Agatha All Along has placed Agatha Harkness at the center of an intriguing narrative, where she embarks on a journey with an unlikely coven of allies along the Witches’ Road. Their adventure is complicated by the presence of Salem’s Seven, Agatha’s comic book arch-enemies.
In the show, the villains, referred to as the Salem Seven, made their first appearance in the second episode, where they stalked Agatha and her coven in various animal forms, paying homage to their shapeshifting origins in the comics. This connection enriches the storyline, as these villains have a historical link to Agatha’s original coven.
To understand the full significance of Salem’s Seven, it is essential to consider the background of Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch. Introduced in Fantastic Four #185 in 1977, Nicholas is the child of Agatha Harkness and an unknown father.
He was raised in New Salem, Colorado, a secret community populated by magic users. Unlike his mother, Nicholas was drawn to darker influences and became involved with demonic forces such as Mephisto. When Agatha left New Salem to serve as the nanny to Franklin Richards, Nicholas manipulated the townspeople into believing that Agatha had betrayed them, ultimately seizing control.
Nicholas’s rise to power culminated in a dramatic abduction of Agatha and a trial against her in New Salem. The Fantastic Four intervened in this conflict, confronting Nicholas and Salem’s Seven. They exposed Nicholas’s deceit, which led to his banishment to the Dark Realm. Despite this defeat, Nicholas’s influence continued through his seven children, who sought revenge against the Fantastic Four and devised a plan to free their father from his extra-dimensional prison.
Salem’s Seven was also created in Fantastic Four #185, consisting of Nicholas’s children, each possessing unique powers and abilities. The group includes Brutacus, Hydron, Thornn, Vakume, Gazelle, Reptilla, and Vertigo. Initially, they attempted to capture the Fantastic Four to channel their powers for Nicholas’s release.
However, Agatha ultimately aided the heroes, resulting in the Salem Seven’s defeat and confinement. Over time, they evolved from villains into allies of the Fantastic Four, although the looming threat of Nicholas Scratch remained a possibility.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the portrayal of Salem’s Seven takes a different direction. Their individual identities have not yet been revealed, but they are described as a “feral hivemind,” representing the angry children of Agatha’s first coven, which she destroyed to gain their magic.
This backstory adds a layer of complexity to their motivations, as they assume animal forms such as a raven, rat, and snake, highlighting their shapeshifting abilities while maintaining a strong connection to Agatha’s past.
As the mystery surrounding Nicholas Scratch continues to deepen, fans are left to ponder the potential links between him and Salem’s Seven. With the upcoming Fantastic Four movie rumored to involve Franklin Richards, there may be further opportunities to connect Agatha’s story with the larger Marvel universe.
Kathryn Hahn has expressed her excitement about the possibility of teaming up with the Fantastic Four, creating anticipation for how these narratives will intertwine in future episodes of Agatha All Along on Disney Plus.
