MARVEL-OUS MARVEL CUSTOMS

AVENGERS ALLIES

Ant-Man (First Appearance - Marvel Premiere #47 1979)
Scott Lang was an electronics expert who could not support his family doing repair work so he turned his talent to burglary. Lang had furthered his studies of electronics while in prison and was soon hired by Stark International. To help his daughter, Lang broke into the home of Dr. Henry Pym and stole his Ant-Man equipment. Unknown to him, Pym observed the theft and followed Lang. Garbed as Ant-Man, Lang rescued a surgeon who was being held prisoner. Pym aware of the use which Lang put Ant-Man costume, let him keep the costume, provided he put them to lawful use. Since that time, Ant-Man assisted Iron Man, Fantastic Four and Heroes for Hire. He eventually accepted an offer to join the Avengers.

Arachne (First Appearance - Secret Wars #7 1984)
A secretive government group called The Commission decided to create their own superhero. Val Cooper met college friend Julia Carpenter in Denver, and convinced her to be part of an "athletic study". During the study, they injected Julia with a mix of spider venom and exotic plant extracts, which gave her powers. Not long after she was given the identity of Spider-Woman, she was drawn into the first Secret Wars. Julia then joined Freedom Force but found herself on the wrong side of the law. She eventually found her place with the West Coast Avengers and once they disbanded, she joined Force Works. She is currently a member of Omega Flight remaned as Arache.

Jack of Hearts (First Appearance - Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #22 1976)
Jack Hart is the son of Philip Hart, a scientist who created an energy source called "zero fluid", and Marie, an alien humanoid woman of the Contraxian race. After being exposed to a vat of zero fluid, Jack underwent a mutagenic change and gained the ability to project concussive energy from his body. After gaining these powers, Jack began his mission of vengeance against the Corporation that killed his father. This led to Jack fighting other superheroes such as the Sons of the Tiger and the Hulk. Later, Jack moved past his mission of blind vengeance and became a true hero, working with various other superheroes such as the Defenders, the Thing, Quasar, Spider-Man, Moondragon and the Silver Surfer. Jack returned to Contraxia where he saved the homeworld from its dying sun. While wandering space his containment suit was breached in battle with The Presence which led him to seek aid from the Silver Surfer, who found an alien armorer who designed a new containment suit for Jack. Eventually he joined the Avengers.

Jocasta (First Appearance - Avengers #162 1977)
The robot named Jocasta was built by the robot Ultron in order that he might have a mate. To better allow this robot sentience, Ultron used the brainwaves of the Wasp. Jocasta was programmed to be loyal to Ultron but eventually betrayed him, choosing to help the Avengers defeat him. Jocasta adventured with the Avengers for a brief time, proving particularly helpful in their confrontation with the Korvac and Taskmaster. Jocasta did not believe she was accepted by most of the team and left. Wandering the country, Jocasta was secretly compelled by a pre-programmed suggestion to rebuild Ultron. She did, but soon teamed up with the Thing, and Machine Man to defeat Ultron. She sacrificed herself to try to kill Ultron. Jocasta was reassembled some time later by technicians of the High Evolutionary and retained enough of her programming to signal the Avengers. Jocasta helps them in fighting the Evolutionary's force and sacrifices herself once again to blow up the command ship. Madame Menace found Jocasta's lost head and manipulated events so that Tony Stark would unlock Jocasta's programming. Tony Stark and Jocasta managed to turn the tables on Madame Menace. Jocasta survived by downloading her intelligence into Iron Man's armor. Her intelligence was placed within Tony Stark's computerized mansion, and she would help him with daily operation of his mansion. She sacrifised herself again to help Iron Man defeat Ultron. In reality, Jocasta did not die. She appeared in possession of another mechanical body and left, taking Ultron's head with her.

Mockingbird (First Appearance - Astonishing Tales #6 1971)
Mockingbird is introduced as a SHIELD agent with missions in the Savage Land with Ka-Zar. She aids him against the villainous Crossfire. She and Hawkeye grow close and begin a whirlwind romance which culminates in their wedding. Afterwards, Mockingbird and Hawkeye return to the Avengers, later founding the West Coast Avengers together. A rift later forms between Hawkeye and Mockingbird following an incident while the team was scattered in time. The Phantom Rider abducts, drugs, and rapes Mockingbird. After breaking free of his control, Mockingbird allows him to plunge to his death off of a cliff. Mockingbird leaves the Avengers and for a time she and ex-Avengers Tigra and Moon Knight operate as a small fighting unit. Hawkeye and Mockingbird later reconcile, and Mockingbird returns to the West Coast Avengers. Mockingbird's thought patterns and personality are used by the robot Ultron to create his second robotic 'wife', Alkhema. Mockingbird later sacrifices her life to save her husband Hawkeye from Mephisto. She has been seen fighting endless battles in a hell, in which she had an opportunity to return to life but turns it down while indicating that she still has a purpose to serve in death. This sacrifice allows Hawkeye to rescue Hellcat from the eternal realm.

Pulsar (First Appearance - Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 1982)
Monica Rambeau was a dedicated lieutenant in the New Orleans harbor patrol. Monica's life changed when Professor Andre LeClare bombarded Rambeau with a device's extra-dimensional energies and she gained the power to convert her own body into energy and back again at will. She left the harbor patrol to become a full-time adventurer. Iron Man and Spider-Man assisted her in gaining control of her powers. Rambeau sought out the Avengers for help in mastering her new powers. Befriended and mentored by Avengers veterans Captain America and the Wasp, Monica soon graduated to full membership, serving a lengthy stint during which she became one of the team's most valuable and respected members. Several years later she would be elected leader of the team. As an Avenger, Monica faced foes such as Maximus, the Enclave, Annihilus, the Lava Men, Morgan Le Fay, the Dire Wraiths, Maelstrom, the Skrulls, Kang, Attuma, Freedom Force, an insane Quicksilver, Tyrak, and Grandmaster's Legion of the Unliving, even battling an army of Earth's major super-criminals during the Beyonder's Secret Wars alongside many of Earth's foremost heroes. She once possessed the name Captain Marvel and Photon.

Starfox (First Appearance - Iron Man #55 1973)
Eros is a member of the Eternals of Titan. Eros joined Captain Mar-Vell and the Avengers in the first major defeat of his brother, Thanos. No longer bound by duty on Titan, Eros left seeking out pleasure and recreation. Eros returned home to console Mar-Vell when he retreated to Titan to spend his final days of life. Just before he died, Mar-Vell made Eros promise to take care of Elysius, after he was gone. Eros honored his vow until Elysius, realizing his wanderlust, released him from his promise. Traveling to Earth, he joined The Avengers and took on the name Starfox. He helped them against the Wizard, Terminus, and Maelstrom until leaving to pursue Nebula, who claimed to be the granddaughter of Thanos. He would often return to Earth to help the Avengers, such cases as the Terminus crisis, Operation: Galactic Storm, and the Nemesis case. When Thanos had gained the Infinity Gauntlet, he captured Starfox and placed him under various torments. He did attempt to charm Thanos out of his plan but had his mouth neutralized for his effort. Starfox spent time with Genis-Vell, and attempted on to assist him and steer him in the right direction. Eros and Thanos, have a custom, where each Eternal year they bury the hatchet and convene at a neutral place. This was an initiative of their father, who demanded that the two would meet every year as a reminder of the blood that runs through their veins. The meeting is called The Truce and the two meet alone, although the hero Quasar was present at one of their meetings.

Stingray (First Appearance - Sub Mariner #19 1969)
Walter Newell was an oceanographer who met and became friends with Sub-Mariner. U.S. federal agent Edgar Benton coerced Newell into investigating the disappearance of water from the Earth's oceans thinking it to be Namor. Newell believed Namor innocent but went along with Benton. To combat Namor if need be, he developed the Stingray armor. Stingray confronted and subdued the Sub-Mariner and brought him in for questioning. Namor escaped and Stingray let Namor go out of respect for their friendship. Stingray then joined forces with Namor and Triton to defeat Attuma. After that adventure Newell moved his oceanographic facilities and research to Hydro-Base and married Diane Arliss, the sister of Tiger Shark. Stingray was targeted by Tony Stark in Armor Wars because Stark suspected the suit made use of his technology. After a battle, Stark realized that the armor did not have any of the parts and departed. Stingray then assisted the Thing and Scarlet Witch in the adventure of the Serpent Crown. Later, the Avengers moved their headquarters to Hydro-Base when their mansion was destroyed and Newell became an unofficial member of the Avengers. During the Civil War, Stingray was a member of Captain America's team, opposing the Super Human Registration Act. After Captain America's arrest and subsequent death, Stingray accepted Tony Stark's offer of a full pardon, and signed on to The Initiative. He acts as the base's senior swimming instructor, and also serves as a squad leader, training new recruits.

Wasp (First Appearance - Tales to Astonish #44 1963)
Janet Van Dyne was the daughter of wealthy scientist Vernon Van Dyne. During an experiment, an alien monster was unleashed and Dr. Van Dyne was killed. She convinced Pym to help her. He gave her a supply of "Pym particles" and subjected her to a procedure which granted her the superhuman abilites. As Ant-Man and The Wasp, they defeated the monster. Soon afterwards, the Avengers, formed, and the pair were among its founding members. During the course of their many adventures as Avengers, Janet grew as a person, becoming a resourceful and seasoned hero. Several years later she would be elected leader of the team. A lot of people have wanted to see Wasp solo in this collection. Here is a chance to express that opinion.

AVENGERS VILLAINS

      

Count Nefaria (First Appearance - Avengers #13 1965)
Luchino Nefaria is the father of Madame Masque and a frequent enemy of the Avengers. He has also fought Iron Man and the X-Men (playing an important part in the death of Thunderbird) on several occasions. Nefaria possesses vast superhuman physical capabilities including tremendous strength and resistance to physical injury. He is, however, vulnerable to weapons that use the type of ionic energy that gave him his powers; this same kind of energy also empowered Wonder Man and Atlas. He became the head of his own Maggia family in time. He also formed the second Lethal Legion. Nefaria then tried to bombard the Earth with ionic energy. He gained control of Wonder Man and Atlas. The combined efforts of the Avengers, Thunderbolts, and Madame Masque were barely able to stop him. He was captured by SHIELD. However, he was recently revealed to be in 'The Raft' and subsequently freed along with a number of other super-powered criminals by Electro.

Graviton (First Appearance - Avengers #158 1977)
Franklin Hall was once a brilliant scientist who was experimenting with physics. In the midst of anaccident during a experiment, Hall discovered that he could mentally control gravity. Graviton has battle the Avengers, Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, Great Lakes Avengers, and was responsible for killing all of the Redeemers. Graviton was last seen, apparently alive escaping the Raft. He bested the New Avengers, but was defeated and almost killed by Iron Man after Hall severely injured Spider-Man. Graviton appears to be among the members of Hood's Crime Syndicate.

Grey Gargoyle (First Appearance - Journey Into Mystery #107 1964)
Paul Pierre Duval was a French chemist and lab assistant who gained his powers by accidentally spilling an unknown concoction on himself. Imbued with a living granite body and a touch that could turn anything to stone, Duval turns to a life of crime. Duval eventually grows bored and seeks a new goal: immortality. Naming himself the Grey Gargoyle, Duval has fougt Thor, Captain America, Falcon, Nick Fury, Avengers, Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Woman, Ms. Marvel, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man. He was also a member of the Master of Evil. After another bout with Thor the Grey Gargoyle is incarcerated, and is later seen as an escapee of the Raft prison. The Grey Gargoyle was among the villains recruited to join Hood's crime syndicate.

      

Grim Reaper (First Appearance - Avengers #52 1968)
Eric Williams, the brother of Simon Williams (also known as Wonder Man), joined the Maggia in Las Vegas. Simon turned to Eric and his mob ties for help when his business was failing. Simon embezzled money from the company to invest with Eric, but Simon was caught and jailed and eventually transformed into Wonder Man by Baron Zemo which caused his first 'death'. Learning of Simon's death, Eric was inflamed with guilt and anger. Through his Maggia contacts, he contacted the Tinkerer who provided him with his scythe weapon, which was further enhanced by Ultron. Taking the name Grim Reaper he has attacked the Avengers on numerous occasions.

Mister Hyde (First Appearance - Journey into Mystery #99 1963)
Calvin Zabo was a morally abject but brilliant medical researcher who was fascinated by the effect of hormones on human physiology. One of his favorite stories was The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He was convinced that the experiment in the story could actually be performed and became obsessed with the idea of unleashing his full bestial nature in a superhuman form. However, he needed money to do this so he robbed his various employers systematically. He was eventually successful in creating his formula, and turned into a huge, Hulk-like creature he called "Mister Hyde". With his new superhuman powers he confronted Thor and was beaten senseless. He went into business as a full time super criminal and at one time partnered himself with the Cobra. He has frequently fought Thor, Spider-Man, Captain America, Hulk, Ghost Rider and Daredevil. He also was a member of the Masters of Evil IV. Zabo was being held in The Raft when a prison break was caused by Electro. Zabo emerged in his Hyde persona and fought with Daredevil and was knocked unconscious by Luke Cage. At one point, Zabo was discovered by the Young Avengers to be selling a derivative of his Hyde formula on the street as one of the various illegal substances known as Mutant Growth Hormone. The Hood has recently hired him as part of his criminal organization to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.

Radioactive Man (First Appearance - Journey Into Mystery #93 1963)
Chen Lu is a nuclear physicist in the People's Republic of China, and is ordered to find a way to defeat Thor. Lu exposes himself to small doses of radiation until he is able to withstand a massive barrage becoming the Radioactive Man. He has battled Thor, Iron Man and Kang. He then joins the Masters of Evil and battles the Avengers on numerous occasions. Tired of the constant defeats, Lu attempts to reform and joins the Thunderbolts. During a recent battle with the Thunderbolts against the cosmic entity the Grandmaster, the Radioactive Man absorbs an excessive amount of radiation and is forced to wear a radiation suit at all times. The radiation eventually subsides, but Norman Osborn convinces the Lu to retain the suit to distract the American public from his clearly Asian features and quell any lingering fears about his radioactivity. Unfortunately, his suit is later destroyed during a battle with the Steel Spider. The suit still acts as a powerful deterrent, making opponents more fearful about physical confrontation, as they now fear the risks of casual radioactive contamination upon tearing his rad-suit.

     

Tiger Shark (First Appearance - Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #5 1968)
Todd Arliss was an Olympian swimmer, and damaged his spinal cord when he rescued a drowning man. Desperate to regain his swimming ability, Arliss willingly participated in an experiment by Doctor Dorcas, who blends his DNA with that of the Sub-Mariner and a tiger shark. Although successful, the process changed Arliss both physically and mentally. Becoming Tiger Shark, he threatens the Lady Dorma and siezes the crown of Atlantis. The Sub-Mariner soon deposes Tiger Shark and the two become implacable foes. Tiger Shark returns to fight Namor often with allies such as Warlord Krang, Llyra, and Attuma. Tiger Shark goes to fight other superheroes such as the Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine, and later as a member of the Masters of Evil, the Avengers and the Thunderbolts. For a time Tiger Shark renounces crime, and marries a woman from an undersea tribe of nomads. Tiger Shark, however, reverts back to his old ways when his pregnant wife and her tribe are slaughtered by savage undersea creatures called the Faceless Ones. Tiger Shark then stole the Horn of Gabriel, which he uses to summon huge sea monsters and then direct them against the surface world. Tiger Shark is defeated by the Sub-Mariner and the Avengers. When Al Kraven began collecting animal-themed superhumans, Tiger Shark is seen as one of his captives in a water tank. Tiger Shark is later hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.

Whirlwind (First Appearance - Tales to Astonish #50 1963)
David Cannon is a mutant, who after discovering at an early age that he could move at great speeds turns to a life of crime. Cannon later takes a position as the chauffeur of Janet Van Dyne - the superheroine the Wasp - with the intent of robbing her. This eventually brings Cannon, using his first alias the Human Top, into conflict with Giant-Man and the Wasp on several occasions. Defeated each time, Cannon then adopts the alias of Whirlwind, and after joining the Masters of Evil battles the Avengers on a periodic basis. On one occasion master villain Count Nefaria temporarily amplifies the abilities of Whirlwind. The effect, however, is temporary and their combined abilities are drained by Nefaria, who is subsequently defeated by the Avengers. Whirlwind later upgrades his costume when joining a new version of the Masters of Evil formed by Baron Zemo. Whirlwind is later incapacitated when accidentally caught in a deluge of paste from a weapon of the criminal the Trapster, making a full recoverym he is forced to join the Thunderbolts.

Wrecker (First Appearance - Thor #148 1968)
Dirk Garthwaite is a former worker for a demolitions crew fashions a costume for himself and begins making a series of robberies under the guise of the Wrecker. The Wrecker's fortunes change for the better when looting a hotel room that - unknown to him - is currently occupied by Loki. At the precise moment that the Wrecker enters Loki is trying to contact his accomplice, Karnilla, for an enchantment that will grant him the strength to defeat Thor. Karnilla arrives and mistakes Garthwaite for Loki and grants him the enchantment instead. The Wrecker then possesses superhuman strength, stamina and durability courtesy of a now-indestructible and enchanted crowbar. He has battled Thor on numerous occasions and has been a member of the Masters of Evil. He is also considered the leader of his own gang, the Wrecking Crew. The Wrecker has since been hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.

COSMIC HEROES

Captain Marvel (First Appearance - Marvel Super-Heroes #12 1967)
Mar-Vell is a captain in the Kree Imperial Militia, Mar-Vell is initially sent to Earth as a spy and takes the identity of the recently deceased Dr. Walter Lawson. Mar-Vell battles a Kree robot Sentry, ultimately defeating it. The Kree Supreme Intelligence then gave Mar-Vell superhuman powers, and a new uniform. Mar-Vell eventually finds himself trapped in the Negative Zone. The Kree Supreme Intelligence secretly enables Mar-Vell to telepathically contact Rick Jones. Jones puts on a pair of nega-bands around his wrists and after slamming the bands together, Mar-Vell and Jones trade places. Mar-Vell is teleported to the extraterrestrial being known as Eon and he gives Mar-Vell a psionic ability called cosmic awareness and designates him as Protector of the Universe. During a battle with the Nitro, Mar-Vell is exposed to a powerful nerve gas which would cause an incurable cancer. Finally, Mar-Vell is separated from Rick Jones and battles against Thanos one final time. Mar-Vell spends his last days on Titan as he slips into a coma, he finds himself between life and death. There, he meets Thanos, who engages Mar-Vell in combat so that he can die in a manner befitting a great warrior. As the battle ends, Mar-Vell, Thanos, and Death walk off into a bright light and his physical body dies. Many years later, Mar-Vell is plucked out of space/time and made aware that his body harbors the cancer that will one day kill him. Nevertheless, Mar-Vell dons his Nega Bands in order to serve as the warden of the new Negative Zone prison.

Captain Universe (First Appearance - Micronauts #8 1979)
The Uni-Power is an extra-dimensional force that possesses an individual (or on one occasion, twins) in a time of crisis, transforming that person into Captain Universe. As Captain Universe, the transformed person typically retains his or her original personality and appearance, though with Captain Universe's costume. Because of its never-ending supply of energy it has been the target of AIM, the Psycho-Man, Doctor Doom and S.H.I.E.L.D. Captain Universe recently possessed various heroes in a mission to restore its power which has been severely weakened from a mysterious force. Using the copied powers of each hero and paraplegic war veteran Gabriel Vargas as its host to face the one responsible for its weakening. At some unknown point Captain Universe (Gabriel Vargas)is arrested by the Kree Government for accidentally attacking a group of Kree who were killing people who he thought were innocents but were actually sympathetic to the genocidal actions of the Annihilation Wave. Eventually Gabriel is released from prison and put into a highly aggressive session of training by the Kree Military as he prepares for a mission that will halt the Phalanx's technophage virus from spreading further. It is not known if Gabriel and the Uni-Power ever determined the source of the Uni-Power's memory and power loss.

Drax the Destroyer (First Appearance - Iron Man #55 1973)
Arthur Douglas, his wife Yvette, and daughter Heather are driving when a spaceship carrying Thanos passes overhead. Wishing to keep his existence a secret, Thanos destroys the automobile. Mentor determines that the threat of Thanos can no longer be ignored. Enlisting the aid of Chronos, they seize the astral form of Arthur Douglas. Chronos and Mentor then fashion a humanoid body, grant it superhuman powers, and empower it with Douglas' spirit and Drax the Destroyer is created. Drax serves as Thanos's nemesis but never completely defeats him. After Thanos' demise, Drax accepts Moondragon's offer to join her in her journey through spave and come upon the planet caught in a civil war. Moondragon uses her mental powers to quell the conflict and sets herself up as the world's goddess. Drax seeks to end her menace and Moondragon mentally forces Drax's life essence out of his artificial body. When Thanos is resurrected by Death, Chronos reanimates the Destroyer. Drax helps battle Thanos for possession of the Infinity Gauntlet and is chosen by Adam Warlock to safeguard the Power Gem. Drax is later seen with Paibok, Lunatik, and the Blood Brothers on a prison ship that crashes on Earth. Paibok murders him, yet Drax emerges with a new body with a higher intelligence. Surviving Annihilus' attack on the intergalactic prison Drax teams up with Nova. Drax fights his way to one of the Annihilation Wave's ships and releases a captured Galactus who once freed, teleports Drax to spare them from his wrath on his captors.

  

Firelord (First Appearance - The Mighty Thor #225 1974)
Pyreus Kril is a graduate of the Nova Corps of the planet Xandar and served under the command of his friend, Gabriel Lan. Pyreus was upset at Gabriel's abduction by Galactus and proceeded to search for Gabriel. By the time Pyreus caught up to Galactus, Gabriel had already been killed only to be resurrected as the Herald Air-Walker. Galactus only told Pyreus Gabriel's fate after he agreed to serve him and become his new herald, Firelord. He served Galactus for a time until he became restless and asked for his freedom. Galactus agreed, on condition that he found another herald. Firelord travelled to Earth and was offered the lifeless Destroyer by Thor to give Galactus. Galactus accepted, and Firelord was freed. Since then, Firelord has been an occasional ally of Thor and the Silver Surfer as well as companion to the resurrected Air-Walker. During Annihilation, Firelord loses his friend Air-Walker, who is hunted down by Annihilus' Seekers. Firelord sacrifices himself to capture one of Annihilus' Queens though severly injured he recovers long enough to intervene in a battle between Ravenous and Ronan within the infirmary ward. As the building crashes down around them, the Super-Skrull emerges with the unconscious bodies of both Ronan and Firelord. After Annihilus is defeated, Firelord sets out on a quest for vengeance against the Centurians, the strike force that destroyed his homeworld at the start of the Annihilation Wave.

Gamora (First Appearance - Strange Tales #180 1975)
Gamora is the last of her species, the Zen Whoberi, who were exterminated by the Badoon. Raised by Thanos, Gamora became very proficient in the martial arts, earning the nickname "The most dangerous woman in the universe". Gamora was sent as an assassin against the Universal Church of the Truth and teamed up with Adam Warlock and defeated Magus, but Thanos revealed himself as an even greater threat. Gamora tried to stop him, but was killed. Adam Warlock absorbed her soul into his Soul Gem. Inside the Soul Gem was Soulworld, a place where Gamora and Adam Warlock, lived at peace. When Thanos managed to obtain all the Infinity Gems, Adam Warlock decided that he must be stopped. Warlock led Gamora out of Soulworld into the real world. Once Thanos was defeated, Gamora received the Time Gem from Warlock. Gamora had become romantically interested in Adam, but Adam did not respond to her. She returned to work as a mercenary until Adam Warlock approached her again and Adam reciprocated her love. Adam and Gamora remained in a pocket dimension outside the Marvel Universe to raise the cosmic being known as Atleza. Gamora later reappears on the world Godthab Omega as leader of a group of female warriors called The Graces. She is intent on re-establishing her reputation and now wields a powerful blade known as Godslayer. She joins Nova against the Annihilation Wave, using her skills to launch quick counterattacks and is currently engaged in a sexual relationship with Nova.

Mantis (First Appearance - Avengers #112 1973)
Mantis is the daughter of Gustav Brandt, Libra. In her childhood, her father leaves her with the alien Priests of Pama, a sect of the Kree. The Kree believe she might become the Celestial Madonna and mate with the eldest Cotati on Earth to become the mother of the Celestial Messiah. She excels in her martial arts studies, but when she reaches adulthood, she meets the Swordsman and helps him regain his self-respect and follows him when he attempts to rejoin the Avengers. She proclaims her love for the Swordsman upon his death at the hands of Kang the Conqueror. She is then revealed to be the Celestial Madonna and marries a Cotati in the reanimated body of the Swordsman. She bears her child, Sequoia, and hands him to his father's people before going into space with the Silver Surfer. Mantis is caught in an explosion and presumed dead. She survives, but the strain of the previous years causes her to literally split into multiple versions of herself. The fragments arrive on Earth and one version of Mantis rejoins the West Coast Avengers team. Mantis discovers, through the temporarily resurrected corpse of the Swordsman, that her psyche had shattered and that she needs to find her counterparts in order to restore her memories. After leaving with the Cotati to raise her son she returns to Earth and merges with her remaining fragments of her personality until she is complete. Mantis is then seen in Annihilation Conquest where she is shown as a Kree prisoner who volunteers for a mission led by Star-Lord.

     

Moondragon (First Appearance - Iron Man (1st series) #54 1973)
Heather Douglas' father was driving her and her mother happened to see the spaceship of Thanos who blew their car up. Heather survived and was found by Mentor who took her to Titan to be raised. Heather studied the Titans' ways and gained her mental and physical powers. However, she came under the influence of a powerful entity called The Dragon of the Moon and believed she had resisted it. She then helped the Avengers in their first confrontation with Thanos. Moondragon and Drax then and found a planet immersed in war, so she decided to take mental control of all its inhabitants. When Drax confronted her, she killed him. The Avengers intervened, and Thor took her before Odin. He condemned her to wear a magical headband that would reduce her mental powers and assigned Valkyrie to be her guardian. Valkyrie rejoined the Defenders, Moondragon was forced to come along. She soon discovered that the Dragon of the Moon had been influencing her all along and soon after she started to die. The Dragon told her it could save her life, but only if she agreed to be its host. She accepted, and now battled the Defenders who sacrificed themselves to kill both her and the Dragon. Heather's soul managed to survive and she was able to obtain a clone of herself on Titan. Adam Warlock chose Moondragon to help him safeguard the Mind Gem. Moondragon later became an associate of Genis. During Annihilation, Moondragon managed to free the Silver Surfer, who in turn helps free Galactus, destroying Annihlus' plans. She is currently travellign with Phylla.

Quasar (First Appearance - Captain America #217 1978)
Wendell Vaughn was with S.H.I.E.L.D. when he came into possession of the alien Quantum Bands. His first assignment was security detail for a research facility where a team of scientists were performing experiments on the Quantum Bands. Wendell Vaughn became a superhero, using the codename Marvel Boy in his first appearance alongside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s superhuman Super-Agents; he later settled on Quasar. Quasar journeyed to Uranus and had the bands' true nature and origins revealed to him by the cosmic entity called Eon. Eon revealed that the bands were intended to be worn by his agent, the Protector of the Universe. Quasar was offered the role and accepted. After returning to Earth, he resumed his role as a superhero and shortly thereafter joined the Avengers. Quasar played a vital role in Operation: Galactic Storm, trying to protect the Earth from various alien menaces. Then Soviet expatriate called the Presence threatens to kill his loved ones forcing Quasar to fake his death before leaving Earth. Quasar helped defend the universe from aliens called Infinities where he absorbed the essence of Ego the Living Planet and exiled himself into space. Quasar has helped operate a Avengers deep-space sensing station with the help of Living Lightning. He has assisted the Fantastic Four in yet another battle with Galactus. Quasar was ultimately killed by Annihilus who drained the energy from his Quantum Bands.

Uatu the Watcher (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #13 1963)
Like other Watchers, Uatu is sworn to an oath of non-interference; however, he has bent or outright violated his oath on numerous occasions in order to aid humanity. Uatu dwells on the Blue Area of the Moon and in his first appearance, he encountered the Fantastic Four and the Red Ghost, revealing himself to the Fantastic Four. Uatu would break his oath many more times in the future and tried to prevent the Silver Surfer from bringing the Galactus to the Earth. He considers the Fantastic Four to be quite intriguing and Reed Richards could be said to be his only human friend. Uatu also has a history with the X-Men, and most commonly appears when Jean Grey is experiencing enhancements to her Phoenix powers. He also appears to have some sort of history with the centuries old mutant Apocalypse. Uatu revealed himself during the wedding of the Black Panther and Storm. It has been stated that when Uatu appears, an event of great importance is taking place. He also spoke briefly with the meditating Doctor Strange on the eve of the final battle of the Civil War and asks Doctor Strange why he doesn't use his immense power to end the conflict. Strange answers that a Sorcerer Supreme cannot take sides, especially since there is no clear right or wrong, but he will pray for an outcome that will benefit mankind and spill the least amount of blood. Uatu reflects that this is much like his own situation.

COSMIC VILLAINS

Annhilus (First Appearance - Fantastic Four Annual #6 1968)
Annihilus was a weak insectoid creature with significantly intelligent that was created by the Tyannan race. He created a "Cosmic Control Rod" and body armaments. Obsessed with survival, the paranoid creature, set out to destroy any other living being he viewed as a possible threat to his existence. Annihilus used his newly acquired power to dominate other life-forms that had arisen from the spores on Arthros, and plotted to either conquer or destroy the neighboring worlds in the Negative Zone. He transformed many prisoners via the Tyannans' Gene Transmuter into his servile Scavengers. Annihilus has fought the Fantastic Four, Psycho-Man, Doctor Doom, Captain Mar-Vell, Frightful Four, Spider-Man, Mad Thinker, Blastaar, Avengers, Adam Warlock and Thor. When Reed planned a new superhuman prison in the Negative Zone, the Fantastic Four were assaulted by Annihilus, who believed they had stolen his Control Rod. After a brief skirmish, the Fantastic Four subdued him. Annihilus, now leading the Annihilation Wave, attempted to conquer the universe. He gains the aid of Thanos and captures Galactus and the Silver Surfer. Drax manages to free Galactus, who then nearly destroys the Annihilation Wave. Nova then has a final battle against Annihilus, and finally kills Annihilus However, Annihilus' surviving general of his armies, Ravenous, is seen taking a newborn egg proclaiming "THE LORD ANNIHILUS LIVES!"

Blastaar (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #62 1967)
Blastaar is a member of an alien race known as the Baluurians in the Negative Zone. He ruled as their monarch ruthlessly until his subjects rebelled against him and exiled him in a special containment suit. Breaking free, he followed Reed Richards, who had been trapped in the Negative Zone as well and followed him and Triton back to Earth. He fought with the Sandman and the Fantastic Four but was driven back to the Negative Zone. Over the following years Blastaar would repeatedly return to Earth to attempt to conquer it and fight the Fantastic Four many times, as well as the Avengers, Thor, Inhumans, Hulk and Eternals. Annihilus and Blastaar have teamed up at times, but usually they are fierce enemies. During Annihilation, Blastaar was seen with the Spaceknights, aiding Nova's attempt to assassinate Annihilus. During Annihilation: Conquest, Blastaar is seen leading a group of Kree soldiers against the Phalanx, but is captured. The Phalanx interrogates Blastaar, and continue to torture him until he apparently dies when he doesn't say a word. This death appears to be simply a hibernation that Blastaar can reverse, which he has used to fool the Phalanx temporarily.

Diablo (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #30 1964)
Esteban Corazon de Ablo was a powerful alchemist in 9th Century Saragossa, who sold his soul to the demon Mephisto to lengthen his life far beyond a human span. Years later, Diablo set up a base in Transylvania, but the villagers there turned against him and buried him within a stone crypt under his castle. Another century later, the Fantastic Four appeared in Transylvania and inadvertently caused his release. He is confronted by Fantastic Four and was eventually imprisoned him. But Diablo eventually used his potions to destroy his stone prison, and escape to revenge himself upon the Fantastic Four by turning the Dragon Man against them, but it eventually turned on him and drove both of them underneath a frozen lake. Diablo later reactivated the Dragon Man, creating a whole army of Dragon Men. He was defeated by the Avengers, however. Diablo later clashed with Doctor Doom, Inhumans, Alpha Flight, Spider-Man and Iron Man. He was later responsible for the destruction of the Fantastic Four's pen-ultimate headquarters, Pier 4. He did aid the Fantastic Four in driving the chaos demon Shuma-Gorath back to its home dimension.
      
Klaw (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #53 1966)
Ulysses Klaw is a Dutch physicist that designed a sound transducer able to convert sound waves into physical mass. The element necessary to make his device work is vibranium, a substance known to exist in Wakanda. Klaw organizes a team of mercenaries to help him seize the element. When T'Chaka, the leader of the Wakanda, refuses to yield any of the metal, Klaw kills him. Witnessing his father's death, T'Challa seizes Klaw's sonic weapon and shattered Klaw's right hand with one burst. Klaw vows to return. Klaw has his mangled hand amputated and fitted with a prosthetic device into which he built a sonic-force blaster. He mounts a second attack on the Wakandas and is opposed by the Fantastic Four and the Black Panther. Thwarted again, Klaw leaps into his massive sonic converter device hoping to gain superhuman powers to combat his foes. His gamble was successful and he was transformed into a creature whose body was composed of living sound. He then joins the Masters of Evil and battles the Avengers and is defeated. Klaw's prosthetic device is recovered and taken to Project Pegasus for analysis and safekeeping. Project scientists revive him in order to study him and he battles Dazzler who deposits his essence on Galactus' ship. Doctor Doom then revives Klaw during the Secret War and uses him to defeat Galactus and steal the Beyonder's power. The Beyonder hides and Klaw's body and eventually regains his power from Doom. He has since appeared as a member of the Wizard's latest Frightful Four.

Molecule Man (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #20 1963)
Owen Reece was a technician working at a nuclear plant. One day, Reece accidentally activated an experimental particle generator, which bombarded him with an unknown form of radiation which gave Reese psionic powers on a cosmic scale. Reece could now control all matter and energy. Reece named himself the Molecule Man. Uatu recognized the threat that the Molecule Man posed to the multiverse and alerted the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four used Reece’s self-imposed inability to affect organic molecules to defeat him, and the Watcher transported the him to an other-dimensional world. Returning to Earth, he threatened to destroy the world, but was persuaded by Tigra to give himself up and seek psychiatric help. Reece did so, and soon began to change positively. Soon Reece found himself involved in the Secret Wars. Impressed Doctor Doom, Reece agreed to help fight the superheroes also brought to Battleworld. Doom helped Reece break through his mental blocks and realize that his power was greater than he had believed. Reece used his powers to transport himself back to Earth. But then, months later, the Beyonder came to Earth. The Molecule Man killed the Beyonder while he was vulnerable and with the aid of the Silver Surfer, repaired all the damage done to the Earth. Reese was briefly merged with the Beyonder, in order to take part in the creation of the being known as Kosmos, but managed to separate himself and return to Earth. It is unclear if after these events he still possesses his previous level of power. He was listed as one of the Raft escapees.

Ronan the Accuser (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #65 1967)
Ronan the Accuser is a member of the alien race the Kree and the "Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire." Ronan went to Earth when a Sentry was defeated by the Fantastic Four to pass judgement on them for their arrogance, Ronan himself is defeated, which prompts a new interest in Earth. A Kree expedition is sent to Earth, and includes the hero Captain Mar-vell, who liaises with Ronan on several occasions. Ronan is next seen in the Kree-Skrull War, and it is revealed that he secretly plans to overthrow the Supreme Intelligence, believing the Empire should not be ruled by a non-human entity. After the Kree defeat in the War, Ronan decides to end the threat from Earth by reversing evolution. Ronan is defeated by Mar-vell. Ronan later plays a pivotal role in the second Kree-Skrull War, and battles the Silver Surfer. During the recent Annihilation incident, Ronan is accused of treason. Whilst trying to clear his name Ronan battles the female assassin Gamora and discovers he has been framed by a highly-placed member of a Kree house. Ronan then returns to help defend the Kree Empire against the Annihilation Wave, and joins the United Front led by the hero Nova. Ronan later clears his name and kills his betrayer, although not before his accuser lobotomises the Supreme Intelligence. In an act of mercy Ronan kills the Supreme Intelligence, and becomes ruler of the Kree Empire.
 
Psycho Man (First Appearance - Fantastic Four Annual #5 1967)
Psycho-Man is a mad scientist, the leader of a technocracy within a Microverse. Coming to Earth and using a portable device capable of influencing people's emotions, Psycho-Man battled the Human Torch and The Thing, several members of the Inhumans, and the Black Panther, He was forced to retreat back to the Microverse. Psycho-Man later faced the Fantastic Four again, as well as a group called the Micronauts. Infuriated by his defeat at the hands of the Fantastic Four, Psycho Man became increasingly obsessed in finding the Uni-Power. He planned to steal the Uni-Power, become Captain Universe and then travel to Earth where he would exact his revenge. It ended however when the Psycho-Man was defeated by Spider-Man. He returned to Earth again and used the Hate-Monger in turning the Invisible Woman into the hateful warrior Malice, sending her to destroy her teammates. After Mister Fantastic, succeeded in breaking the her free of her conditioning, the Fantastic Four pursued the Psycho-Man back to his home dimension once more. There the Invisible Woman confronted Psycho-Man and used his own emotion-control device on him at maximum intensity, collapsing his nervous system. Psycho-Man appeared later, to confront Spider-Man, Shadowcat, Douglock and others. He later contronts the newest incarnation of the Fantastic Four after they have a eleportation accident. He subsequently apparently strips Storm of her powers before being killed.

Terrax (First Appearance - Fantastic Four # 211 1979)
Terrax was originally known as Tyros, ruler of Lanlak. Tyros was ruthless and cruel, which brought him to the attention of Galactus, who had decided that the weakness of his former Heralds had been their compassion. Galactus compelled the Fantastic Four against their will to retrieve Tyros for him. Empowered with the Power Cosmic, Tyros was transformed into Terrax the Tamer. But his ambition and power-lust drove him to challenge Galactus, who easily defeated him. Later, Doctor Doom restored some of Terrax's former power, in exchange for his help in destroying the Fantastic Four. During the battle, Silver Surfer appeared and ultimately destroyed him. A re-embodied Terrax is the threat that unites the New Warriors, two members of Psionex and the Fantastic Four who ultimately defeat him. During the Herald Ordeal, Silver Surfer led a group of former Galactean heralds, including Terrax, in opposition to Morg whom they defeat. Terrax is recruited by Thanos of Titan to fight Tyrant. Terrax is then betrayed by Thanos and while Thanos is battling Tyrant, Terrax flees. Following the events of Annihilation, Terrax, who was a prisoner of Annhilus' forces, is freed from the control of the Negative Zone life forms and escapes to a desolate planet controlled by Randu. Terrax destroys it but looses a female Centaurion who he seems to have been attracted to during the battle. In his anger over her loss he destroys the planet.

Wizard (First Appearance - Strange Tales #102 1962)
Bentley Wittman is a near-superhuman levels of genius and inventor of great renown. He decided to impersonated the Torch, launching a crime spree to destroy the Torch’s reputation, he was captured by the Fantastic Four and sent to prison. After numerous defeats, formed a team that would be a criminal counterpart to the Fantastic Four calling it the Frightful Four. The Frightful Four proved to be one of the most formidable menaces that the Fantastic Four had yet encountered and had many variations of membership over the years. Very rarely has the Wizard operated outside of the Frightful Four. Once, he formed a partnership with Mysterio, but was foiled by Spider-Man. Another time, he teamed up with the Plantman to escape prison and ran into a conflict with the Avengers. He was later broken out of prison by Loki to join the inner circle of villains organizing the Acts of Vengeance against the Avengers, but they were sorely defeated. Often avoiding the limelight, he was found by the Thunderbolts, who convinced the him to provide anti-gravity discs in order for them to battle Graviton. Later still, when the Sandman had appeared to reform his criminal ways, the Wizard took it upon himself to subject his former ally to his id machine, re-integrating the Sandman’s mind and restoring him to villainy. The Wizard is among the characters recruited in The Hood's syndicate of Villains.

INDEPENDENT HEROES

      

Clea (First Appearance - Strange Tales #126 1964)
Clea observed Doctor Strange in the Dark Dimension, impressed by his courage. She warned Strange against facing Dormammu and she becomes Strange's only ally in the Dark Dimension. Clea was freed by Doctor Strange, and went to live on Earth with him. Clea and Strange later helped lead a rebellion in the Dark Dimension. Clea discovered that Umar was her mother, and she defeated her in a mystic battle. The population became convinced that Clea should be the ruler and the "Flames of Regency" appeared on Clea's head. The Flames of Regency made Clea powerful enough to defeat and banish Umar and her father Orini from the Dark Dimension and she became ruler of the Dark Dimension. Clea and Strange exchanged vows and became one according to the laws of the Dark Dimension. Several months later, Dormammu returned and claimed the throne again. Umar tried to kill Strange, but found out that her spells hurt both Clea and Strange. Clea revealed to her mother that she had married Strange. Umar confessed that she didn't want to hurt her daughter and assisted Doctor Strange and Clea in defeating Dormammu. Umar and Baron Mordo claimed rulership over the Dark Dimension, but promised Clea that they would not abuse their powers. Clea reluctantly agreed and returned to Earth with Strange. Some time later, the Faltinean Flyx appeared to her and told her that Umar and Mordo betrayed her trust. They gathered an army to defeat Umar and Mordo, but Flyx revealed himself to be Dormammu in disguise. He absorbed the powers of Umar and Mordo and Clea remained in the Dark Dimension as leader of the resistance against Dormammu

Darkstar (First Appearance - Champions #7 1976)
Laynia Petrovna was a special operative of the Soviet government. Darkstar was first seen as part of a Soviet super-team recruited to bring the Black Widow back to the USSR. She turned sides and joined the Champions, remaining with the team until its disbanding. She returned to Russia and became a member of the Soviet Super-Soldiers with her brother, Vanguard, and the Crimson Dynamo. They battled Iron Man and Jack of Hearts on the moon and wound up helping the heroes in battling renegade Rigellians. Later, Darkstar and Vanguard were sent along with Ursa Major by the KGB to defeat Sergei the Presence. They fought Sergei and the second Red Guardian, but then Darkstar and Vanguard learned that Sergei was their father, and that Professor Phobos had exploited the Super-Soldiers. Darkstar aided in freeing Sergei and Starlight, and defeating Phobos. The Soviet Super-Soldiers were then sent to Khystym where they fought the Spaceknights Rom and Starshine, but later allied with them against the Dire Wraiths. The Super-Soldiers wound up befriending the Gremlin. Darkstar, Vanguard, and Ursa Major eventually defected to the United States seeking political asylum. They arrived at Avengers Island, asking for Captain America's help. The Soviet Super-Soldiers were eventually captured and returned to the Soviet Union. Later it was revealed that she joined the X-Corporation Paris branch, in which she was possessed by Weapon XII, and was subsequently killed by Fantomex. A funeral was held in her honor at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, where she was buried.

Firestar (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #193 1985)
Angelica Jones discovered that she possessed mutant powers. Her father then sent her to the Massachusetts Academy where Emma Frost, the original White Queen of the Hellfire Club, began training Angelica in the use of her powers as her personal assassin. She eventually learned of Frost's duplicity, attacked and defeated the White Queen, and decimated the hidden training complex beneath Frost's Massachusetts Academy. Afterwards, Jones returned to living with her father but kept the unique costume and identity of Firestar given to her by Frost. Firestar became a founding member of the New Warriors, when she was contacted by Night Thrasher. She helped them battle Terrax, Midnight's Fire, Juggernaut, the Mad Thinker and Psionex among many others. Eventually, she became engaged to fellow teammate Justice. Firestar and Justice later joined the Avengers. After a distinguished tenure with the Avengers, including going undercover in a bizarre cult, facing a horde of Ultron robots, and struggling against Kang the Conqueror's takeover of modern-day Earth, she and Justice left the Avengers and later resurfaced alongside the New Warriors. Angelica and Vance ended their engagment when she confessed that she needed more life experience before settling down. Firestar is one of the few mutants left on the planet with her powers intact and she was not among the New Warriors who died in the catastrophe that sparked the events of Civil War. Firestar has responded to the Superhuman Registration Act by effectively retiring from her career as a costumed heroine. Whether the retirement is permanent has yet to be revealed.

      

Hellstorm (First Appearance - Ghost Rider #1 1973)
Daimon Hellstrom is the son of a demon which called itself Satan and a mortal woman named Victoria Wingate. Daimon and his sister, Satana, were trained by their father in the art of magic, tapping into the power granted them by their dark heritage. Daimon and Satana were separated and put in different homes after his mother was institutionalized. Daimon grew up in an orphanage. He became a professor of anthropology at a prestigious university and set himself up as an occult investigator. Eventually, Daimon joined the Defenders and married Hellcat. He traveled to a monastery where the Miracle Man had taken refuge. When the Miracle Man stole Daimon's Darksoul, Daimon discovered that he was dying. Hellcat summoned Satan and pleaded for him to save Daimon's life. However, to do this, Daimon had to regain his Darksoul. Daimon was re-imbued with his essence, but upon witnessing Daimon's true face, Hellcat went insane and committed suicide with the aid of a being known as Deathurge. Daimon, now calling himself Hellstorm, ultimately discovered a way to finally defeat his father. Daimon discovered his father's true name and used the power of this knowledge to finally kill him. Daimon became the new ruler over his father's Hell. He used this power to allow Hawkeye and his Thunderbolts to return Hellcat from the dead. Hellstorm deliberately lied to Hellcat upon her return to push her away in hopes that she would be happier without him.

Justice (First Appearance - Giant-Size Defenders #5 1975)
Vance Astrovik was visited as a teenager by his time traveling future self, Major Vance Astro of the Guardians of the Galaxy, an astronaut who had volunteered for an experimental space flight and consequently been lost in space in cryogenic suspension for a thousand years. The elder Vance Astro convinced his younger self to not become an astronaut, and in the process, sparked the premature emergence of the younger Vance's telekinetic powers. Due to the vagaries of time travel, this did not create a paradox, but instead made the Guardians' future world into a parallel timeline, to which they later returned. Although Major Vance Astro had not had a chance to fully develop his psionic power in his time in NASA, the younger Astrovik now had the opportunity to hone his power. Astrovik soon became the costumed crime-fighter Marvel Boy. After his powers developed, Vance's father, Arnold, began to physically abuse him for being "different". Running away from home, Vance wound up supporting himself as a professional wrestler in the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. He is befriended by the Thing who convinces Vance to return home, with assurances from his parents that the abuse would stop. Marvel Boy applied for membership in the Avengers, but was rejected personally by Captain America. He eagerly jumped at the chance to help found the New Warriors. Vance developed friendships with the other Warriors, and a romantic relationship with teammate Firestar. One night Vance lashes out at his abusive father and unintentionally kills him. Vance turns himself in and is sentanced to the Vault for aggravated assault. As a result of the trial, Vance's secret identity was revealed to the public. After his time in the Vault, he adopted the codename Justice. He and Firestar joined the Avengers after a battle with Morgan Le Fay. Various relationship problems soon ended his engagement to Firestar. Justice is one of the few mutants left on the planet with her powers intact and he was not among the New Warriors who died in the catastrophe that sparked the events of Civil War. Justice refused to go along with the proposed super-human registration act and joins Captain America's team. After the Civil War, Justice was recruited by Iron Man to head the youth outreach arm of The Initiative. Justice is currently secretly seeing Ultra Girl. Justice's personal invesigation into the fate of Initiative recruit MVP opened his eyes to the morally ambiguous activities of director, Henry Peter Gyrich. As a result, Justice apparently deserted from the Initiative to continue his investigation, and recruited Ultra Girl, Rage and other former New Warriors Debrii and Slapstick to his cause.

Man-Thing (First Appearance - Savage Tales #1 1971)
Ted Sallis was a biochemist working in the Everglades in an attempt at recreating the super-soldier serum that created Captain America. Sallis flees from agents from Advanced Idea Mechanics, who covet his formula and research. He injects himself with the serum, but after crashing in a swamp and apparently drowning is transformed into a swamp creature through a combination of his formula and magical forces from the Nexus of all Realities extant in the area. Sallis' mind was apparently extinguished, although it was later shown that he could briefly return to consciousness within his monstrous form. Man-Thing as he is now called is empathic and negative emotions cause him pain drawing him to the source. He has encountered The Thing, Spider-Man, Jennifer Kale, Howard the Duck, Foolkiller, Kazar, Ghost Rider, Devil-Slayer, Morbius, Werewolf by Night, Hulk and Dr. Strange. A scientist, Dr. Oheimer, attempted to restore Ted Sallis's mind, now scattered about in ganglia throughout Man-Thing's body. A love triangle then took Man-Thing to the Himalayas. Man-Thing later appeared briefly alongside the superhero Cyclops, aiding him in a battle against the supernatural villain D'Spayre. Man-Thing remains drawn to the Nexus as it's protector.

     

Shroud (First Appearance - Super-Villain Team-Up #5 1976)
The child who would grow up to become The Shroud saw his parents gunned down right before his eyes. He decided to dedicate his life to fighting crime and joined the mysterious temple called Cult of Kali. After seven years of intense training, he graduated from that temple. During the celebration ceremony, he was branded with the Kiss of Kali. Following a period of intense pain and hospitalization, he realized that his eyesight had been replaced by a mystic extrasensory perception. Traveling back to America, he adopted the identity of Shroud. His first appearance was in Latveria, where he was seen fighting Dr. Doom. Shroud wanted to kill Doom for his crimes against humanity, and even came close to it when Doom had teamed-up with the Red Skull. The two villains were too strong for Shroud to handle alone. He was rescued by Captain America. He then went undercover in Los Angeles and built a reputation as a criminal so he could destroy their world from within. This led him to create the group known as the Night Shift. Behind the scenes, Shroud made a deal with the West Coast Avengers not to interfere with his activities underground. When the Superhero Registration Act was proposed, Shroud refused to give up his secret identity and was arrested. He is also in a romantic relationship with Julia Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman, now known as Arachne. With Julia's help, Shroud managed to escape from Riker's Island. The two of them planned to flee to Canada but were captured. He is broken out to join Captain America's anti-registration army and takes part in the final battle.

