A character published by
Marvel Comics.
The actual origin of Agatha Harkness has yet to be
revealed, but over the years much has come to light of
the past of this elderly, white-haired woman. She
is reported to be as much as 200-centuries old and she
is known to have been the leader of a coven of witches
in a New England town called New Salem. She is
the mother of a warlock called Nicholas Scratch and
grandmother to a group of magically-enhanced individuals
known as the Salem's Seven.
Agatha first appeared in Fantastic Four #94. She
acted for a time as the governess of the infant
son of Reed and Susan Richards,
Franklin. The writers at the time never sufficently
explained why such a scientifically-oriented family
would employ a sorceress as their nanny. Her familiar, a
black cat named Ebony had the ability to transform
into a huge panther when attacked or when Agatha
was in danger.
Eventually, Franklin grew to an age where he did not
need to be watched by a nanny, and Agatha turned her
attention to another member of the super-hero community.
Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, began to explore
her mystic heritage, when her mutant power, her
hex bolts, were discovered to be too draining and unpredictable.
Agatha trained Wanda in the arts of magic, soon making
her not just a witch in name only.
Agatha was attacked by her grandchildren the Salem's Seven
and put on trial for being a good witch.
The members of the Salem's Seven (Brutacus, Gazelle, Hydron,
Reptilla, Thornn, Vakume, and Vertigo) found her guilty
burning her at the stake for her crimes.
Agatha did not let this hold her down however. She
was able to aid her former pupil, the Scarlet Witch, when
Wanda came into conflict with the Salem's Seven years
later. Even later, she actually came back to life,
to aid the Scarlet Witch when she was being manipulated
by the villain Immortus. To this day, Agatha is one
of the Scarlet Witch's most trusted advisors.