Agatha Harkness made her first appearance in Fantastic Four #94, published in January 1970. She was created by the legendary duo of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby during the height of Marvel's Silver Age. Her introduction was a significant departure from the science-fiction-heavy themes that dominated the Fantastic Four title. By introducing a classic, Salem-era witch as a nanny for the cosmically-powered child Franklin Richards, Lee and Kirby injected a potent dose of supernatural mystery and magic into Marvel's First Family. Her design—that of an elderly, seemingly frail woman with a knowing glint in her eye—was deliberately archetypal, playing on classic fairytale tropes of the mysterious old crone who holds secret knowledge. This contrasted sharply with the vibrant, super-powered heroes and villains of the era. Over the decades, writers such as Steve Englehart, John Byrne, and Brian Michael Bendis would significantly expand upon her character, transforming her from a simple governess into a central figure in Marvel's magical hierarchy and the architect of the Scarlet Witch's most defining tragedies.
The history of Agatha Harkness is a long and storied one, with significant divergences between the original comic book canon and its high-profile cinematic adaptation.
Agatha Harkness's origins are ancient, predating recorded history. She was born thousands of years ago, before the sinking of Atlantis, making her one of the planet's oldest living human magic-users. She witnessed countless civilizations rise and fall, honing her magical skills throughout the millennia. Her most well-documented historical period is her time in 17th-century America. She became the leader of a coven in Salem, Massachusetts, during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Far from being victims, Agatha led her community of witches as a powerful and self-sufficient society. However, the trials forced them into hiding. In response, Agatha founded a secret, magically-shielded colony in the mountains of Colorado named New Salem, which would serve as a haven for witches for centuries to come. She served as its leader, or “Magistra,” guiding her people and protecting their traditions from the outside world. For much of her life, Agatha remained hidden from the emerging superhero community of the modern age. She chose to reveal herself when she sensed the immense, nascent power of Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue Richards. Fearing his reality-warping abilities could destabilize the world if left unchecked, she presented herself to the Fantastic Four and became his governess. In this role, she was stern but deeply protective, teaching Franklin basic control and shielding him from supernatural threats. It was during this time that she was opposed by her own son, the warlock Nicholas Scratch, and his children, known as the Salem's Seven. Scratch resented his mother's involvement with the outside world and sought to lead New Salem towards a more aggressive, isolationist path. This conflict led to Agatha's temporary exile from her own community. After leaving the employ of the Fantastic Four, she took on her most famous student: Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. Recognizing that Wanda's mutant hex powers were actually a conduit for true Chaos Magic, Agatha took her under her wing to teach her control and discipline. This mentorship formed one of the most important and ultimately tragic relationships in Wanda's life. Agatha guided her through the magical conception of her twin sons, but when it was revealed they were magical constructs derived from the soul of the demon lord Mephisto, it was Agatha who made the controversial choice to erase them from Wanda's mind to save her from the unbearable grief. This act would fester in Wanda's subconscious for years, eventually erupting and leading to the “Avengers: Disassembled” crisis, during which a maddened Wanda confronted and seemingly murdered Agatha. For years, Agatha was believed to be dead, though her spirit would occasionally appear as a ghostly guide to Wanda. She was eventually resurrected through complex magical means during the events of “The Trial of Magneto,” returning to the world of the living, younger and more vital, to once again play a role in the life of the Scarlet Witch and the wider magical community.
The MCU origin of Agatha Harkness, as revealed in the Disney+ series WandaVision, is a dramatic reimagining of the character, casting her in a much more sinister light from the very beginning. Her story begins in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1693. Unlike her comic counterpart who led the community, this version of Agatha was put on trial by her own coven, led by her mother, Evanora Harkness. She was accused of betraying their laws by practicing a forbidden and dangerous form of dark magic, stealing knowledge and power that was not meant for her. When the coven attempted to execute her by collectively blasting her with magical energy, Agatha revealed her true power: the ability to absorb magic and drain the life force from other beings. She turned their power against them, killing every member of the coven, including her own mother, and absorbing their magic into herself, leaving her mother's brooch as the only remnant. For the next 350+ years, Agatha traveled the world, continually seeking more magical knowledge and power. She learned of the legend of the Scarlet Witch, a being of immense mythical power capable of spontaneous creation and wielding Chaos Magic, a power thought not to exist. She became obsessed with finding this figure and claiming that power. When Wanda Maximoff, in a moment of profound grief over the death of Vision, unconsciously unleashed her Chaos Magic to create a pocket reality in Westview, New Jersey (the “Hex”), the immense magical signature acted like a beacon. Agatha was drawn to it instantly. She entered the Hex and cast a spell on herself to appear as a normal citizen, the nosy neighbor “Agnes.” Under this guise, she meticulously manipulated Wanda and the events within the Hex, seeking to understand the source of Wanda's reality-warping abilities. She was the architect of many of the sitcom-era conflicts, pushing Wanda's buttons to force her to reveal the depth of her power. Her actions included “recasting” Pietro Maximoff using a bewitched civilian and killing Wanda's dog, Sparky, all in an effort to break Wanda's control. Eventually, she revealed her true identity and her mastery of magic, having studied the legendary book of dark magic, The Darkhold. Her goal was not to mentor Wanda, but to provoke her into fully embracing her power as the Scarlet Witch so that Agatha could then steal that power for herself. This culminated in a massive magical duel over Westview. Though Agatha's knowledge and experience were vast, she was ultimately defeated when Wanda cleverly used Agatha's own trick of casting runes to create a warded space, rendering Agatha powerless. As punishment, Wanda did not kill her; instead, she magically trapped Agatha's mind within her “Agnes” persona, leaving her to live out her days as the harmless, nosy neighbor of Westview.