Werewolf by Night (First Appearance - Marvel Spotlight #2 1972)
Jack Russell inherited the family curse of lycanthropy on his eighteenth birthday. This curse had originated with their 18th century ancestor Grigori, who had been tainted by the Darkhold and was subsequently bitten by a werewolf who served Dracula. Under the light of a full moon, Jack would transform into the Werewolf. He would hunt down and kill evildoers, although he would often attack others when threatened or panicked. A number of these victims returned as werewolves themselves, only to be killed by Jack when he learned of his creations' bloodlust. Jack searched for a way to control or cure his lycanthropy. During this time, he formed a relationship with the empathic sorceress Topaz. He eventually came to grips with his nature and is currently able to exercise a large degree of control over his actions while in werewolf form, to the point that he can usually think and act normally while transformed. Throughout the years, the Werewolf would encounter a variety of superhero and supernatural opponents and allies, including Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the West Coast Avengers, and the Midnight Sons. Jack Russell went to Alabama and met Rhonda Pynchon. The girl was attacked by a gang, Russell interfered, transforming into Werewolf while Rhonda decided to do the same. After killing the gang, Russell and Rhonda left the town, determined to control their affliction and live their lives without fear.

White Tiger (First Appearance - Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19 1975)
Hector Ayala discovered the tiger amulets that were formerly worn by the Sons of the Tiger. Donning all three amulets, he transformed into the superhuman White Tiger. He discovered that wearing all the pendants at once increased his strength and provided him and gave him nearly superhuman skill in the martial arts. In his alter-ego, Ayala fought foes such as the Corporation crime cartel and teamed with heroes including Daredevil and Spider-Man. After many years of fighting crime and nearly being killed, having his secret identity publicly exposed by the villainous Lightmaster and gaining an unhealthy psychological and physical addiction to the tiger amulets, Hector eventually abandoned his identity as the White Tiger. He gave the amulets to a private detective named Blackbyrd, who returned them to the Sons of the Tiger. After a while, the call to don the amulets and fight evil became too strong and Hector once again became the White Tiger. Soon after, Hector was framed for murder and convicted despite the efforts of his lawyer, Matt Murdock (a.k.a. Daredevil). Ayala was shot dead trying to escape, shortly before evidence emerged that belatedly proved his innocence. Angela Del Toro, Hector’s niece and an FBI agent, inherited the Jade Tiger amulets. Angela quit the FBI to understand the amulets, and was trained in the use of their powers by Daredevil, becoming the latest person to assume the White Tiger identity

INDEPENDENT VILLAINS

Attuma (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #33 1964)
Attuma quickly became leader of his Altantean tribe and declared that he would conquer the city of Atlantis. Attuma gathered his troops and attacked Atlantis, only to be defeated by Namor and the Fantastic Four. Over the years, Attuma has been at war with both Atlantis and the surface world. He has come into conflict with Iron Man, Doctor Doom, the Avengers and the Defenders. When the ruling Council of Atlantis asked Prince Namor to abdicate the throne, Namor obliged. Attuma took the throne and became the new ruler of Atlantis. Attuma kidnapped Marrina, Namor's new wife and was confronted by Alpha Flight and the Avengers. Attuma ended the battle when he realized that Namor was happy with Marrina and did not want to return to Atlantis. During the events of the Evolutionary War, Attuma joined forces with the Lemurians and reserve Avengers against the High Evolutionary. Attuma allied himself with Ghaur and his Deviants and Llyra and her Lemurians against humanity. Ghaur and Llyra tricked him though and while Attuma battled Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, Ghaur and Llyra attacked Atlantis and killed a large part of the population as a sacrifice to their god Set. Attuma returned to his barbarian hordes and would make other attempts to conquer Atlantis and the surface world, but without any success. Attuma attacked New York City with an undersea horde. He was confronted by the Sentry and apparently killed in combat.

Beetle (First Appearance - Strange Tales #123 1964)
Abner Jenkins was a master mechanic who using his considerable mechanical knowledge, built battle suit. Jenkins decided to use his battle-suit for fame, wealth, and adventure. The Beetle battled the Human Torch and the Thing but was and he was sent to prison. Paroled a short time later, he sought revenge on the Torch, but found himself in battle with Daredevil and Spider-Man instead and was defeated. Losing every battle against costumed crime-fighters, the Beetle offered his services to underworld financier Justin Hammer, who kept various superhuman criminals on retainers. His offer accepted, the Beetle was dispatched against the original Iron Man and defeated. Jenkins then invested all of his money into the modification and refinement of his Beetle armor. He produced a new battle-suit with far greater capacities than his old one but was again defeated by Spider-Man. He was later freed from prison by Egghead who recruited him for his Masters of Evil but they were defeated by the Avengers. Beetle battled Iron Man again, but this time all portions of the Beetle's battle armor using Stark technology were fused. The Beetle organized his own team of super-villainous mercenaries called the Sinister Syndicate. The team ran afoul of Spider-Man and Silver Sable, and later imploded due to internal conflicts. He eventually reformed and became Mach IV of the Thunderbolts.

Blackheart (First Appearance - Daredevil #270 1989)
Centuries of murder in a locale named Christ's Crown, New York, drew the attention of a demon-lord, Mephisto, who created Blackheart, from the energy of the accumulated evil. Blackheart explored the nature of evil under his father's tutelage, clashing with and failing to corrupt Daredevil and Spider-Man. Mephisto and Blackheart once tormented Daredevil, Gorgon, and Karnak drawing into hell. Observing these mortals led Blackheart to rebel against his father and seek a newer form of evil; in retaliation, Mephisto diminished Blackheart’s powers. Mephisto sent Blackheart to Earth with diminished powers to learn humility. Blackheart would return to Christ's Crown and tempt Ghost Rider, Punisher, and Wolverine to the town itself in an attempt to corrupt them. He apparently slew Mephisto, banishing his father from Hell and restoring his own powers to full strength. As Hell’s ruler, Blackheart focused on corrupting the Ghost Rider which lead to Ghost Rider destroyed Blackheart, banishing him from Hell. After banishment from Hell, Blackheart allied with Selene as the Hellfire Club's Black King. Blackheart battled the Fantastic Four, Mechamage, Hellstorm, and Margali Szardos; they ultimately defeated Blackheart, binding him beneath New York's Hellfire Club. Trapped there, he continued to aid Selene, opposing X-Force in an attempt to corrupt Sunspot, while awaiting his inevitable release.
         
Crimson Dynamo (First Appearance - Tales of Suspense #46 1963)
The first Crimson Dynamo was also the creator of the armor, Professor Anton Vanko. He battled Iron Man but eventually defected to the U.S. and went to work for Tony Stark as one of his chief scientists. The Soviets came to kill and Vanko died saving Iron Man by firing an unstable experimental laser light pistol. Boris Turgenev, the second Crimson Dynamo, stole the suit and battled Iron Man. He was killed by Vanko. Alex Nevsky was the third man to wear the armor. The protégé of Professor Anton Vanko sought vengeance against the man who toppled his mentor: Iron Man. After he donned the Crimson Dynamo armor in public, his old Soviet masters sent the Titanium Man to kill him. He was assassinated by the KGB, who confiscated his armor. Yuri Petrovich, the fourth Crimson Dynamo and was given the armor and sent to kill the Black Widow. He failed and was returned to Russia, convicted by the Soviet government, and exiled to an Siberian labor camp. Dmitri Bukharin, the fifth Crimson Dynamo, was given his armor by the KGB. He joined the Soviet Super-Soldiers, but was expelled when his teammates learned of his loyalty to the government. He later joined the Supreme Soviets; the group became the People's Protectorate after the USSR dissolved. When the government confiscated his armor, he was given a new suit of armor and adopted the codename Airstrike. The next Crimson Dynamo
Russian collegiate Gennady Gavrilov used the armor in a standoff with the Russian military. He kept the armor afterwards, but it is unknown if he ever wore it again.

Gladiator (First Appearance -Daredevil #18 1966)
Potter was one of the first enemies of Daredevil. In civilian life, he is a costume-designer. He eventually reformed and became one of the staunchest supporters of Daredevil. He was pressured into producing a Daredevil costume for a madman in the employ of the crimelord known as the Kingpin. He was later forced into working for the Kingpin's elderly predecessor Alexander Bont, who claimed that Potter had a four year old daughter that he had never met and that she would die if Potter did not help. Gladiator brought Murdock to Bont, who attempted to kill Murdock and assume his old mantle but instead died of a drug-induced heart attack. The Gladiator was defeated by the new White Tiger, and went back to prison. Gladiator is accused of murdering two fellow inmates and Matt Murdock's law firm is defending him. Murdock's super-senses indicate that he is telling the truth when he claims he is innocent. Later, after being broken out of an armored car, Melvin beats a confused Daredevil and moves to the sewers, heading for his Gladiator costume. After, Gladiator goes on a rampage in Chinatown killing innocent people and then attacking Matt and Milla in a restaurant. Matt finds the Gladiator and defeats him. Melvin realizes what he has done and attempts suicide, but is saved by Daredevil. Potter is taken back to prison. It is revealed that someone had administered chemicals to Potter that caused his outbursts.

M.O.D.O.K. (First Appearance - Tales of Suspense #94 1967)
Scientists at Advanced Idea Mechanics created MODOK to analyze and probe the Cosmic Cube and to improve the organization's productivity in its scientific endeavors. To that end they mutagenically altered one of their technicians of average intelligence, George Tarleton, into the super intelligent being, MODOK. It did not take long for MODOK to turn on his former masters and overthrow AIM. MODOK and AIM frequently came into conflict with the Avengers and many other superheroes. AIM was not happy with MODOK's megalomaniacal and short-sighted leadership. The other AIM leaders eventually hired assassins to eliminate him. MODOK was killed by Death Adder of the Serpent Society. AIM used a Cosmic Cube to revive MODOK in order to repair the damage to reality that the cube had wrought. After the breach was sealed, MODOK took advantage of his resurrection and once again led AIM. MODOK was soon captured by a US Naval intelligence, who lobotomized him and used him to tap spy satellites and manipulate stock markets. Unknown to them, MODOK regained consciousness and battled Captain America. He was finally trapped in stasis and taken into SHIELD custody. MODOK escaped custody and and has now regained a massive organization after a daring caper involving several villains such as Mentallo, Chameleon and Spot. MODOK was among the 9 criminal geniuses that Beast sought out to help him reverse the effects of M-Day. As with many of the others, MODOK rebuffed the Beast.
             
Owl (First Appearance - Daredevil #3 1964)
Leland Owlsley was once a successful financial investor until his criminal connections were exposed by the IRS. Because of this, he abandoned his profession and became a formidable crimelord. He was primarily a criminal mastermind and used his shrewd tactical intellect as a weapon. He has used his powers in attempts to eliminate Daredevil who he conflicted with constantly. Over the years the Owl has become less and less human as a result of bizarre experiments in efforts to improve his natural ability to glide and repair damage to his spine that rendered him a paraplegic. The Owl was later revealed to be a mutant. Recently, the Owl has started to re-establish his presence in the criminal underworld with the absence of the Kingpin. He began to enlarge his criminal empire by refining Mutant Growth Hormone, though Daredevil was able to get him arrested. During the Acts of Vengeance, Owl was one of the villains who attacked Alpha Flight and the Fantastic Four. More recently so, he managed to manipulate behind the scenes and get the Kingpin arrested for a past murder when it looked like Fisk was going to make a deal with the FBI. Later, the Owl escaped prison and stole Deathlok from S.H.I.E.L.D. in hopes of selling him off to the highest bidder to other supervillains. Unfortunately, he did not ask permission of The Hood, and the Hood subsequently stole Deathlok from the Owl. The Owl was apparently shot to death by the Hood, but it remains to be seen whether the Owl truly died during the acquisition of Deathlok.

Typhoid Mary (First Appearance - Daredevil #254 1988)
Typhoid Mary is an enemy and former lover of Daredevil with low level psionic powers, including telekinesis. She has been employed by organized crime syndicates as an assassin in the past. She is also truly and gravely mentally ill. Her condition was revealed to have been accidentally caused by a pre-Daredevil Matt Murdock. He had tracked a villain down to the brothel where Mary worked. He attacked the man and in the process knocked Mary out the window. It was at this moment Mary became Typhoid Mary, vowing no man would ever hurt her again. Suffering from dissociative identity disorder, Mary Walker has two other abnormal personalities in addition to her seemingly healthy one. Aside from highly developed martial arts skills, Walker also possesses telekinetic powers and, more dangerously, pyrokinesis, the ability to set people or objects in her immediate vicinity aflame. A favorite pawn of the Kingpin, Typhoid frequently battled and had a love-hate relationship with Daredevil before disappearing. Through hypnosis, the abnormal and psychotic personalities were suppressed from Mary Walker's consciousness, and she began to lead a normal life, becoming a soap opera star. However, following the Kingpin's climb to regain his empire, he wished to distract Daredevil, the Kingpin paid a visit to Walker at her show and with a blunt slap released the abnormal personalities. After confronting Daredevil in his secret identity (Matt Murdock) and setting him on fire, his bodyguards Luke Cage and Jessica Jones managed to take her down. Mary was imprisoned on 'The Raft', a maximum security prison for superpowered criminals. Electro later led an attack on the Raft, helping the prisoners break out. Mary managed to escape and was briefly mentioned as once more working for the Kingpin. Mary left the Kingpin's employ to join the Hood's criminal empire.

