Nicholas Scratch

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Nicholas Scratch
Nicholas Scratch, as he appears in 4 #27. Art by Valentine Delandro.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four #185 (August 1977)
Created by	Len Wein (writer), George Pérez (artist)
In-story information
Species	Warlock
Partnerships	Dormammu Salem's Seven
Abilities	Vast magical powers

Nicholas Scratch is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The son of Agatha Harkness, he is a warlock and father of the Salem's Seven and predominantly a foe of the Fantastic Four and Patsy Walker.

The character made his live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe miniseries Agatha All Along, portrayed by Abel Lysenko.

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2014)

Nicholas Scratch first appeared in Fantastic Four #185 (August 1977) and was created by Len Wein (writer) and George Pérez (artist).^[1]

The name "Nicholas Scratch" is an amalgam of colloquial and euphemistic names for the Devil: "Old Nick" and "Old Scratch" or "Mr. Scratch" (as used in "The Devil and Daniel Webster").

The son of Agatha Harkness, Nicholas Scratch originates from New Salem, Colorado, a secret community of magic users.^[2] After Agatha leaves Salem, Scratch becomes a warlock and the father of Salem's Seven with several mothers. He turns Salem's residents against Agatha, but is defeated and banished to the Dark Realm after the Fantastic Four confront him.^[2][3]

While in the Dark Realm, Scratch restores the Seven's powers and brainwashes the Fantastic Four to conquer the world, but Agatha thwarts his plans and confines him to the Dark Realm.^[4] He also mentally possesses Franklin and has the Seven take over New Salem, but Agatha and Gabriel the Devil Hunter defeat him, after which Agatha removes his powers and disowns him.^[5]

Following the destruction of New Salem,^[6] Scratch resurfaces in the town of Centerville as "Mayor Nicholas", which, along with its residents, had entered a contract as an amusement park version of "America's Heartland Next-Door." When Patsy Walker returns to visit her hometown, she discovers that its residents have been possessed by demons. A team composed of the Avengers and the Thunderbolts help to clear the town, which was being victimized by a conspiracy composed of the amusement park developers, the Sons of the Serpent, and the Seven. After defeating them, the Avengers and the Thunderbolts depart, but Patsy decides to stay in Centerville.^[7]

After discovering that Scratch is the mastermind behind the ongoing haunting of Centerville, Patsy defeats him and accuses him of serving Mephisto. However, Scratch summons his true master, Dormammu, who abducts Hellcat and reveals his plans for domination by conquering Hell and that Scratch will become Sorcerer Supreme. However, the Hell Lords thwart Dormammu's plan, after which he and Scratch flee.^[2]

In Marvel Knights 4, Scratch manipulates the Seven and the Fantastic Four into releasing Shuma-Gorath. However, he is defeated and banished to Hell, where he meets and allies with Mephisto.^[2]

Nicholas Scratch possesses vast indeterminate power through manipulation of the forces of magic. This gives him various magical powers, including teleportation, energy manipulation, dimensional travel, mind control, telepathy, and illusion generation. Scratch also wields the Satan Staff, a mystical power object that focuses his magic.

• Nicholas Scratch appears in The Avengers: United They Stand episode "The Sorceress's Apprentice", voiced by Stephen Ouimette.^[8]
• Nicholas Scratch appears in Agatha All Along, portrayed by Abel Lysenko. This version was born in the 1750s and was intended to die at birth. However, Agatha Harkness saves him by bargaining with Death to raise him for six years until he ultimately dies.^[9]

• Nicholas Scratch at Marvel.com
• Nicholas Scratch at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe