With Agatha: House of Harkness coming our way on Disney+, I’m sure many people want to know more about her. She started off as Franklin Richards’ nanny, but – as time passed – she started helping the Fantastic Four in more significant ways with her magical powers. Later, during an adventure with the Avengers, she announced that she would help Scarlet Witch with her studies.
Even though she sometimes meets the Fantastic Four again, her most important (and the best overall) relationship is with Wanda, the Scarlet Witch. I mean, Agatha in the Scarlet Witch (2015) comic is pure gold, you’ll see.
Lately, she’s been showing up a bit in the Captain America stories. And I bet she’ll appear even more; Marvel obviously has plans for her (at least in the MCU), and a lot of fans loved her in WandaVision. If you already like her or want to know more about her, there’s no better time than now.
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Franklin Richards’ Nanny
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 10
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #94-104, Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure
Franklin Richards is only a baby and the FF doesn’t want him to be in danger, so they take him to a nanny, Agatha Harkness. At the time, they didn’t know she was a witch, but there were a lot of clues and, already on their first encounter, she helped them beat some villains. Some of them are even terrorized by her cat, Ebony, that can transform into a demon-like creature.
The Agatha Harkness Cut (every comic she’s in): Fantastic Four (1961) #94, #103.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 11
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #105-116
Agatha shows up to help the heroes with her magical powers. You’ll see all the witchy stuff you can imagine, from crystal balls to astral projections.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #107, #109-114, #116.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 12
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #117-128
Agatha seems to have some sort of precognition or a bigger understanding of things that will happen in the future. She warns the FF that great danger is coming (I don’t know how someone called the Air-walker can be such a danger, but who am I to judge).
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #117, #120, #123, #127.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol, 13
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #129-141
Agatha stops taking care of Franklin for a while. Later, it’s revealed that she did that because Annihilus transported her to the Negative Zone. But, soon, the FF saves her.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #129, #140-141.
Agatha and the Scarlet Witch
Avengers Epic Collection: The Avengers/Defenders War
Collects: Avengers (1963) #115-128, Giant-Size (1974) #1, Defenders (1972) #8-11, Captain Marvel (1968) #33, Fantastic Four (1961) #150
Here we see a turning point in Agatha’s life. She declares her new role will be teaching Wanda more about magic. You can see how relevant she is, as Wanda right now is most known for her mystical powers. And, as I said before, this is the beginning of Agatha’s most relevant relationship.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers (1963) #127, Fantastic Four (1961) #150, Avengers (1963) #128.
Avengers: The Complete Celestial Madonna Saga
Collects: Avengers (1963) #123-125, #129-135, Giant-Size Avengers #2-4, Avengers: Celestial Quest #1-8
Agatha spends her days training Wanda, and she is quite happy with Scarlet Witch’s progress. After Giant-Size Avengers #4, Agatha says the training is over, Wanda is free to do as she pleases.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers (1963) #129, Giant-Size Avengers #2, Avengers (1963) #130, #133-134, Giant-Size Avengers #4.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 17
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #176-191
Honestly, I wish this had a bit more of Agatha Harkness, but it’s still great. For the first time, we see a story centered around her. During the “New Salem” arc, trying to find Agatha and Franklin, the FF finds New Salem, a city only for witches.
The people of New Salem isolated themselves, but Agatha believed that would doom them, and she left the city hoping she would inspire other people to experience the rest of the world and grow, but no one followed her. Her son, Nicholas Scratch, started hating her and manipulated everyone in the city.
It’s a good origin story and also a well-deserved one. At this point, Agatha was already appearing quite regularly, but the readers didn’t know almost anything about her.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #181-182, #185-188, #191.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 18
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #192-203, Annual (1963) #12-13
After her rescue, Agatha starts taking care of Franklin again.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #193-194, #196, Annual (1963) #13.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 19
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #204-218, Annual (1963) #14
Salem’s Seven, a powerful team of evil witches, attempts to bring Nicholas Scratch back, but Agatha and Franklin work together and defeat them.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #204, Annual (1963) #14.
Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 20
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #219-231, Annual #15
Nicholas Scratch comes back and manages to possess Franklin. At the end of the story, Agatha decides to stay in New Salem and help the citizens, including her son.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #222-223.
The Death of Agatha Harkness
Avengers: Vision & the Scarlet Witch – A Year in the Life
Collects: Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1985) #1-12, West Coast Avengers (1985) #2
Salem’s Seven and the people of New Salem capture Agatha and burn her at the stake. Wanda and Vision end up in the city and find out what happened. The spirit of Agatha Harkness helps Wanda a few times in her battles.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Vision and the Scarlet Witch (1985) #3-5.
Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Vision Quest
Collects: West Coast Avengers (1985) #38-46, Avengers West Coast (1989) #47-52, West Coast Avengers Annual (1986) #3, Avengers West Coast Annual (1989) #4, material from Avengers Spotlight (1989) #23
Agatha resurrects herself and visits Wanda and Vision. She wants to understand what is happening with their children because when Wanda isn’t thinking about them, they disappear, meaning they probably aren’t real. After uncovering the mystery, Agatha erases Wanda’s memories making her forget she ever had children (I hope this never comes back to bite Agatha…).
I need to highlight that when Agatha says that being burned wouldn’t kill a real witch, Wonder Man agrees with her and mentions that the same thing happened in the Bewitched TV show. I can’t begin to explain how much that made me laugh.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers West Coast (1989) #50-52.
Avengers West Coast Epic Collection: Darker Than Scarlet
Collects: Avengers West Coast (1989) #53-64, Avengers West Coast Annual (1989) #5, Avengers (1963) #311-313; material from Avengers Annual (1967) #19, What The–?! (1988) #6
As you can assume by its name, “Darker Than Scarlet” is focused on Wanda. With everything that happened to her recently, Wanda turns evil for the first time (wait to see what she does in Disassembled). Agatha is a major player in helping Wanda go back to the good side.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers (1963) #313, Avengers West Coast (1989) #55-57, #61-63.
Collects: Infinity War 1-6; Fantastic Four (1961) 366-370; Spider-Man (1990) 24; Deathlok (1991) 16; Daredevil (1964) 310; Warlock And The Infinity Watch 7-10; Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme 42-47; Silver Surfer (1987) 67-69; Wonder Man (1991) 13-15; Alpha Flight (1983) 110-112; Silver Sable & The Wild Pack 4-5; Guardians Of The Galaxy (1990) 27-29; Quasar 37-40; New Warriors (1990) 27; Marc Spector: Moon Knight 41-44; Nomad (1992) 7; Sleepwalker 18; Material From Captain America (1968) 408; Alpha Flight (1983) 109; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 108-112
If you want to know more about the “Infinity War” event, take a look at Marvel’s Infinity Saga. Agatha works with Wanda and other mystical heroes and even forms a group called Strange Bedfellows. She also notes something darker in Franklin Richards and accepts Sue’s request to be his nanny again.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Infinity War #3, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #8, Fantastic Four #368, Wonder Man #13, Quasar #38, Infinity War #4, Alpha Flight #111, Wonder Man #14, Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #46, Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #47, Infinity War #6.
Darkhold: Pages From The Book Of Sins – The Complete Collection
Collects: Pages From The Book Of Sins #1-16, Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #90 And Material From Midnight Sons Unlimited #1-2, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #145
Works a bit with Wanda and Doctor Strange.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Darkhold: Pages From The Book Of Sins #4-7.
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: This Flame, This Fury
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) 362-376, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) 25-26, Adventures of the Thing (1992) 3
A good synopsis for this one would be “the 90s were weird”. But, regarding Agatha, she infuriates Sue and is kicked out of the FF headquarters.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four #371-376.
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Nobody Gets Out Alive
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) 377-392, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) 27, Namor the Sub-Mariner (1990) 47-48, Fantastic Four Ashcan Edition (1994) 1
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four #377.
