Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are interesting characters for Marvel, as they are shared with 20th Century Fox, who already used the later to great affect in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Marvel and Disney are not allowed to show the siblings, otherwise known as Wanda and Pietro, as Mutants. So that brings up the question: What is their origin? A new digital prequel comic for Avengers: Age of Ultron attempts to answer just that. We also get two new images from this release.

In Avengers: Age of Ultron Prelude: This Scepter'd Isle, Loki's scepter has fallen into the hands of Baron von Strucker, who was last seen in the end credits scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In this prelude, it is revealed that Strucker, who has been working for Hydra, has been using the scepter on test subjects in the European city of Sokovia. He hopes to unlock any powers these individuals might have.

Written by Will Corona Pilgrim, and illustrated by Wellinton Alves, Wanda and Pietro are discovered to be two of Strucker's test subjects. So their powers are seemingly derived from Loki's scepter. It is noted that the tool is used for 'unlocking' the powers, which means these powers were inherent in the brother and sister, but submerged. This falls in line with Marvel Comics recent 'Inhumanity' story arc, which saw latent Inhumans' powers actives by an outside force known as the Terrigen Bomb.

Newsarama, who debuted the comic images, believe that this all ties into Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and its Inhumans storyline. They speculate that Loki's scepter is powered by a Terrigen Crystal. Having Loki's scepter unlock Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's powers is one way to get around them being Mutants. Do you like the angle Marvel is taking with the characters? Check out these first images from the digital comic, and let us know what you think: