It was "Agatha all along" in WandaVision, but how does Kathryn Hahn's MCU villain differ from the Marvel comic book version? Ever since the wacky world of WandaVision began, viewers have been trading theories about who the real villain could be. The Disney+ series previously revealed that Wanda was in control of Westview, and SWORD are working on the assumption that Scarlet Witch's magical powers are the root of the trouble, but many viewers suspected another figure was hiding in the shadows, manipulating Wanda Maximoff for their own villainous ends. Mephisto has been a recurring suggestion, and the Marvel devil may still have a role to play in Wanda's ongoing mental breakdown, but episode 7 confirms a different fan theory.
Since the moment Kathryn Hahn's WandaVision character appeared in marketing material, the actress was speculated to be playing Agatha Harkness, based largely off her witch outfit and "nosy neighbor" description. Furthermore, the character's name serves as a not-so-subtle contraction of her true identity; Agatha Harkness. That theory looked to be nixed after Agnes' civilian identity was posted on SWORD's investigation board, and her Halloween crisis in front of Vision also diverted suspicion away from Hahn. But those early instincts proved correct - Agnes is Agatha Harkness, and she's wreaking havoc in the Westview sitcom.
The MCU rarely adapts comic characters verbatim, and in WandaVision alone there are some major discrepancies. Wanda and Vision are both powered by Infinity Stones, Billy and Tommy and born in different circumstances, and Monica Rambeau's energy abilities aren't completely faithful either. In the same vein, Agatha Harkness is quite far removed from the wrinkly old witch in the Marvel comics. Here's how her origin story changes.
Agatha's Origins, Motivations & Powers In WandaVision
Who's been messing up everything? Why, Agatha, of course - but perhaps not the version folks at home at familiar with. WandaVision's big villain reveal happens at the very end of episode 7, not leaving much time to dig into the MCU arrival of Agatha Harkness. What we do know is that Agatha has been masquerading around Westview as Agnes, gently steering Wanda by using the "friendly sitcom neighbor" routine. Agatha took Wanda to Dotty, stirred up trouble in the Vision household, and accused Geraldine of not being from 'round these parts. Through flashbacks, it's now clear that Agatha's machinations ran even deeper. She caused a scene at the magic show, conjured Quicksilver onto Wanda's doorstep, and stoked Scarlet Witch's inner insecurities. She also informed Vision of his Avengers: Infinity War death with all the subtlety of Mark Ruffalo and Tom Holland trying to hide spoilers.
Agatha hasn't yet reached the part where she tells Wanda her masterplan, but episode 7 does drop some important clues. The obscenely catchy Agatha Harkness theme song includes the lyric "it's too late to fix anything," and when Monica explores the witch's gothic abode, purple vines are crawling into a temple-like structure underneath the house. There's also a cicada on Agatha's drapes - a bug associated with the philosophical notion of rebirth. It appears that Agatha could be using Wanda's massive energy for some dastardly pet project; perhaps summoning something evil back to life.
In terms of powers, Agatha directly compares her magic to Wanda's, although her spells are purple instead of red. It remains to be seen whether the color indicates different powers, or whether Agnes just likes purple. Either way, Harkness is able to influence Westview as easily as Wanda, afflicting other residents, altering the reality and adding new cast members as she sees fit.
Agatha Harkness In The Marvel Comics
The MCU's Agatha Harkness arrives in WandaVision as a villain exploiting Scarlet Witch's grief (and sacrificing an entire town) for her own purposes. The original comic book Agatha is quite different. In the printed realm, Agatha Harkness is Marvel's quintessential witch, complete with the silvery hair and black cat. Agatha's birthplace and age remains a mystery, but records trace her existence as far back as Atlantean times, making her at least 12,000 years old in Marvel reckoning. Agatha's comic story picks up, naturally, in 17th century Salem. Establishing her own coven, Agatha Harkness and her magical followers were targeted by witch-hunters, and she used the angry mob to weed out the weaker sorcerers under her sway. In the 1700s, Agatha aligned with the Daughters of Liberty along with Dryad, where she imparted her magical knowledge onto the all-female team of guardians, and several hundred years later, assisted the U.S. during World War II as part of the Department of the Uncanny. Although Agatha's husband is never revealed (that sounds familiar...), she has a powerful, villainous son known as Nicholas Scratch.
Despite her fascinating backstory, the first canonical appearance of Agatha Harkness in the Marvel comics comes via the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards and Sue Storm need someone to look after their super-son, Franklin, and they take they boy to Agatha, who has apparently earned a reputation for teaching and raising young children. The Fantastic Four are attacked by the Frightful Four at Agatha's spooky manor house, but the witch and her cat fend them off, with the old lady alluding to her past at Salem. Over the course of Agatha's run in the 1970s Fantastic Four comics, she became an ally of the team, saving them on numerous occasions and grew close to her young charge, Franklin Richards.
Having earned the trust of the Fantastic Four, Harkness soon becomes an ally to other Marvel superheroes, most notably the Avengers and Scarlet Witch. A recently deceased Agatha helps Scarlet Witch defeat another uprising of Salem magic-users in Vision & The Scarlet Witch, and it's here that Wanda is able to magically create her twin sons, Billy and Tommy. Agatha later returns to inform Wanda that the boys aren't real, and she also becomes a magical mentor to Scarlet Witch, enhancing her magic prowess.
WandaVision Changes Agatha's Comic Origin
Since the Fantastic Four are yet to make their MCU, Agatha Harkness' introduction is no longer as the enigmatic governess of Franklin Richards, but WandaVision's biggest change to the character is making her an outright villain. Agatha has certainly done some sketchy stuff in Marvel's comic continuity (sending witches to die in Salem, for example), but she's traditionally an ally to superheroes, rather than an enemy, especially when it comes to Scarlet Witch. Although Kathryn Hahn's character has yet to reveal her full intentions for Wanda Maximoff, that cackling laugh and devilish theme tune point to Agatha Harkness being a true villain in the MCU - at least for now.
Then there are broader changes to how Agatha Harkness is presented in WandaVision compared to the comics. Rather than a reputable mentor figure, Agnes seems more of a direct rival to Wanda. She's in control of the situation, more or less, but she's relying on Scarlet Witch for something, which proves Agatha's own power isn't sufficient for whatever she's planning. The idea of Agatha Harkness working for a larger villain (if, indeed, that is what's happening) represents another shake up to the original character.
Although WandaVision's Agatha Harkness is quite different to the Fantastic Four's nanny, the changes aren't necessarily negative, and actually fit far better within the context of the MCU. Agatha Harkness develops into a fascinating comic book character, but her introduction as an old governess with knowledge of witchcraft wouldn't work as effectively in a 2021 live-action TV show. Thankfully, Kathryn Hahn in WandaVision generates all the mystery and magic of Agatha's comic debut, but in way that feels right at home in the existing MCU.
How WandaVision Can Still Incorporate Agatha's Comic Story
Agatha Harkness' first MCU appearance has been completely different from the Marvel comics, but WandaVision can add more familiar elements along the way. Despite Kathryn Hahn's youthful looks, there's no telling how old Agatha truly is, since her magic could make for quite the effective anti-aging serum. MCU Agatha could still be thousands of years old, and her history with Salem and WWII could all prove to be accurate. Depending on how long Hahn sticks around, the MCU's Lavender Witch could also still take Franklin Richards under her wing. The Fantastic Four are due to arrive any time now, and Franklin is a powerful mutant in the comics. It's entirely possible that the MCU Franklin will be given to a redeemed Agatha Harkness in order to curb his awesome power.
Slightly harder will be rewriting the current Agatha Harkness as a friend to superheros, and the teacher of Scarlet Witch. Admittedly, things don't look great, what with that maniacal laugh and the evil lair, but whatever Agatha's planning, she's also offering Wanda the idyllic, peaceful life she always wanted. In Agatha's twisted mind, perhaps she really believes she's doing Wanda a favor in Westview. When WandaVision comes to an end, Agatha might realize that she too has been manipulated and misled, and she'll team up with Wanda Maximoff, setting up their friendlier dynamic from the comics.