Harkness, Agatha - Marvel Universe: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.

Marvel Universe

Harkness, Agatha

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Agatha Harkness

Aliases
None

Identity
No dual identity

Occupation
Governess, witch, tutor, town leader

Citizenship
USA

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Nicholas Scratch (son), Brutacus, Gazelle, Hydron, Reptilla, Vakume, Vertigo (Salem's Seven, grandchildren), Abigail Harkness (unspecified relative)

Group Affiliation
Former Grande Dame of New Salem, former governess of Franklin Richards, former teacher of the Scarlet Witch

Education
Unrevealed, but has centuries of practice in magic

Height
5'11"

Weight
130 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Gray(originally blonde}

Powers
Agatha is a powerful, natural witch, able to control magical forces of immense strength, to include: precognitive, communicative, analytical and manipulative spells.

Paraphernalia
Various enchanted items

First Appearance
Fantastic Four #94 (1970)

Significant Issues
Met Scrier circa 18,000 BC (Silver Surfer #135, 1998); in Salem in 1692, chose to lead her people into isolation (Nova #6-7, 1994); Abigail Harkness fled Salem (X-Men: The Hellfire Club #1, 2000); became Franklin Richards’ nanny, defeated Frightful Four (Fantastic Four #94, 1970); revealed powers to Fantastic Four (Fantastic Four #110, 1971); aided Fantastic Four against Over-Mind (Fantastic Four #114, 116, 1971); let Reed Richards communicate with entire Earth (Fantastic Four #123, 1972); forced to aid Annihilus (Fantastic Four #140-141, 1973); left Fantastic Four's service, met & began training Scarlet Witch (Avengers #127-128/Fantastic Four #150, 1974); left Wanda (Avengers #137, 1975), alongside Fantastic Four, vs Scratch & Salem’s Seven (Fantastic Four #181-182 & 185-187, 1977); yearly return to New Salem (Fantastic Four Annual #14, 1979); opposed Scratch when he possessed Franklin, remained in New Salem (Fantastic Four #222-223, 1980); apparent burning at stake (Vision & the Scarlet Witch #3, 1985); helped Wanda against Samhain (Vision & the Scarlet Witch #3, 1986); watched Wanda’s children & altered Scarlet Witch’s memory after children’s’ apparent dissolution (Avengers West Coast #50-52, 1989); restored Wanda’s memories, defeated Immortus (Avengers West Coast #61-62, 1990); restored Tigra (Avengers Spotlight #38, 1990); returned as Franklin’s governess (Fantastic Four #368, 1992); opposed Necromancer (Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #47-48, 1992); alongside Strange, aided Scarlet Witch in opposing Chthonic energies (Darkhold: Pages From the Book of Sins #4-7, 1993); aided in sending Franklin to future (Fantastic Four #376-377, 1993); helped Scarlet Witch vs Lore (Scarlet Witch #1 & 3-4, 1994); reconciled with Susan Richards (Fantastic Four #416, 1996); freed Silver Surfer of his soul virus (Silver Surfer #135-137, 1998); counseled Wanda on her powers (Avengers #10-11, 1998); after Wanda insane, attempted to help her, apparent corpse was found (Avengers #503, 2004); “Aunt Agatha” attended amnesiac Wanda (New Avengers #26, 2007)

Agatha Harkness was one of Earth's most powerful witches and a member of New Salem who later left the colony on her own. She became a governess, tutoring children in need, though she eventually retired. But when the Fantastic Four contacted her to ask her to watch their newborn baby, Franklin, she agreed immediately when she considered who his parents were.

When the heroes first brought Franklin to her house atop Whisper Hill, she invited them in to spend the night as it was too late and too stormy for them to return home. Though once the Thing and the Human Torch had settled down, the Thing fell through a swiveling painting in his room and straight into the clutches of the Frightful Four. The evil four soon captured the rest of the Fantastic Four, but Medusa, who had been asked to join them, turned on them once she knew their plans. After a brief fight she was also restrained using the Trapster’s glue.

But the remaining three soon faced Agatha Harkness, herself, though they underestimated her. She warned them that her cat, Ebony’s, hackles were up, but the Wizard ignored her warning and attacked. The cat transformed into a massive panther and soon sent him fleeing out of the window where he smashed into a tree and was knocked unconscious. The Sandman and Trapster attacked moments later, but Agatha turned the Sandman’s body into rock and used her magic to convince the Trapster that the newly-freed Thing was a monstrous, demonic creature, wherein he fainted dead away in fright.

The rest of the Fantastic Four soon recovered as the Frightful Four’s weapons crumbled to dust minutes before, thanks to Agatha. They rushed to locate the baby and found him in Agatha’s care, sleeping soundly. Before they also went to sleep at her behest, Ben Grimm spied a book entitled Tales of Old Salem on an end table. Agatha taunted him with the possibility that she was a witch, which sent him running down the hall to his own room.

Agatha became Franklin’s permanent governess afterwards, eventually giving up her own life twice, finally at the hands of her own student: the Scarlet Witch.

Retrieved from "http://www.marvel.com/universe/Harkness%2C_Agatha"

contributors: mickeys4life

Categories: People | Heroes | Fantastic Four | Avengers | Magic