Insight Editions has done it again! After their excellent Agatha All Along Tarot Deck and Guidebook, I had high expectations for The Grimoire of Agatha Harkness, and I’m pleased to announce they delivered. This should come as no surprise, really, considering the authors are Andrea Hannah, who penned the aforementioned guidebook, and Marvel Comics writer Danny Lore. The book pays careful attention to detail and is well-researched, drawing on both the comics and the MCU while staying grounded in history. The combination is highly effective, resulting in something sophisticated and layered yet still fun and accessible.
The meat of the grimoire is, of course, Agatha’s perspective on everything, from the essence of magic itself and basic spells to more complicated and controversial aspects of witchcraft. Through these passages, Hannah and Lore excellently capture the confident voice and complex characterization fans have come to love about her. The genuine respect for and homage to the real-life craft it integrates, however, make the book even more meaningful, acting as an empowering celebration of all kinds of magic, both the fantastical and tangible.
While Agatha’s writings are excellent on their own, the Post-it note annotations from Dr. Strange and Wanda Maximoff elevate things to a whole new level. These sticky notes serve a variety of purposes in the book, from questioning the intentions and validity of things Agatha writes to rolling their eyes at her penchant for theatricality to straight-up calling her out on her lies. It’s fascinating to get insight into the relationship between Wanda and Strange, particularly in the Chaos Magic section. Hannah and Lore not only have an impressive handle on Agatha’s voice, but they grasp these characters very well, too, making this a must-read for Strange and Scarlet Witch diehards as well.
WandaVision and Agatha All Along both teased the compelling concept of Agatha as a teacher to a degree — with Wanda in the former and Billy in the latter — and this book will help scratch the itch of anyone who may have been intrigued by how that would look. In that same vein, Wanda’s feelings about Agatha as her instructor and mentor shine through in her annotations, which I found to be one of the most moving parts. How does one reconcile drastically different versions of a person, especially when they seem to be in such stark opposition? Wanda’s struggle to comprehend Agatha, as well as her grappling with the guilt and shame she feels when Agatha’s writings trigger reflections on her own actions, are rich and give the grimoire narrative depth.
I’d be remiss not to mention the gorgeous artwork. The book features stunning original designs ranging from sweet and simple moon and sun doodles to intricate full-page sigils by Brittany Horn, who also worked on the tarot deck. These are interwoven with dozens of comic illustrations, spanning from Agatha’s first appearances in the ‘60s up until her most recent storylines. Agatha is hundreds of years old, so showcasing her evolution throughout the six decades she’s been around in the Marvel universe is a fitting and effective tribute to this endlessly captivating and beloved character.
The holidays are coming up, and I can attest to the fact that this book would make a perfect gift for the Agatha, Marvel, or magic lover in your life.
Buy The Grimoire of Agatha Harkness here for $24.99.
— Taylor Gates