The powers and personality of Agatha Harkness differ significantly between the two primary continuities, reflecting her different roles as a complex mentor versus a power-hungry antagonist.
The comic book Agatha is defined by her wisdom, pragmatism, and a stern, almost cold demeanor. She is a teacher who believes in tough love and is not above manipulation or making morally questionable decisions if she believes it serves a greater good, particularly the protection of the magical balance. While she can be caring, especially towards Franklin Richards and, in her own way, Wanda, her affection is rarely shown openly. She is secretive, patient, and plays a very long game. Her morality is distinctly gray; she is not driven by malice but by a profound, ancient sense of order and responsibility.
The MCU's Agatha is charismatic, theatrical, and dripping with sarcastic wit. She is driven by an insatiable hunger for power and knowledge. Unlike the comic version's sense of responsibility, this Agatha is purely self-serving. She is incredibly cunning and patient, willing to play the long game of “Agnes” for weeks to achieve her goals. She is also cruel and has no qualms about hurting or killing others to get what she wants, as demonstrated by her murder of her coven and the dog Sparky. Her villainy is wrapped in a performance, culminating in her iconic theme song, “Agatha All Along,” which perfectly encapsulates her gleeful, manipulative nature.
In this landmark miniseries, Wanda and Vision attempt to live a normal suburban life. Desperate to have a family, Wanda, with Agatha's guidance, taps into an unknown magical source to miraculously conceive twin sons, Thomas and William. Agatha acts as a magical midwife and mentor throughout the process, helping Wanda focus her will to achieve the impossible. This storyline establishes Agatha's crucial role in the creation of the children, setting the stage for the inevitable heartbreak to follow.
This is arguably the most important storyline for understanding Agatha Harkness's impact. When the villain Master Pandemonium claims the twins as pieces of his own fragmented soul, the truth is revealed: they were never truly human but were magical constructs born from splinters of Mephisto's life essence. After Mephisto reclaims them, causing them to vanish from existence, Wanda is driven to the brink of insanity by the grief. To save her soul and prevent her from shattering reality, Agatha Harkness makes a fateful choice. She casts a powerful spell to erase all memory of Billy and Tommy from Wanda's mind, telling the Avengers that the children never existed. This act of deception, meant to be merciful, becomes a ticking time bomb in Wanda's psyche.
Years later, a stray, offhand comment about her lost children causes the magical barriers in Wanda's mind to shatter. Flooded with the raw, undiluted grief and a sense of profound betrayal, Wanda suffers a complete mental and magical breakdown. She lashes out with her reality-warping powers, turning against her Avengers teammates. In a pivotal and horrifying moment, she confronts Agatha Harkness, accusing her of stealing her children. Agatha's spectral form appears before the Avengers, seemingly confirming that Wanda has murdered her in a fit of rage. This “death” removes a key voice of magical reason from the world and serves as the primary catalyst for Wanda's rampage that disbands the Avengers and leads directly into the “House of M” event.
This series serves as Agatha's definitive story in the MCU. Portraying herself as the harmless neighbor “Agnes,” she infiltrates Wanda's Hex reality. The entire series is a mystery driven by her unseen manipulations. The climax of the show is the “Agatha All Along” reveal, where she unmasks herself as the master puppeteer behind Westview's strangest occurrences. Her goal is to force Wanda to accept her identity as the legendary Scarlet Witch, the most powerful and dangerous form of magic-user, in order to then steal that power. The storyline culminates in an epic witch's duel that solidifies Wanda's new identity and ends with Agatha's defeat and mental imprisonment, leaving her a tantalizingly unresolved threat within the MCU.