in order to stop Rogers and capture Barnes.[2]