Agatha All Along will delve into the mysterious world of witches in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ll cover everything you need to know about them before watching the series.
Magic is a complex topic in Marvel, but it’s crucial in Agatha All Along. Over its 85-year history, Marvel has had different views on how to represent magic across its franchises. This has included mixing magic with various themes, such as technology, as seen with characters like Victor von Doom who are skilled in both science and sorcery. Magic is also seen as a powerful force that can rival aliens and robots.
This history explains how magic has been portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from small bursts of power to abilities capable of destroying everything in their path. There isn’t a single, clear description of magic; its nature depends on the intentions and background of the person using it. This creates a wide range of possibilities for different characters and creatures in Marvel’s universe.
In Agatha All Along, the story picks up with the titular witch (Kathryn Hahn) and explores what happened to her after her confrontation with Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and her attempts to regain her powers. This series offers a unique perspective, linking the Scarlet Witch and future events in the saga. Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) is set to play a significant role in Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, which might shift the focus to modern uses of magic. Marvel’s latest Disney+ series could explore this from various angles.
What Is a Witch in Marvel?
In the Marvel universe, a witch is any being—human or otherwise—who can alter reality in various ways, such as changing their own body, the weather, or the climate. Unlike mutants, whose powers are inherent and usually fixed, witches can often learn and grow their abilities over time through wisdom and knowledge. In Marvel’s view, magic involves modifying the physical realm, whether visible or not, using the right knowledge.
For witches like Wanda and Agatha, their powers come from their personal energies or their ability to generate magical effects. Characters with similar traits develop their skills through study, practice, and studying ancient or collected knowledge. Both witches, who follow their personal learning paths, and Warlocks, who are part of magical orders, can suffer from their abilities if used excessively or improperly, which can be fatal.
To avoid these dangers and maximize their powers, sorcerers like Stephen Strange learn techniques to control their magic and protect themselves. According to Marvel mythology, students at Kamar-Taj are trained rigorously to use their internal force, called Chi, to enhance their minds and bodies for magical combat. This is depicted in Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange.
What Types of Magic Exist in The Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Depending on its origin and use, magic has different names in Marvel. Many of these have been featured in various productions within the Infinity and Multiversal sagas, giving us a clearer idea of what we might see in Agatha All Along.
Asgardian Magic
For the inhabitants of Asgard, magic combines their will with various abilities. This has allowed characters like Frigga, Heimdall, and Loki to use magic for different purposes. Frigga’s abilities include precognition and divination. Heimdall can see the entire universe and communicate with other beings. Loki can change shape and influence reality, and his Jotun nature enhances his strength and attack capabilities, as shown in the two seasons of his own series.
Eldritch Magic
This magic is used by the Masters of the Mystic Arts and is based on light patterns and making Chi energy tangible. It can emit light and heat and can be learned and improved through study, as detailed in Doctor Strange and expanded upon in phases four and five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Chaotic Magic
As explained in WandaVision, chaos magic is the rarest and most powerful type of magic in Marvel. It doesn’t follow any rules or boundaries and feeds on the pain, trauma, and struggles of its user. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda explores her full potential with chaos magic, leading her to new abilities like possessing bodies, traveling between universes, and rewriting reality.
Magic of the Dark Dimension
According to Doctor Strange, this type of magic comes from the Dark Dimension and can extend the life of its user. However, it can also allow dangerous creatures like Dormammu to enter our world, making its use risky.
Darkhold Magic
This magic is derived from the Darkhold book, which is one of the most dangerous magical texts in the Marvel universe. The book is now destroyed, and Wanda, who learned its spells, died trying to protect the information, as depicted in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
