ABIGAIL HOUSMAN
Real Name: Abigail Housman
Identity/Class: Human magic user (17th century)
Occupation: Healer, botanist, witch
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Constance, Gabriel (Blackheart), Thomas (dog);
formerly the citizens of Christ's Crown
Enemies: Diablo (Esteban Corazón de Ablo), Malcolm, many other citizens of Christ's Crown
Known Relatives: Countess of Arundel (grandmother), Blackheart (son; see comments)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A hut in Christ's Crown, New York @ 1658
First Appearance: Daredevil I#270 (September, 1989)
Powers/Abilities: She had some mystical knowledge from the Brighthold that allowed her to summon demonic or angelic beings and bind them to her. She was also a talented healer and knowledgeable in botany.
Height: Unrevealed (5'5"; by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed (120 lbs.; by approximation)
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Blond
History:
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41) - Abigail learned magic from the Brighthold, a book written by the twin fingers of the Demiurge that had been owned and defended by her late grandmother with her life.
At some point she became engaged to Malcolm.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#29) - Abigail was a very wise woman. She was a healer and botanist, who loved the smell of roses.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41) - Abigail was outside in her garden with her dog Thomas and plucked roses while singing a song when she was approached by the Viscount de Ablo. He asked her to hand over the Brighthold in return for pleasantries from his master. Housman declined his request because she knew who Diablo and whom he served. Angered by the unfinished business Diablo left with a threat against Abigail.
Diablo used the Stone of Gorath to ruin Christ's Crown. Abigail and Malcolm witnessed crops go bad, cattle wither and the people of Christ's Crown grow sick. She tried her best to help with her healing knowledge, but ultimately called upon higher powers by using the Brighthold. It accidentally brought forth Blackheart, who had traveled through time to deal with the damage caused by the Stone of Gorath. He greeted Abigail, introduced himself as Gabriel and explained to her why he was there. To Blackheart's surprise his mystical might had been deactivated by Abigail's spell that made it impossible for him to harm others as long as she lived. He recognized her as Abigail Housman and aided her in dealing with the problems in the village. She showed her how to create antibiotics while she showed him what she knew. Abigail invited Gabriel to dinner with her fiancé Malcolm, who would join them. She also promised her dog a fish head.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41 - BTS) - During a town meeting at the church Diablo blamed Abigail for all the problems in Christ's Crown and convinced the villagers to get rid of the witch.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41) - That night Malcolm, under the pretense that his sister was sick and needed Abigail's help, lured his betrothed away. Gabriel tried to warn her, but Abigail couldn't say no to someone in need. Malcolm took Abigail up Christ's Crown Hill where Diablo and the other villagers were already waiting for them.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#29) - Abigail never came down Christ's Crown Hill.
(Daredevil I#270 (fb)) - Abigail Housman was brutally murdered on Christ's Crown Hill. Her blood soaked into the ground as crows circled overhead. The ground became imbued with dark energy over the following centuries.
(Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41 - BTS) - Blackheart confronted Diablo after Abigail's death and took her dog and the Brighthold with him to the future.
Comments: Created by Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr. & Al Williamson.
Expanded to a full profile on 10/14/2025 after her additional appearances in Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic.
Blackheart was born of the sin of Abigail's murder and considers her his mother according to Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41 (April 23rd, 2025). He even took her surname in later stories in the series.
Profile by Chadman & Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Abigail Housman has no known connection to:
images (without ads)
Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41, pan5 (main)
Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41, pan11 (head shot)
Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41, pan17 (using magic)
Daredevil I#270, p1, pan1 (dead)
Appearances:
Daredevil I#270 (September, 1989) - Ann Nocenti (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#29 (January 8th, 2024) - Anthony Oliveira (writer), Bailie Rosenlund (artist), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
Avengers Academy: Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#41 (April 23rd, 2025) - Anthony Oliveira (writer), Bailie Rosenlund (artist), Lindsey Cohick & Sarah Brunstad (editors)
First Posted: 08/30/2019 (as sub-profile in Blackheart's profile)
Last updated: 10/14/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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