Back in 2021, Disney+’s WandaVision introduced us to Agatha Harkness, a character played by Kathryn Hahn who quickly became a fan favorite. The series left off with Agatha in quite the predicament, trapped in the guise of the nosy neighbor “Agnes” and cut off from her magic. But don’t worry, she’s making a comeback! Agatha All Along is set to premiere on September 18, giving her the spotlight she deserves. However, not everyone might know just how deep her roots go in the Marvel universe.
Agatha Harkness has actually been around since 1969, thanks to Marvel legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Traditionally depicted as an elderly lady whose age is anyone’s guess, she’s been an ally to iconic teams like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. She emerged during a tricky time for US comics when there was a lot of concern over the so-called “immorality” of comic books, leading to strict industry regulations in 1954. This code, aimed at keeping sales up by appeasing critics, banned all sorts of spooky content, though witches weren’t specifically called out – probably because America already had a soft spot for “good witches” thanks to things like The Wizard of Oz and Bewitched. Still, witches had to mind their manners, leaning more towards comedy than fright.
Agatha made her debut in Fantastic Four #94, back in October 1969, as Franklin Richards’ nanny – he’s the baby boy of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. She was portrayed as living in a creepy old mansion but came off as a regular childminder at first. It was only later that readers got to see her true magical abilities unveiled, especially when she thwarted a kidnapping attempt by the Frightful Four without the Fantastic Four even realizing it.
Her witchy nature became more known around February 1971, in Fantastic Four #110, not long before comics regulations loosened. At the time, the infamous Comics Code Authority couldn’t approve certain storylines, like a drug abuse one in Amazing Spider-Man, which however turned out to be positively received. This prompted the Code to be updated in 1972, and horror and occult elements were welcomed back.
We dive deeper into Agatha’s backstory in 1977 with the discovery of a witchy community, New Salem, which she once led. Her son Nicholas Scratch, who’s not exactly on the straight and narrow, kidnaps her thinking she spilled the beans about New Salem to the outside world. But thanks to the Fantastic Four, the tables turn, and Scratch is banished by the community. Scratch and his villainous team, Salem’s Seven, kept trying to wreak havoc but typically got foiled by Agatha.
Agatha’s sometimes tricky character for creators. Her boundless powers occasionally overshadow main comic heroes. Plus, for her to be a lead character, the heroes around her often found themselves incapacitated – you know, stuck in rooms, possessed, or mind-controlled – which is fine in a comedic setup but less so in serious plots. For instance, her supposed death at the hands of Salem’s Seven didn’t stop her from popping back into stories quite alive in Avengers West Coast in 1989, shrugging off the mention of her ‘death.’
One of Agatha’s most complex relationships is with Wanda, the Scarlet Witch, starting from Avengers 128 in 1974. Their dynamic mostly revolves around Wanda’s kids, with Agatha showing Wanda how to craft magic to conceive children with her android hubby, Vision. Yet, she also messes around with Wanda’s mind to protect her from trauma but later reverses it to break a mind control spell, which leads to shocking consequences, including Agatha’s own apparent death at Wanda’s hands, only to continue haunting as a ghost and eventually make a comeback.
In WandaVision, Agatha comes across as a full-on villain, making us wonder what’s in store for her in Agatha All Along. The buzz is about her breaking free from Westview, possibly with some help from a magical teen fan rumored to be Wiccan, and forming a new coven. If her colorful past gets woven into the series, fans could see tantalizing elements like New Salem in all its eerie splendor or the return of her devious son, Scratch.
Agatha Harkness’ character offers so much potential, spinning tales that flip her from enigmatic ally to antagonist and even a snarky antihero. She’s as mercurial as you’d expect a witch to be and promises more chaos and magic in whatever new stories unfold.
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