WandaVision: Monica Rambeau's New Powers Explained
Contains spoilers for WandaVision episode 7
Every answer in WandaVision holds a new question. Recently, S.W.O.R.D. and its agents have become the center of a twofold mystery. Director Hayward's (Josh Stamberg) vested interest in Westview and Vision (Paul Bettany) is a driving narrative force outside of Wanda Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) sitcom reality bubble, aka the Hex. The same can be said for Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris).
By the end of episode 6, Rambeau learned that the energies inside the Hex, much like the editor of an actual sitcom, rewrote her molecules. Moreover, since she had been through the Hex's boundaries twice, the forces at play likewise altered her twice. This knowledge led some audiences to believe that Wanda's Hex might bring mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe fold, but we wouldn't know for certain until Rambeau developed powers. Thankfully, episode 7 ended with Rambeau crossing the Rubicon a third time and coming out the other side with the ability to see the electromagnetic spectrum.
While the episode didn't explicitly answer whether WandaVision will end with an explosion in the mutant population, it at least demonstrated that such a future isn't out of the question. But, some audiences were probably left wondering why Monica Rambeau obtained this specific power. Why not shape-shifting or flight? Stay tuned to find out.
Monica Rambeau is a bona fide superhero in the comics
Even though WandaVision takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the show draws much inspiration from the comic source material, perhaps even more so than the movies. For example, Wanda's children Billy and Tommy (Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne) have developed the superpowers of their comic counterparts' reincarnations. Likewise, Monica Rambeau's new powers are ripped straight from the pages of Marvel comics.
In the mainline Marvel continuity, Rambeau goes by the nom de guerre of Spectrum, which is on the nose, given her powerset. Basically, she can transform herself into and use virtually any form of energy within the electromagnetic spectrum. These include X-rays, gamma rays, infrared and ultraviolet radiation, and, of course, electricity. Rambeau/Spectrum has standard abilities such as flight and superspeed, but she can also phase through objects, become invisible, and blast opponents with the energy she currently exhibits. After all, it's not like you can see or feel X-rays. And yes, Rambeau/Spectrum can pick up on things humans can't, such as changes in the electromagnetic spectrum.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Monica Rambeau hasn't phased through objects yet or blasted Wanda with electricity, she might get there eventually. But will the powers develop naturally, or will they require a few more trips through the Hex? We will have to wait and see.