'Agatha All Along': Agatha's Alliance With Billy Sets Up A Twist On Her Original Comic Role

WARNING! SPOILERS for Agatha All Along, eps 8 & 9.

In what was a surprising twist for some viewers, the first half of Agatha All Along's double episode finale killed off the titular character, before she returned in the second half as a ghost. Billy, upset that his accidental creation of the Witches' Road led to the deaths of Alice, Lilia, and Sharon, but angrier at the reveal that Agatha had originally intended to drain the entire coven, at first plans to banish Agatha's ghost, but ultimately takes pity on her. The pair agree to team up as a coven of two, embarking on a quest to find Billy's recently reincarnated twin, Tommy.

There is precedent in the comics for both Agatha as a ghost, and Agatha as a mentor for younger magic users, but some fans now think that Ghost Agatha's team up with Billy/Wiccan could also provide a set-up for one of her earliest comic roles.

Nanny to the Heroes

In one of her earliest chronological appearances, Agatha Harkness rescues Firestar from Witch-Hunters after the young mutant had accidentally been sent back in time to the Salem Witch Trials. Agatha is inspired by this encounter to found New Salem, a sanctuary for magic users. She leads the community for many years, and offers secret magical help during various wars.

Eventually, after deeming it safe to leave her haven, Agatha departed New Salem to see the world. She paid her way during her globe-trotting years by taking jobs Nannying and Tutoring children. She retires with plans of returning to New Salem, but these plans are interrupted when she is visited by the Fantastic Four's Sue Storm and Reed Richards, who are seeking a Nanny for their young son, Franklin. Sensing Franklin's future potential as an Omega-level mutant, Agatha ends her retirement and agrees to care for the boy.

The Four come to view Agatha as a member of their family, and due to repeated kidnapping attempts by various enemies, Franklin spends a period of time living with Agatha at her own home, Whispering House, under extra magical protection.

Once Franklin is back with his parents full-time, Agatha shifts her focus, becoming a mentor to the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff, as she learns to use Witchcraft alongside what she originally believed to be mutant powers. While some comics, and WandaVision, portray and reference Agatha Harkness as a regular babysitter of Wanda's twin sons, Thomas and William, in the comics she met them only briefly before their souls were absorbed by Mephisto.

She erases the twins from Wanda's memory after their reabsorption, leading to her own death at a furious Wanda's hands some years later, and subsequent stint as a ghost. She is eventually resurrected as a reward after helping Wanda Maximoff and her biological Mother, Natalya, save Earth's witchcraft.

Guardian Spirit to the Young Avengers?

Thus far, apart from her brief stints babysitting the twins in WandaVision, the MCU has not explored Agatha as a Nanny, despite that being an important part of her history, and has instead positioned her as a magical mentor for Billy. However, that may be about to change.

The beginning of Billy and Ghost Agatha's search for Tommy is another piece in the MCU's growing Young Avengers puzzle, which seemed to officially begin when Kamala Khan appeared to recruit Kate Bishop in the closing moments of The Marvels. In the comics, Billy is a founding member of the Young Avengers as Wiccan, with Tommy joining shortly afterwards as Speed.

If Agatha stays by Billy's side beyond the search for Tommy, she may continue to be a presence as the Young Avengers form. A few potential members have missing (America Chavez), jailed (Kate Bishop), or inattentive (Tommy Shepherd) parents, so it is possible that Agatha's spirit may find herself reluctantly watching over the young heroes, reflecting her early comic role as a Nanny, and maybe even getting a chance to become someone her late son, Nicky, would be proud of.

Whatever the ultimate outcome, we can't wait to see where Billy and Agatha's journey takes them next.