TheMarvelUniverse is filled with rich characters – many of which have existed for decades within comics before being pulled onto the screen. Some, like Agatha Harkness, become such showstoppers on film that their comic lore shifts and reshapes to match. Marvel Executive Tom Brevoort declares there are times when it’s best to align the comics with theMarvel Cinematic Universeportrayals, and Agatha is a prime example.
Writing on his Substack, Marvel Executive Director Tom Brevoortchimed in on a popular topic of discussion: the MCU’s influence on the comics. Asked how he weighs standing his ground about character decisions against following popular trends, generated by Marvel films and shows,Brevoort stated that sometimes it simply “makes good sense” to evolve with what fans want.
Agatha Harkness serves as a current example, as Kathryn Hahn’s MCU portrayal skyrocketed the character’s popularity. That Agatha is what most people want more of, which means it is in the publisher’s best interest to make the comic version more like her.
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Synergy Between Film & Comics Can Be Good Business
Marvel Comics is rapidly approaching the 90th anniversaryof its first comic, putting several decades of lore behind many of its characters. Some resonate with fans exactly as they are on the page, while others need fresh life breathed into them to reach new audiences. In some cases,like Agatha Harkness, the MCU does precisely that. As Tom Brevoort noted, while he might not be a huge fan of Agatha Harkness himself, it is prudent to capitalize on her newfound popularity. Brevoort said:
I don’t really love the fact that Agatha Harkness has been rejuvenated and transformed into virtually an entirely new character these last couple of years. But I’m well aware that Agatha had a sum total of zero fans before that change, and that an awful lot of people are incredibly invested in her as portrayed by Kathryn Hahn. So following suit in the comics simply makes good sense.
In other words, sticking solely to Agatha’s comic roots, in the face of her onscreen success, would leave MCU fans with no clear path into the comics.
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Aligning Agatha with her MCU counterpart, both in appearance and attitude, leaves the door open for MCU fans to follow their fav onto the pagesMidnight Suns, theongoingScarlet Witchtitle, and doubtlessly more to come. Gone are the days of the wizened old witch introduced alongside the Fantastic Four, making Agatha the latest example of how much influence the MCU actually exerts over comics.She’s been reshaped into “virtually an entirely new character” to suit popular opinion, and it’s likely to work out in Marvel’s favor; in that respect, Brevoort is right to dub it good sense.
Agatha Harkness' Popularity Doesn’t Mean the MCU Is Always Right
Comic Fans Aren’t Always Receptive To Change – Initially
After Kathryn Hahn’s extraordinary performance as Agatha, Brevoort is right to say that it was a sound decision for the comics to align with such a massively popular portrayal when the original held less significance. However, that’s not always the case. Choices within the MCU have created a domino effect in the comic landscape several times, and they’re not always welcomed with open arms. Many fans still lament the comic retcon that changedScarlet Witch and Quicksilver’s parentagefollowing their MCU introduction, or how several comic personalities,like Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, shifted to mirror their film counterparts.
In Agatha’s case, the revamp is far more likely to usher in new comic readers and prompt existing fans to take a new look at a character.
In short, while there are certainly occasions, and characters like Agatha, that benefit from an extreme refresh, that isn’t always the case. It’s not a one-size-fits-all rule, and altering comics to follow film can leave long-time fans feeling alienated and disappointed. In Agatha’s case, the revamp is far more likely to usher in new comic readers and prompt existing fans to take a new look at a character they likely never spent much time thinking about previously. Tom Brevoort is right;aligning Agatha Harkness between comics and screen is smart, but shapingMarvelComics with theMCUis a slippery slope.
Agatha All Along
Cast
Agatha Harkness, after the events of “WandaVision,” seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