Wendigo (First Appearance - Incredible Hulk #162 1973)
Several people have been afflicted with the curse of the Wendigo, including Paul Cartier, Georges Baptiste, Francois Lartigue, Lorenzo and most recently a sorcerer named Mauvais. The curse is regional to the woods of Northern Canada and takes place when a person in the forests of Canada engages in the cannibalism of human flesh. Under the right conditions such a person transforms into a superhumanly strong, nearly indestructible, fur-covered monster and becomes the Wendigo and roams the woods eating human beings. The Wendigo has frequently fought the Hulk, Wolverine, Werewolf By Night and Alpha Flight. Sabretooth was hired to kill a Wendigo creature, ultimately succeeding. A few years later, a new Wendigo emerges, leading to a fight with Wolverine and She-Hulk. A local Canadian super-hero, Talisman, arrives and claims to have a magical cure for the Wendigo's condition, but S.H.I.E.L.D. agents won't let her pass until they finally confirm her identity. After a long battle, the Wendigo is defeated by a combined attack from his two opponents, and placed into SHIELD custody.

SPIDERMAN ALLIES

     

Cloak and Dagger (First Appearance Spectacular Spider-Man #64 1982)
Tyrone Johnson (Cloak) and Tandy Bowen (Dagger) met in New York City as runaways. They received their powers from an experimental drug given to them against their will by Silvermane. It was later revealed that they were both actually mutants, and that the drug had simply awakened their latent abilities.

Mary Jane Watson (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #25 1965)

Mary Jane Watson comes from a severely troubled family. Her favorite relative, her Aunt Anna, lived next door to the Parkers. At first, she was unimpressed by Peter. That opinion becomes altered on the night of Ben Parker's murder, as Mary Jane sees Peter become Spider-Man for the first time. For years, MJ keeps that knowledge to herself. Peter begins to date her, much to the annoyance of Gwen Stacy. When the Green Goblin murders Gwen, MJ stays with Peter during his mourning. She leaves New York for several months and eventually returns and her behavior shows a marked change. She admits her knowledge of Peter's secret identity, and Peter finds a new respect for her, making her his confidante and eventually his wife. Mary Jane continued to model after her marriage. When Peter and Mary Jane's apartment and Aunt May's house were burned down, Spider-Man joined the New Avengers, Mary Jane and Aunt May accompanied him to live in Stark Tower. The Civil War events forced him to stage a secret transfer of Mary Jane out of Stark Mansion. Nevertheless, MJ remained supportive and later proved her devotion when she was arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D., and refused to surrender Peter to the authorities. She was immediately rescued by her spouse. While trying to save the life of Aunt May, Peter is contacted by Mephisto who offered to use his powers to save Aunt May. In return, Mephisto would wipe the knowledge and memory of Peter and MJ's life together. Mary Jane agreed to this and asked Mepshisto to return Peter's secret identity which he did. Mary Jane is suspected to be the superheroine known as Jackpot due to the character's long red hair and a penchant for calling people "Tiger".

Molten Man (First Appearance - Amazing Spider-Man #28 1965)
Mark Raxton was a scientist whi developed a new liquid metal alloy with Dr. Spencer Smythe and decided to steal it. In the ensuing fight with Smythe, Raxton spilled the liquid alloy all over himself. Discovering the potential his new abilities, he turned to crime as the Molten Man and was stopped by Spider-Man. After a few more encounters with Spider-Man, it was revealed that Peter's friend Liz Allan was Raxton's step-sister. Molten Man realized that Liz was the only member of his family who had not abandoned him. Reconciled with Raxton, Liz and her husband Harry Osborn gave Raxton a job. Molten Man and Spider-Man have since become friends and he has occasionally come to Spider-Man's aid. Raxton was abducted by the Green Goblin and under mind control, attacked and killed the only person who knew of the location of Spider-Man's baby. While Molten Man has since recovered, he still bears a heavy burden of guilt over the incident. During the Civil War, Raxton is attacked by The Punisher and left in critical condition.
     
Prowler (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #78 1969)
Prowler was a criminal turned superhero by the name of Hobie Brown. After a brief confrontation with Spidey who realizing he was just a misunderstood kid (much like himself), he gave him advice to not throw his life away as a criminal and to redeem himself. Hobie took this advice to heart and has since become a model citizen.

Puma (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #256 1984)
Puma's real name is Thomas Fireheart, and he is of Native American descent. Very intelligent, and with a good business sense, he became owner and CEO of Fireheart Enterprises. He was operating as a mercenary and had been hired by The Rose to kill Spider-Man, but was thwarted by the Black Cat. He again attempted to attack Spider-Man, but changed his mind when he witnessed Spider-Man save an innocent bystander. He was able to learn Spider-Man's secret identity, thanks to his enhanced senses, and now felt he owed him a debt of honor. He later attempted to clear Spider-Man's name of a crime he didn't commit.

Rocket Racer (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #172 1977)
Robert Farrell was a scientific prodigy, and when he realized he couldn't earn enough to support his family, he turned to a life of crime as the Rocket Racer. He developed a super-powered skateboard which is propelled at great speed by small rockets and cybernetically controlled by a crude walkman-like device. Repeated defeats at the hands of Spider-Man, including a short jail sentence, convince Robert to reform.
 
Scarlet Spider (First Appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #149 1975)
Ben Reilly is the Jackal's second wholly successful clone. Through arcane science, the clone was imprinted with Peter Parker's memories and actually believed himself the original. After Parker was captured by the Jackal, both Parker and Reilly found themselves in Spider-Man costumes, and fought before teaming up. In the process, the clone appeared to be killed. The clone survived and naming himself "Ben Reilly" after "his" aunt and uncle. He wanders around aimlessly for five years. He returns to New York, and finds himself once again wanting to be a hero. He fashions his own costume, and becomes the Scarlet Spider. He fights alongside Spider-Man, and proves himself to be such a great hero, that Spider-Man asks him to watch over the city, while he and his wife try to start a family.

Silver Sable (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #265 1985)
Silver Sablinova) is a mercenary, hunter of war criminals, the leader of the Wild Pack, and CEO of Silver Sable International. Though a legitimate mercenary, her methods and motives have sometimes brought her into conflict with other superheroes. Silver has collaborated with various superheroes, including the aforementioned Spider-Man, the Punisher, Daredevil, Luke Cage, Venom, Captain America, Hawkeye, Le Peregrine, Deadpool, and many others.

Solo (First Appearance Web of Spider-Man #19 1986)
James Bourne works as a counter-terrorism operative. Solo assisted Spider-Man against the Sinister Six and aids him in a final assault on the Six. Solo also once helped Spider-Man take on criminally-trained specialist versions of Captain America, Hawkeye and Spiderman himself. Solo is hired by G. W. Bridge to join the new Six Pack.

SPIDERMAN VILLAINS

 

Chameleon (First Appearance - Amazing Spider-Man 1963)
The first supervillain Spider-Man ever faced, Dmitri Smerdyakov was a Russian spy with a knack for disguises. Being the half-brother of Kraven the Hunter, he also sought to avenge Kraven's death, become the most powerful crime boss in New York City and utterly destroy Spider-Man with his mind games, including creating the impostors of Peter's parents. He faked his death and was recently a member in the Green Goblin's Sinister Twelve.

Hydro-Man (First Appeaerance Amazing Spider-Man #212 1981)
Morris Bench worked on a cargo ship until an accident transformed him into a being of pigmented water, able to control his own liquid body. He has since been a frequent antagonist of Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and an occasional ally/enemy of the Sandman whom he once accidently merged with and became a mud monster. He is also the last member of the Sinister Six that has yet to be made.

Jackal (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #129 1974)
Dr. Miles Warren was an Empire State University biology professor who became infatuated with Peter Parker's girlfriend, Gwen Stacy. After she died during a battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, he became a demented geneticist and cloned both Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. He gained enhanced strength and agility by combining the genetic material of an actual jackal with his own. His genetic tampering would later result in the Clone Saga.

      

Kingpin (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #50 1967)
Wilson Fisk is the most powerful crime boss in New York City and perhaps the entire east coast, thus becoming a frequent foe of Spider-Man. He eventually started a feud with Daredevil. Fisk learned that Daredevil was Matt Murdock and used this information to ruin his life. Murdock is one of Spider-Man's closest friends, so he took this very personally and vowed to help Daredevil bring him down. Recently, after learning Spider-Man's identity, Fisk ordered a hit on Peter Parker. Peter's reflexes saved him and Mary Jane, but his Aunt May did not escape the bullet. Peter hunted down the Kingpin and beat him nearly to death, destroying his reputation and has promised to return and kill the Kingpin when and if his aunt dies.

Silvermane (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #73 1973)
Silvio Manfredi, nicknamed "Silvermane" for his near-white hair, is a professional criminal originally from Sicily who has been a long-time nemesis in the Spider-Man comics. He started his criminal career in an organized crime group called the Maggia. Climbing through the ranks and becoming head of the crime family, he eventually formed an alliance with HYDRA, a worldwide organization determined to take over the world. Silvermane has hired many criminals, such as Hammerhead, and he has also been known to be a rival of the Kingpin.

Speed Demon (First Appearance Amazing spider-Man #222 1981)
The super-speedster James Sanders was a member of the Squadron Sinister as the Whizzer but was updated and revamped in Spider-Man as Speed Demon. He joins the supervillain team the Sinister Syndicate, led by the Beetle, but eventually leaves and travels to Madripoor, where he participates in a "sudden death" tournament called Bloodsport. Speed Demon's first opponent is the disguised hero Wolverine, and in a mishap, he is critically injured by his own weapon. Despite the crowd's wishes, Wolverine spares Speed Demon's life. After recovering, Speed Demon is recruited to join the reformed-supervillain team the Thunderbolts, accepting when he learns the team is led by the Beetle, now known as Mach-IV

     

Tarantula (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #134 1974)
As a revolutionary terrorist and government operative, Anton Miguel Rodriguez is expelled from his small organization after murdering a guard without reason during a robbery. This is when Anton went on to the other repressive side of the government where they created the identity of the Tarantula for him and to serve as his country's counterpart to Captain America.

Tombstone (First Appearance Web of Spider-Man #36 1988)
Lonnie Thompson Lincoln was born in Harlem, New York. As Tombstone, he is a superhuman hit man and mob enforcer. He is frequently hired by the Kingpin and has close ties to organized crime and considerable influence within the prison system. Lonnie started out as troubled youth who was bullied by his peers because he was Harlem's only African American albino. He became a school bully, taking protection money. The school newspaper was edited by Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, who was going to run a story on Lonnie's activities but pulled it when Lonnie intimidated him. Unfortunately, Lonnie allowed his personal demons to direct the course of his life and he turned to a life of serious crime.

Will-O-The-Wisp (First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #167)
Jackson Arvad, a former employee at Roxxon Oil worked under constant pressure of being fired, Arvad spent lots of time furthering his work on electromagnetism, getting little sleep in the process. He eventually ended up falling asleep on the job, unable to save himself from a laboratory accident. He ended up being caught in the electromagnetic field of a device he was working on. When his boss learned of the accident, he decided to let Arvad die, but not before he demanded any scientific applications the device had. However, Arvad was able to save himself. He attempted to kill his employer multiple times but was stopped each time Spider-Man. Finally he opted to simply hypnotize the man into confessing his crimes to the police.

X-MEN ALLIES

     

Cannonball (First Appearance - Marvel Graphic Novel #4: The New Mutants 1982)
Sam Guthrie subconsciously activated his mutant ability and used it to escape a coal mine he was trapped in, in Kentucky. This incident led to Sam being found by the Hellfire Club, and used him in a plot to attack the New Mutants. Sam eventually turned against the Hellfire Club and joined the New Mutants. Cannonball saves the life of international rock star Lila Cheney, whom he became romantically involved with. Cannonball and the other New Mutants left the X-Men's supervision, and joined forces with the Cable to become the hard-edged X-Force. It was early during this time that Sam was impaled and killed by the mutant Sauron. However, only a few minutes later, he had healed and returned to life. Cable revealed the he had chosen Sam to lead the New Mutants initially because he suspected him to be an External. Cable had come to train Sam to fight Apocalypse. Sam later officially accepts an invitation to join the X-Men but feels out of place. Cannonball eventually rejoined X-Force, now independent of Cable and operating in San Francisco. The team eventually found a new mentor, by the name of Peter Wisdom, who introduced the team to the world of espionage. After X-Force’s dissolution, Cannonball joined several of his former teammates in the Paris, France branch, of X-Corporation. Sam couldn't find peace with his life so he was asked by Storm to join her X-Treme X-Men. He and his teammates rejoined the central X-Men. He also functioned as a member of the XSE. He has already participated in helping the 198 and fighting the Shi'ar Death Commandos. Cannonball is currently serving on Rogue's team.

