In Agatha All Along, we’ve learned that Agatha Harkness once had a son named Nicholas Scratch. Apparently, a child she traded to gain access to the Darkhold. However, what actually occurred is still a mystery. As of episode five of Agatha, we know that the spirit and energy of Nicholas Scratch is still out there somewhere. At least according to that Ouija board on the Witches’ Road. But who is Agatha’s son Nicholas Scratch in the comics? Is he good, or is he evil? He actually has a fairly complex history, directly tied into a group of characters currently wreaking havoc on the show, Salem’s Seven.
The First Appearance of Nicholas Scratch, Son of Agatha Harkness
In the comics, Nicholas Scratch is the son of Agatha Harkness, born to her centuries ago, just as in the show. But he’s definitely not a good guy. We don’t actually know who his father is, but some think that he’s the son of Satan himself. This is because he channels his powerful magic through an object he calls the Satan Staff. Was it a gift from dear old dad? Wolverine creator Len Wein and iconic artist George Perez created Scratch, and he first appeared in 1977’s Fantastic Four #185. He was enemies with not only Marvel’s First Family, but also with his mother Agatha herself.
The name Nicholas Scratch is a combination of two nicknames for the Devil, “Old Nick” and “Old Scratch.” Fans of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix may also remember the name Nicholas Scratch was the name of the handsome young warlock she was enamored with. Marvel’s version has your standard magical powers, like teleportation, telepathy, mind control, and creating illusions. In the Marvel Universe, he was part of a secret colony of witches and warlocks in Colorado called New Salem, hidden deep in the Rocky Mountains.
Agatha and Nicholas Scratch: Mother and Son, and Eternal Enemies
Scratch’s mother Agatha was also once a part of this society, but left for the mortal world, which the witches of New Salem considered a betrayal. He kidnaps his mother and puts her on trial, but she escapes with the help of the Fantastic Four. He also attempted to possess the body of Franklin Richards, the powerful mutant son of Reed and Sue Richards. Eventually, Nicholas Scratch was exiled into the Dark Realm dimension. He escaped several times, coming into conflict with the Avengers, particularly the Scarlet Witch, and the Thunderbolts. For a time, he served Doctor Strange’s mortal foe, Dormammu of the Dark Dimension.
Salem’s Seven, the Children of Nicholas Scratch in Marvel Comics
Although a powerful warlock, no doubt inheriting a degree of power from his mother, Scratch had an army of his own—Salem’s Seven. In the Marvel Comics, Salem’s Seven are all actually the children of Scratch, each from an unknown mother. The Salem’s Seven each had different magical powers. Brutacus can transform into a lion-like creature, while Gazelle changes into a deer-like being with super speed. Hydron can transform into a fish-like humanoid who controls water. The aptly named Reptilla changes into a humanoid form made of snakes, and Scratch’s son Thornn is a demonic creature with massive horns. Vakume can fly and control air and wind. Finally, there’s Vertigo, the eldest daughter, who can literally give someone vertigo. Their designs are very ‘70s, to say the least.
Salem’s Seven Reimagined for Agatha All Along
In the MCU, Salem’s Seven have been almost totally reimagined visually. They are now the children of the witches that Agatha killed in Salem, way back in 1693, who have made it their immortal life’s work to get revenge on Agatha for her crimes. They dress in all black, and transform into animals, but not animal/human hybrids. Also, they are clearly not the children of Nicholas Scratch. But all has not been revealed. Nicholas Scratch might be out there pulling the strings. And the Salem’s Seven might be working with him to take down Agatha. So they might not be his children in the literal sense, but they could be his “children” figuratively. We expect to see more of both Salem’s Seven and Nicholas Scratch before Agatha All Along finishes its run.