Avengers: Scarlet Witch by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Collects: Scarlet Witch #1-4, Avengers Origins: Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1; material from Marvel Team-Up (1972) #125; Solo Avengers #5; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #60-63, #143-144; Mystic Arcana: Scarlet Witch
Wanda is having nightmares, so she asks Agatha to help her. Worth reading if you like seeing them together.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Scarlet Witch #1, 3-4.
Nova (1994) hasn’t been collected, but Agatha appears in two issues (#6-7). It tells a bit about her past; I find it a bit interesting to read it, but you can skip it honestly.
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Strange Days
Collects: Fantastic Four (1961) #403-416, Fantastic Four: The Legend, Onslaught: Marvel Universe, Material from Tales of the Marvel Universe (Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol . 25)
Agatha helps Sue deal with Malice. It’s nice seeing them make up and be friends again.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1961) #416.
Collects: Fantastic Four (1996) #1-12
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four (1996) #7.
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Inner Demons
Collects: Silver Surfer (1987) #123-138, #-1, Annual ’97
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Silver Surfer (1987) #135-137.
Collects: Avengers (1998) #1-11
Wanda and Agatha resurrect Wonder Man.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers (1998) #10-11.
Collects: Avengers (1998) #500-503, Avengers Finale (2004)
Wanda confronts Agatha about her two sons; angered by the betrayal, Scarlet Witch kills her. (If you only started reading comics a bit after the 2000s and have never seen Agatha Harkness, now you know who to blame).
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Avengers (1998) #503.
Agatha Finally Comes Back
Vision Vol. 1: Little Worse Than A Man
Collects: Vision #1-6.
Agatha starts appearing in flashbacks and as a ghost accompanying Wanda. Sometime in the past, she killed Ebony, enabling her to see the future; with the future knowledge she obtained, now she tells the Avengers what Vision and his family are doing.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Vision #3, #6.
Vision Vol. 2: Little Better Than a Beast
Collects: Vision #7-12
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Vision #7, #11.
Scarlet Witch: The Complete Collection
Collects: Scarlet Witch (2016) #1-15, Doctor Strange: The Last Days of Magic (2016) #1
Please, if you like seeing Wanda and Agatha together, you need to read this. She is mostly comic relief, but in the last chapters, she is resurrected and tells Wanda their fates are intertwined, but she also needs some time for herself. As I said, it’s really nice seeing them together, easily one of the best parts of this run for sure.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Scarlet Witch (2016) #1-4, #8, #12-15.
Doctor Strange by Mark Waid Vol. 4: The Choice
Collects: Doctor Strange (2018) #18-20, Doctor Strange Annual (2019) #1
Also shows up mostly for some laughs.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Doctor Strange Annual (2019) #1.
Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates Vol. 3: The Legend of Steve
Collects: Captain America (2018) #13-19
We learn a bit more about Agatha’s past and find out she was part of an organization called Daughters of Liberty.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Captain America (2018) #19.
Captain America by Ta-Nehisi Coates Vol. 4
Collects: Captain America (2018) #20-25
She assists a little in the battle against Selene.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Captain America (2018) #22-23.
Fantastic Four: Antithesis Treasury Edition
Colleges: Fantastic Four: Antithesis (2020) #1-4, X-Men (1963) #65, Fantastic Four (1998) #60
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Fantastic Four: Antithesis (2020) #1, #4.
Collects: Strange Academy (2020) #7-12
Agatha is giving classes about cloning spells. I really hope we can see more of her as a teacher, not just to Wanda, but also to a new generation.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Strange Academy (2020) #8.
Captain America By Ta-Nehisi Coates Vol. 5: All Die Young Part Two
Collects: Captain America (2018) #26-30
In the past, Agatha created a device to help the Daughters of Liberty be a beacon of hope. But now Red Skull took it and changed it, making it able to harvest negative emotions.
The Agatha Harkness Cut: Captain America (2018) #27-28.
Latest Additions
Collects: Midnight Suns #4 to #5
Scarlet Witch (2023) by Steve Orlando
Collects: Annual #1
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