Forge (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #184 1984)
Forge is a mutant with an innate superhuman talent for invention. He is a Native American of the Cheyenne nation. While in the army, Forge lost his right leg and right hand. Years later, Forge had created cybernetic replacements for his lost limbs. When Tony Stark stopped making advanced weaponry for the Federal government, Forge was hired as an employee of the Defense Department. One of his earliest commissions was to design a weapon to detect the Dire Wraiths. Subsequently, Forge constructed a device capable of neutralizing mutant powers which was used against Storm. Forge rescued Storm and began to have a romantic relationship. Forge with an improved Neutralizer, and with the aid of Rom, defeated the Wraiths. Forge eventually restored Storm's abilities. Banshee approached Forge, hunting for leads about the whereabouts of the X-Men. Forge and Banshee eventually found the X-Men and became full time members. Forge later became a member of the X-Mansion's support team. Forge's relationship with Storm ended and he was briefly involved with Msytique. He then went on to become the new government liaison, for X-Factor untul they were disbanded. To this day, he remains a close associate with the X-Men.

Jubilee (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #244 1989)
Jubilation Lee first discovered her mutant power to generate blinding and explosive energy fireworks while running away from mall security. Frustrated with the young girl's rebellious nature and powerful lightshows, the mall the M-Squad to capture her. She was rescued by the X-Men and followed them into a portal. She eventually rescued Wolverine from the Reavers and they travelled together on several missions. Wolverine brought Jubilee to Professor Xavier, who welcomed the girl with open arms, and she and Wolverine developed a close father-daughter relationship with one another. The duo teamed up to take down Sentinels, Omega Red, Sabertooth, Mojo, and Sauron. Jubilee even joined the X-Men Blue Team. She aided her fellow mutants in battles against Mondo, the Shi'Ar Empire, Skrulls, and the Brood, among others. Jubilee joined a new group of teenage mutants known as Generation X. After Generation X, Jubilee returned to L.A. but was kidnapped and crucified on the front lawn of the X-Mansion by the Church of Humanity. Jubilee was taken off the active roster when Cyclops decided she needed a mental break. Jubilee is next seen under the guise of Wondra. As a member of the New Warriors, Jubilee acts as Night Thrasher's second-in-command and is responsible for training the team.
     
Longshot (First Appearance - Longshot #1 1985)
Longshot is an artificial humanoid who originated in the dimension known as Mojoworld. He was one of many slaves created by genetic engineers in the employ of Mojo. The head geneticist gave Longshot free will and a conscience, hoping that one day they would rise up against their masters. Longshot and many of his fellow slaves rebelled but lost. Longshot was mind-wiped, but he managed to flee to Earth. Mojo and his assistant, Spiral, followed Longshot to Earth but were defeated with the aid of Doctor Strange. Longshot later joined the X-Men and was in a relationship with Dazzler. For a short time, they lived in Mojoworld, leading a rebellion first against Mojo. Longshot has recently been recruited for the Exiles by Heather Hudson to help against Proteus. After that mission ended, Longshot traveled to Earth-616 where he was reunited with Dazzler.

Magik (First Appearance - Giant-Size X-Men #1 1975)
Illyana Rasputin was born in Siberia and is the younger sister of the X-Man, Colossus. When she was six years old, Illyana was kidnapped, by Belasco and S'ym of the Limbo dimension. She was raised there and corrupted by Belasco, who taught her black magic and sought to claim her soul. She eventually rebelled against Belasco and became a powerful sorceress and ruler of Limbo. Using a portion of her own soul, Illyana created the Soulsword. She then managed to return to Earth several years older, although no time had passed on Earth since her kidnapping. She subsequently joined the New Mutants. After Inferno, Illyana regressed back to the age she was when she was kidnapped. Illyana, still a child, returned to Russia where she lived with her parents until they were murdered by the Russian government in order to secure her abilities to defeat the Soul Skinner. Illyana then returned to the X-Mansion to live with her brother Piotr. Not long afterwards, Illyana contracted the Legacy Virus and died. Belasco returned to his previous position as ruler of Limbo and created a powerful spell to return Illyana to him. The spell managed to pull forth the remaining essence and memories of Illyana still held within Limbo's dimension. The essence took shape and became the Darkchilde but Belasco was not satisfied, claiming that it was not the true Illyana(due to her lack of soul)and banished her. With the help of the New X-Men, Illyana's human memories were returned to her and they teamed-up to defeat Belasco using a bloodstone amulet. Illyana then gave into her Darkchylde persona but she was interrupted by the arrival of Colossus. In a cry of pain and desperation, Illyana sent everyone back to Earth, rejecting Piotr's offer of help. Illyana then reclaimed the throne of Limbo.

Marvel Girl (Rachel Summers) (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #141 1981)
Rachel Summers comes from an alternate future known as Days of Future Past, where the mutant-hunting Sentinel robots rule the world. Rachel was abducted and turned into a "Hound," a mutant who tracks down other mutants. She eventually befriended the surviving mutant rebels. When Rachel broke into Project: Nimrod on a suicide mission to destroy a new model of Sentinel, the Phoenix Force ripped Rachel from her timeline and sent her body back to the Earth-616. She had a brief membership in the X-Men, before the Phoenix Force fully bonded with her, granting her access to its power on a cosmic magnitude. She soon joined the British superhero team Excalibur. Rachel remained with Excalibur until an incident caused her to be lost in the timestream, in a world conquered by Apocalypse. She founded the Askani and brought Cable forward in time when he was infected with a techno-organic virus. Defeated by Apocalypse, she drew the minds of Scott and Jean into the future, to raise Cable and tutor him in the use of his powers. Rachel finally died ten years. Later, Cable went into the timeline to retrieve Rachel and learned with the premature death of Apocalypse, the Askani timeline had been diverged from the mainstream and as a result, she had been flung into the far future. Cable rescued Rachel and she was able to use her residual Phoenix Force to return them both to the present. She decided to rejoin the X-Men, taking the name Marvel Girl and eventually joined the new Starjammers in an attempt to restore Lilandra to the throne of the Shi'ar.
     
Sage (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #132 1980)
Sage, also known as Tessa feels herself called to a cave which was considered haunted. She hears a voice that guides her deeper into the cavern, where she finds Charles Xavier, whose legs have been crushed during his battle with the alien Lucifer. Xavier senses that Sage is a mutant, and explains to her what her abilities mean. Years later, Tessa meets up again with Xavier, who at the time is recruiting the original X-Men. Instead of having her join them, he trains her in secret as a spy. He sends her to the Hellfire Club to keep watch on Sebastian Shaw. During the X-Men's initial conflicts with the Hellfire Club, Tessa maintains primarily a background role and is seen as only Shaw's unusually intelligent assistant. When the Hellfire Club and X-Men are taken by surprise by Nimrod, the two groups join forces to defeat him. Each team sustained heavy losses and Sage offers the X-Men temporary sanctuary with the Club, which later results in Magneto and Storm jointly accepting the role of White King in the Inner Circle. Out of gratitude for rescuing her from an old enemy, Tessa joins the X-Men, primarily in a support capacity. She then joins Storm's X-Treme and becomes an officer of the X.S.E. Sage's tenure with the team is abruptly ended when she rejoins the Hellfire Club to keep an eye on Sunspot. She then joins the New Excalibur. During an adventure, she absorbs all of knowledge of the multiverse from Roma. Fearful of what would would happen if someone on Earth ever gained the knowledge in her mind, Sage joins the Exiles.

Sunfire (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #64 1970)
Shiro Yoshida was born to a mother who suffered radiation poisoning due to exposure to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. As a result, he was born a mutant possessing solar radiation powers. His greedy uncle Tomo inspired Shiro to take the identity of Sunfire and engage in a one-man battle against the U.S and battled the X-Men. Months later, Xavier recruited Sunfire to join a new team of X-Men. Sunfire accompanied the fledgling X-Men on this mission, but resigned from the team soon after. Sunfire's life became involved with the X-Men once again when he was kidnapped by Apocalypse. Later on, Sunfire became a member of X-Corporation. On a mission with Rogue, his legs were cut off by Lady Deathstrike. Sunfire was rescued by Apocalypse and offered Sunfire the chance for vengeance, as well as the recovery of his lost limbs and power, in return for his service as one of his new Horsemen. Sunfire accepted and was transformed into the Horseman of Famine. When Apocalypse launched his attack on the X-Men, Sunfire was captured and Emma Frost entered his mind in an attempt to help him. Shiro broke free from Apocalypse's control was last seen running off with the unconscious body of Gambit. Sunfire is then shown as a member of the Marauders still in the form of Famine.

Thunderbird (First Appearance - Giant-Size X-Men #1 1975)
John Proudstar was born into an Apache tribe on a reservation and discovers he possesses the mutant abilities of superhuman senses, strength, speed, stamina, sturdiness. Proudstar is drafted into the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and earns the rank of corporal. He is recruited by Professor Charles Xavier to join his third group of X-Men. Although Proudstar is reluctant to join another white man's crusade, he agrees and takes on the superhero title Thunderbird. After successfully completing his first mission with the X-Men, Thunderbird turns out to be so volatile and ill-mannered that he constantly throws off the team's synchronization. It should be noted that he often finds himself going head to head with Cyclops. This attitude would not change and would also lead to an untimely end for Thunderbird. During the new team's second mission, he leaps onto an airplane that is carrying Count Nefaria. Despite the urging of Banshee, Thunderbird refuses to get off the plane, stating that he would show that he was a true Apache warrior. The plane explodes, killing Proudstar. Even in death Thunderbird's legacy carries on. His brother, Warpath (James Proudstar), has similar powers, although to a much greater degree, and is also an X-Man.

X-MEN VILLAINS

     

Black Tom Cassidy (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #101 1976
Black Tom is the cousin of Sean Cassidy, the Banshee. His original principal power was that he could generate blasts of heat through a wooden medium, such as the shillelagh that he often carries. Tom became a criminal and came into conflict with the law and was apprehended. While serving time in prison, Tom met and befriended Juggernaut. The two became close friends and allies, and worked together on missions coming into conflict with the X-Men, Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. Black Tom was injured by Cable and taken to where doctors grafted a wood-like substance onto his wounds, healing him and allowing him to channel his bio-blasts directly through his fists. Unfortunately, due to a genetic virus the substance spread over Tom's body, to the point where Tom was completely composed of plant matter. As a result, his powers included control and manipulation of all manner of plant life, to the point where he could make plant doppelgangers of himself, or anyone else. He was completely insane as a result. Black Tom resurfaced as a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and were defeated when Xorn sucked Black Tom and the rest of the Brotherhood into a black hole. After M-Day, Black Tom woke up as a human again, losing his secondary mutation but possibly still retaining his old powers, along with his sanity.

Blob (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #3 1964)
Fred J. Dukes starts out as a member of a circus sideshow when he is contacted by Charles Xavier and asks him to join the X-Men. The Blob refuses Xavier's invitation. Magneto soon seeks out the Blob to recruit him into his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The Blob temporarily accepts the invitation, but leaves when it is revealed that Magneto has no real concern for the Blob's safety. He teams up with Unus, who soon becomes his confidant. The Blob also serves as a member of Factor Three. He later winds up in prison, but is freed by Mystique in order to recruit him into her incarnation of the Brotherhood. He becomes a special operative of the federal government when the Brotherhood is reformed as the government-sponsored Freedom Force. After Freedom Force's dissolution, the Blob participates in other versions of the Brotherhood. He is eventually arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. Blob is one of the thousands to lose their power as a result of the Scarlet Witch's actions, though his epidermis does not shrink, leaving him with huge folds of loose skin. Blob attempts to commit suicide, but his skin folds prevent him from cutting through. Blob later resurfaces as a member of the X-Cell, a group of depowered mutants who attack Mutant Town in defiance of the Decimation and were defeated.

Exodus (First Appearance - X-Factor #92 1993)
Born in the 12th century, fuchsia-skinned Bennet du Parris ventured with Black Knight and Sersi (who were transported to that era). Captured by Apocalypse, he commanded Exodus to destroy the Black Knight. Exodus refused. He turned on Apocalypse and Apocalypse sealed him away in a crypt in the Swiss Alps. In the 20th century, Magneto found and freed Exodus, taking him back to Avalon. Exodus become Magneto's right-hand man. When Charles Xavier wiped Magneto's mind clean, Exodus assumed leadership of the Acolytes. The Acolytes discovered a cocoon carrying Holocaust. Exodus and Holocaust battled, destroying Avalon. Exodus returned to leading the Acolytes. Exodus then waged a war against the High Evoluntionary and the Inhumans and Heroes for Hire. Black Knight defeated Exodus and once again sealed him in the crypt Apocalypse had created. Exodus escaped from his prison and formed a new Brotherhood. They then attacked the X-Men but were sucked into the mutant Xorn's head. After House of M he leads a new team of Acolytes and attack the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. They learn that no more mutant births occur post-Decimation. It is apparent that Exodus has allied with the Marauders as part of Mister Sinister's plan to save the mutant race from extinction.
     
