Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Agatha Harkness ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity:** **Agatha Harkness is one of the most ancient and powerful sorceresses on Earth, a morally ambiguous figure who has served as a pivotal mentor, a formidable antagonist, and a governess to some of the universe's most powerful beings.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** Originally introduced as a governess for [[Franklin Richards]] of the [[Fantastic Four]], Agatha Harkness is most famously known for her role as the magical tutor to the [[Scarlet Witch]]. She is a pragmatist whose actions, while often severe and manipulative, are typically aimed at preserving the balance of magic, making her a complex figure who defies easy categorization as purely a hero or villain. * **Primary Impact:** Harkness's most profound and catastrophic impact on the Marvel Universe stems from her relationship with Wanda Maximoff. She not only taught Wanda to control her innate abilities but also made the fateful decision to magically erase Wanda's memory of her twin sons, Billy and Tommy. This act of perceived mercy directly led to the "Avengers: Disassembled" storyline and the subsequent reality-altering "House of M" event, reshaping the entire Marvel landscape. * **Key Incarnations:** The core difference between her primary comic and cinematic versions lies in intent. In the comics ([[Earth-616]]), Agatha is a stern, often ruthless teacher who ultimately guides and protects magic. In the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU), she is an outright power-hungry villain whose primary motivation is to steal the Scarlet Witch's unique Chaos Magic for herself. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== 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. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== 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. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === 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. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === 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. ===== Part 3: Abilities, Equipment & Personality ===== 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. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === * **Abilities and Powers:** * **Vast Magical Knowledge:** Agatha's greatest asset is her encyclopedic knowledge of magic, accumulated over thousands of years. She is considered one of Earth's foremost magical experts, on par with figures like [[Doctor Strange]]. She has mastered countless spells, rituals, and magical disciplines. * **Spellcasting:** She is a versatile spellcaster capable of: * **Energy Projection:** Firing powerful blasts of mystical energy. * **Teleportation:** Transporting herself and others across vast distances, including between dimensions. * **Illusion Casting:** Creating highly convincing illusions to deceive and manipulate others. * **Astral Projection:** Separating her spirit from her physical body to travel the astral plane. * **Divination & Scrying:** Perceiving events happening at a distance or in other points in time. * **Mental Manipulation:** Agatha is exceptionally skilled at telepathy and mental magic. Her most infamous use of this was erasing the memory of Wanda Maximoff's children, an act that required immense power and precision to perform on a being as powerful as the Scarlet Witch. * **Extended Longevity:** Through magical means, she has lived for millennia, giving her unparalleled experience and perspective. * **Familiar Bond:** She shares a deep psychic bond with her black cat, **Ebony**. Ebony is not a normal animal but a magical familiar, capable of transforming into a large, ferocious panther-like creature to defend his mistress. * **Personality:** 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. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === * **Abilities and Powers:** * **Magic/Life-Force Absorption:** This is her signature ability in the MCU and her primary means of gaining power. She can forcibly drain the magic and life essence from other living beings, killing them in the process and adding their power to her own. * **Darkhold Magic:** For an unknown period, Agatha was a student of the Darkhold, the ultimate grimoire of dark magic. This granted her access to forbidden knowledge and powerful spells far beyond those of most other witches. This knowledge allowed her to identify Chaos Magic and understand the Scarlet Witch prophecy. * **Runic Magic:** Agatha is proficient in the use of magical runes. As she explained to Wanda, in a space where a witch casts runes, only that witch can use her magic. She used this to create a "sacred space" in her basement to nullify Wanda's powers. * **Standard Spellcasting:** Like her comic counterpart, she can perform a variety of spells, including telekinesis, teleportation, energy manipulation, and mental manipulation (e.g., controlling "Pietro" and manipulating the minds of Westview residents). Her power level was sufficient to challenge a burgeoning Scarlet Witch in direct combat. * **Equipment:** * **[[The Darkhold]]:** For a time, she was in possession of the Book of the Damned, which was her primary source for advanced magical theory and powerful spells. * **Brooch:** She wears a distinctive brooch, which appears to be the one taken from her mother. It is often speculated to be a magical focus for her absorption powers. * **Personality:** 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. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies & Mentees ==== * **[[Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)]]:** (Earth-616) This is Agatha's most defining relationship. She took Wanda on as a pupil to help her transition from a mutant with "hex bolts" to a true practitioner of magic. The relationship was complex—part mentor-student, part mother-daughter, and often adversarial. Agatha's decision to wipe Wanda's memory of her children was the ultimate betrayal in Wanda's eyes, yet Agatha maintained it was a necessary act of mercy. Their dynamic is one of the central pillars of Marvel's magical lore. * **[[Fantastic Four]]:** (Earth-616) Agatha served as the trusted governess for Franklin Richards. She developed a strong rapport with the family, particularly [[Sue Storm|Susan Storm Richards]], who entrusted her with her son's safety and well-being. Agatha acted as a steadfast protector of Franklin, shielding him from nightmares, controlling his burgeoning powers, and defending him from supernatural threats like Annihilus. * **[[Franklin Richards]]:** (Earth-616) Agatha was more than a nanny to Franklin; she was his first guide to the extraordinary powers he possessed. She provided him with a sense of stability and control when his own parents, for all their genius and power, could not comprehend the magical nature of his reality-warping abilities. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== * **[[Nicholas Scratch]]:** (Earth-616) Agatha's own son is her most personal foe. A powerful warlock in his own right, Scratch rejected his mother's ways and her perceived fondness for non-magical humans. He and his own children, the Salem's Seven, have repeatedly tried to seize control of New Salem and have battled both Agatha and the Fantastic Four on numerous occasions. Their conflict is a bitter family feud amplified by immense magical power. * **The Scarlet Witch:** (MCU) In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the roles are reversed. Wanda is not Agatha's student but her primary target and adversary. Agatha views Wanda not with a sense of responsibility, but with envy. She covets Wanda's innate Chaos Magic and sees her as an unworthy vessel for such ultimate power. Their conflict in //WandaVision// is an ideological battle between earned knowledge (Agatha) and raw, natural power (Wanda). * **[[Mephisto]]:** (Earth-616) While not a direct physical combatant in the traditional sense, Mephisto is the ultimate source of the tragedy that defines Agatha's relationship with Wanda. It was fragments of his soul that Wanda unknowingly used to magically create her children. When Mephisto reabsorbed these fragments, the children ceased to exist, forcing Agatha to intervene with her memory wipe. This makes the demon lord an indirect but crucial antagonist in her story. ==== Affiliations ==== * **New Salem:** (Earth-616) As the founder and long-time matriarch of this hidden community of witches, Agatha served as its leader and protector for centuries. It was her sanctuary and her responsibility. * **Daughters of Liberty:** (Earth-616) In a more recent storyline, Agatha joined this covert team led by a resurrected [[Captain America (Steve Rogers)]] and a mysterious figure known as the Dryad. Her role was to provide magical support and intelligence, showcasing her willingness to engage in the broader conflicts of the world when necessary. * **Strange Academy:** (Earth-616) Following her resurrection, Agatha has taken on a teaching role at [[Doctor Strange]]'s school for magically gifted youngsters, returning to her roots as an educator of the next generation of magic-users. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== === The Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1985) === 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. === Avengers West Coast: "Darker Than Scarlet" === 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. === Avengers: Disassembled === 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. === WandaVision (MCU) === 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. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== * **Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610):** In the //Ultimate Fantastic Four// series, Agatha Harkness is reimagined drastically. Instead of an ancient witch, she is a much younger woman who was a member of a government think tank for gifted youngsters alongside a young [[Reed Richards]]. She is shown to have low-level telepathic abilities. This version has little in common with her mainstream counterpart beyond the name, serving as an example of the Ultimate line's commitment to radical reinvention. * **The Fantastic Four (1994 Animated Series):** This adaptation presented a very faithful version of Agatha. She appeared in the episode "The Salem's Seven" as Franklin Richards' elderly governess. The story adapted her classic conflict with her son, Nicholas Scratch, and his villainous children, requiring the Fantastic Four to intervene to save both Agatha and the hidden town of New Salem. * **Marvel's Midnight Suns (Video Game):** Agatha appears as a central, non-playable character in the 2022 tactical RPG. In this continuity, she is the ghostly caretaker of the Abbey, the headquarters for the Midnight Suns. She acts as a mentor and guide to the player character, "The Hunter," and other magical heroes like Doctor Strange and Nico Minoru, serving a role much closer to her benevolent, wise comic book origins than her villainous MCU persona. ===== See Also ===== * [[Scarlet Witch]] * [[WandaVision]] * [[Fantastic Four]] * [[Franklin Richards]] * [[Mephisto]] * [[The Darkhold]] * [[Doctor Strange]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((Agatha's last name is pronounced "Hark-ness," not "Hark-en-ess," a common point of confusion.)) ((The song "//Agatha All Along//" from //WandaVision//, written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, became a viral sensation. It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and charted on the Billboard Hot 100.)) ((In the comics, Agatha's "death" during "Avengers: Disassembled" was later retconned. It was revealed that what the Avengers saw was a magical effigy or astral projection created by Agatha herself to make Wanda believe she had killed her, hoping the shock would break her out of her madness. Her true resurrection occurred much later.)) ((The upcoming MCU Disney+ series centered on the character has gone through several publicly announced title changes, including //Agatha: House of Harkness//, //Agatha: Coven of Chaos//, and //Agatha: Darkhold Diaries//, before seemingly settling on //Agatha All Along//, reflecting the popularity of her theme song.)) ((Key Reading List: **First Appearance** - //Fantastic Four// #94 (1970); **Mentors Scarlet Witch** - //The Vision and the Scarlet Witch// (Vol. 2) #3-12 (1985-1986); **Wipes Wanda's Memory** - //Avengers West Coast// #51-52 (1989); **"Death"** - //The Avengers// #503 (2004); **Return** - //Scarlet Witch// (Vol. 3) #1 (2023).))