| Salem's Seven | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Fantastic Four vol. 1 #186 (September, 1977) |
| Created by | Len Wein (writer) George Pérez (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | New Salem, Colorado, US |
| Member(s) | Brutacus Gazelle Hydron Reptilla Thornn Vakume Vertigo |
Salem's Seven was a team of magical supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They were foes of the Scarlet Witch and the Fantastic Four. All seven were the children of Nicholas Scratch and the grandchildren of Agatha Harkness. They were humans with magic powers who could transform into fantastic creatures with super-powers.
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The team first appeared in Fantastic Four vol. 1 #186 (September 1977), and was created by Len Wein and George Pérez.
The team subsequently appears in Fantastic Four Annual #14 (1979), Fantastic Four #223 (October 1980), The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #3 (December 1985), The Avengers 2000 Annual, Marvel Knights: 4 #25-27 (February–April 2006), and Four #30 (August 2006).
The team has an entry named "Salem's Seven" in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #19.
Salem's Seven originated in the town of New Salem, Colorado, a hidden town populated entirely by magicians who mostly lived in fear and loathing of normal humanity. All of Salem's Seven were fathered among different women by Nicholas Scratch. Scratch's own mother Agatha Harkness was the most powerful of the town's inhabitants, but she chose to leave the village and live among humanity. In time she became governess for Franklin Richards, son of Sue and Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Scratch had Salem's Seven abduct Agatha for purportedly betraying the New Salem community. They also brought back Franklin with them to give to Scratch as a new host-body, which forced the Fantastic Four to pursue. Although initially overcome and imprisoned, the Four defeated their captors, banished Scratch from this dimension, and saved Harkness. When Salem's Seven much later tried to avenge themselves on Harkness, she removed their ability to change forms.
Over the years, Salem's Seven managed to reverse the spells locking them out of their enhanced forms, greatly weakening Harkness in the process. They took control of New Salem, and with Vertigo as their leader, they turned the whole community against Harkness and burned her at the stake. The Scarlet Witch and the Vision were then drawn to New Salem, where they were captured by the Seven. Gazelle dissented with the group's plans of sacrifice, and was thrown in with the prisoners. The Vision escaped and battled Vertigo, who drew into herself the powers of the other 665 residents of New Salem. When the Vision defeated her, Vertigo lost control of the power. The Scarlet Witch managed to channel some of it off, but in the ensuing explosion all of New Salem was apparently wiped out, including the Seven.
The next Halloween, Wanda attempted to commune with Agatha Harkness's spirit, but was drawn through into the land of the dead, where she was confronted with spirits of the Seven (except Gazelle) who had aligned themselves with a being that called itself Samhain. Wanda defeated Samhain and bound him within the spirits of the six of the Seven.
Via samples of their DNA, Brutacus, Hydron, Reptilla, Thornn, and Vakume were later re-animated as some of Arnim Zola's proto-husks. These were all introduced and then promptly slain for humorous effect by Deadpool in Deadpool #0, a free giveaway from Wizard magazine.
Salem's Seven was recently resurrected when the Scarlet Witch's mental breakdown and manipulation of magic restored them to life. Their father, Nicholas Scratch, manipulated them into releasing Shuma-Gorath but then aided the FF, Diablo, and Doctor Strange in defeating Scratch and Shuma-Gorath. The seven are now living with Strange and are friends of the FF.
Appearing in Ultimate Fantastic Four operating out of Salem, Oregon, the Seven (as they are called) are a new Super Hero team. Although they are saving many people, they are just as quick to fight the Fantastic Four to get the chance to do so first. Members Include:
In issue #56, it is revealed that the group are one being, a creature known as the Dragon-of-Seven which can separate into multiple forms. As a single entity, the Dragon takes the form of Agatha Harkness.