Agatha Harkness is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Fantastic Four #94, published in October 1969 (cover-dated January 1970). Agatha is depicted as a powerful and ancient witch, one of the original survivors of the Salem witch trials, who has lived for centuries using her magical abilities.
In her earliest appearances, Agatha served as a governess to Franklin Richards, the super-powered son of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four. Her role quickly expanded as she revealed her deep knowledge of the occult and became a mentor figure to the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), helping her understand and control her chaos magic. Agatha's mysterious nature, immense power, and ambiguous morality made her a compelling presence in Marvel's supernatural stories.
Over the decades, Agatha Harkness has been a key figure in storylines involving witchcraft, magic, and the darker corners of the Marvel Universe. She has been both an ally and a cryptic guide to various heroes, often operating with her own inscrutable agenda. Her character was notably reimagined and brought to mainstream prominence through her live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries WandaVision, where she was portrayed by Kathryn Hahn, leading to her own subsequent spin-off series.