Mojo (First Appearance - Longshot #3 1985)
Mojo's world had a power structure based on the television industry and Mojo became their leader by controlling it, along with the slave trade. Mojo became interested in Earth and captured Psylocke, who had been blinded, and implanted bionic eyes in her original body. Much later it was learned that the eyes Mojo gave her were in fact interdimensional cameras allowing Mojo to record and broadcast all she could see. Psylocke was rescued by the New Mutants. Mojo found out that the adventures of the X-Men shot the audience level to top ratings; which increased his political power. Recently the Exiles have made a deal with Mojo; in return for Longshot's help, Mojo receives broadcasts from all over the multiverse through the Exiles' crystal palace. Later, Mojo reappeared along with the previously vanished Nocturne and Juggernaut, using a "Jean-Bomb" to turn the X-Men into babies, and after his defeat, a guilt-ridden Juggernaut was tempted with the offer of remaining a child, but ultimately refused. Mojo was one of the villains Beast offered to "sell his soul to" in order to obtain help in reversing the effects of M-Day.

Omega Red (First Appearance - X-Men #4 1992)
Little is known about the past of Arkady Rossovich except that he was a serial killer. He was captured by the Interpol agent Banshee and turned over to the KGB, which wanted to create a super soldier, Omega Red is the end result. The Soviet government implanted one retractable carbonadium tentacle within each of Omega Red's arms. He is able to a wrap a victim in his coils to literally drain them of their "life" energy. This vampiric tendency is essential to Omega Red's survival; the carbonadium implants, while great offensive weapons, slowly poisoned him and he was required to regularly drain the life energy of a person, in order to temporarily sustain his immune system. In order to stabilize his condition, Omega Red requires the Carbonadium Synthesizer, a device that was stolen by Wolverine, Maverick, and Sabretooth. It is because of his need for the this device that Omega Red has continuously sought out these three individuals over the years, believing they may know of its whereabouts. He has clashed with Wolverine, X-Men, Generation X, Daredevil and Black Widow. Omega Red is currently a crime lord who poses as a legitimate business man. At present, Omega Red has resumed his search for the Carbonadium Synthesizer.

Onslaught (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #322 1995)
The seed that would grow into the being known as Onslaught came from a combination of Professor X's and Magneto psyche. Eventually, this part of Xavier's psyche became so strong with the help of Magneto's psyche that it was powerful enough to manifest itself as a non-physical entity of pure psionic energy that split itself from Xavier. Onslaught was first mentioned when the Juggernaut crash-landed in Hoboken, New Jersey, having been hit hard enough by Onslaught to send him across the country. Onslaught was extraordinarily intelligent, and had vast psionic and magnetic powers. Onslaught then kidnapped Franklin Richards and Nate Grey. He used the near-limitless psychic power of his two young captives to amplify his own. During the penultimate battle, Onslaught's physical form was destroyed by the gathered heroes who sacrificed themselves to defeat Onslaught. Thanks to Franklin Richards' power, the heroes who gave their lives to destroy Onslaught did not die; instead, they were reborn in a pocket dimension. When the Scarlet Witch used her powers to depower countless mutants, she inadvertently restored Onslaught. He was now determined to kill Franklin Richards and every hero that exists.
     
Pyro (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #141 1981)
St. John Allerdyce is a mutant who possesses the power to psionically control fire and flame, though not generate it. He wears a flame thrower on his back to provide the flame which he then takes control of. After years of working in Southeast Asia as a journalist and novelist, Pyro met the mutant Mystique, who later recruited him to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Mystique's Brotherhood later offered its services to the United States government in exchange for protection and an official pardon for its crimes, and was renamed Freedom Force. During Freedom Force's final mission in Iraq, the team confronts group of operatives known as Desert Sword. There are fatalities on both sides. Freedom Force is defeated. Later, the Toad buys their release and added them to his new Brotherhood. Pyro swiftly returns to battling the X-Men. Some years later, Pyro contracted the Legacy Virus, a fatal disease affecting mainly mutants. He went to great lengths to find a cure but was unsuccessful in his search and succumbed to the virus. This was just after saving Senator Robert Kelly from a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This act of heroism was also instrumental in changing Senator Kelly's opinion on mutants as a whole, and led to his decision to work toward peaceful co-existence between humans and mutants.

Sauron First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #60 1969)
Karl Lykos accompanied his father to Tierra del Fuego as the elder Lykos guided a wealthy client. While defending the client from mutant pterodactyls, Karl was bitten by one of the creatures. During his recovery, he discovered that he could now drain the life-force of other organisms. Lykos became a colleague of Professor Charles Xavier, and first encountered the X-Men when they sought treatment for Havok. When Lykos absorbed energy from Havok, he transformed into a vampiric, pterodactyl-like monster with human intelligence and superhuman hypnotic powers. He named himself Sauron and battled the X-Men. Karl journeyed to the Savage Land and survived in human form by only draining less developed animals. He befriended Ka-Zar and used his medical skills over many months to care for Ka-Zar's allies. But when several X-Men were stranded in the Savage Land, Lykos was overwhelmed with the desire to absorb the powerful life energy of mutants. He transformed into Sauron once again after absorbing Storm's energy. He reverted back to human form during a battle with the X-Men, and Ka-Zar explained that Lykos was an ally. The X-Men brought Lykos back to Professor X and he seemingly cured Lykos of his condition. Unfortunately, Lykos was again transformed into Sauron and joined the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Sauron became a prisoner of the recent Weapon X program and after a battle with the New Avengers is currently back in the custody of the program.

Toad (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #4 1964)
Mortimer Toynbee was recruited into Magneto's original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. At one point, Magneto and Toad were captured by the alien Stranger as part of his collection. Magneto managed to escape, but coldly left his lackey Toad behind. When Magneto was re-captured by the Stranger, he took Toad with him during his second escape, but by then Toad's attitude towards his master had already begun to change. Toad realized that Magneto didn't care at all for him and left his side. Eventually, Toad formed his own version of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Years later, Toad was captured by Prosh to stop a global threat. Toad learned that his deformed body was the result of experimentation, which left him with an unstable genetic structure. The Stranger's equipment corrected his genetic flaws, resulting in an almost complete metamorphosis: Toad had a taller and slimmer appearance and had his powers augmented. Among the most notable changes was a prehensile tongue. He joined several more incarnations of the Brotherhood of Mutants, none of which lasted for long and winds up joining with Unus' gang in Genosha. During House of M, Toad rescuied Lorelei and escorted her to the Xavier Institute. He is currently a member of the 198.

TEAMED CHARACTERS

     

Alpha Flight (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men # 120 1979)
Alpha Flight is one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Throughout most of its history, the team has worked for Department H, a branch of Canada’s Department of National Defence that deals with super-powered persons. Most team members have distinctly Canadian attributes, such as Inuit or First Nations heritage. Many of Alpha Flight's story-lines are heavily influenced by Canadian aboriginal lore. Alpha Flight is Since Eaglemoss already confirmed Guardian, there has been a call for more characters from Alpha Flight. Northstar, Aurora, Sasquatch, Puck, Shaman, Snowbird, Vindicator, Box, Marrina and Box are just some of the many choices available to be made.

Generation X (First Appearance - Uncanny X-Men #318 1994)
Generation X is a team that formed during the Phalanx Covenant. Generation X consisted of teenage mutants designed to reflect the cynicism and complexity of the series' namesake demographic. Unlike its predecessor the New Mutants, the team was not mentored by X-Men founder Charles Xavier at his New York estate but by Banshee and former villain Emma Frost at a splinter school in western Massachusetts. Jubilee is a popular request and in the X-Character poll but this team has other key characters such as Husk, M, Chamber, Skin, Synch, Penance, Mondo amd Gaia. I chose to place Generation X in this poll over the New Mutants have 20 more years of history and the characters would most likely be able to fill their own magazine.

Guardians of the Galaxy (First Appearance - Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 1, #18 1969)
The Guardians of the Galaxy are a superhero team active in the 31st century in an alternate timeline that is a version of the Marvel Universe. Each member is apparently the last of their kind and is forced to unite as a team against the actions of the Badoon, an alien race which attempts to conquer Earth's solar system. During the course of the war against the Badoon, the team recruit more members and travel back in time and encounter several of the heroes of 20th century Earth, including Captain America, the Thing, and the Defenders. The Guardians eventually defeat the Badoon, but soon find themselves facing Korvac. After teaming with the Thor to defeat Korvac in the 31st century, the Guardians then follow Korvac to 20th century Earth, where together with the Avengers they fight a final battle. Soon after returning to the 31st century Vance Astro decides to stop himself from becoming an astronaut by meeting his previous self. The feedback caused by Astro meeting him results in the Guardians' timeline separating from the main timeline. The Vance Astrovik from 20th century Earth then goes on to join the New Warriors as Marvel Boy and later the Avengers as Justice. The Guardians have a series of adventures in their future, which is revealed to be the alternate universe Earth-691. With such solid choices such as Charlie-27, Starhawk, Aleta, Vance Astro, Martinex, Yondu and Nikki, how can you not be tempted.
     
Eternals (First Appearance - Eternals #1 1976)
The Eternals were created by the Celestials in a series of experiments on humanity. The results of such experiments has been used to explain how certain humans can develop super-powers. Despite looking human, Eternals are much more long-lived (but were not originally fully immortal) and that kept them from having much contact with their human cousins. Eternals have a low birth rate; they can interbreed with humans but the result is always a normal human. Despite this, the Eternals have in general protected the human race, especially from the Deviants, with whom they've always had an enmity. The Eternals also developed advanced technology. The more prominent members of the Eternals are Ikaris, Sersi, Thena, Makkari, Sprite, Phastos, Zuras, Interloper, Ajak, Khoryphos and the Forgotten One.

Inhumans (First Appearance - Fantastic Four #45 1965)
The Inhumans are the results of a genetic experiments on early humans by the Kree. Their test subjects went on to form a society of their own, which thrived in seclusion from the rest of humanity and developed advanced technology. Experiments with the mutagenic Terrigen Mist (a process known as Terrigenesis) gave them various powers, but also caused lasting genetic damage and deformities. This led to a long-term selective breeding program to try to mitigate the effects of these mutations. Attilan's society and culture are predicated on a conformist belief system which permits individuality as it applies to genetic development and physical and mental ability, but demands rigid conformity in that each member of society is assigned a place within that society according to those abilities following exposure to the Terrigen Mist. Once assigned, no Inhuman, no matter how great or powerful, can change their place within this rigid caste system. We have already know we are getting Black Bolt, Medusa and Crystal. Some of the other Inhumans that could be slotted are Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, Lockjaw and Maximus the Mad.

International Heroes (First Appearance - varies per character)
With the Marvel Universe has expanded to have characters representative from all over the world. Some heroes, some villians but each unique and representative of their own country. Some of the many choices available to choose from are El Aguila (Spain), Darkstar, Vanguard, Ursa Major (Russia), Defensor (Argentina), Forsa (Brazil), Zona Rosa (Mexico), Bengal (Vietnam), Dragonfly (Korea), Batroc and Le Peregrine (France), Sabra (Ireal), Arabian Knight (Saudi Arabia), Shamrock (Ireland), Collective Man (China) and there are many more.
     
Serpent Society (First Appearance - Captain America #310 1985)
The Serpent Society was the brainchild of Seth Voelker and is a descendant of sorts from the original Serpent Squads. Voelker had invested the money from previous crimes and started the groundwork for the Serpent Society. The Society was to provide its members with better access to technology, bigger access to jobs, higher pay, comradeship, safe lodging, and a host of other benefits. Most importantly, with Sidewinder's teleportation cloak, members never had to fear imprisonment again. It was, essentially, a supervillain labor union. He had them contact other snake-themed criminals. They headquartered at Serpent Citadel, which was an abandoned mental hospital located in upstate New York. Sidewinder sent them out to contact various criminal organizations including HYDRA, the Maggia, the Kingpin, and A.I.M.. From A.I.M. they received their first paying assignment: the elimination of their former leader MODOK. The Society's success in killing MODOK quickly cemented their reputation as criminal talents of the first caliber. Some of the members of this group are Sidewinder, Cobra, Black Mamba, Asp, Diamondback, Anaconda, Bushmaster, Coachwhip, Rattler, Death Adder, Cottonmouth, Diamondback, Puff Adder, Boomslang, Black Racer and Fer-de-Lance.

Squadron Supreme (First Appearance - Avengers #85 1971)
The Squadron Supreme are first encountered by four members of the team the Avengers when the latter pass through the Earth-712 universe on their way home from a previous adventure. The Squadron Supreme then decide that they have the knowledge and power to recreate the world and create a Utopia. The Squadron implements a series of sweeping changes, including revealing their secret identities; instituting a program of behavior modification in prisons; enforcing a strict gun control policy, and developing medical technology to resurrect the dead. A brutal battle over this course of action ensues with several members from both sides are killed. Soon after these events, the remnants of the Squadron Supreme reunite to battle the supervillain the Nth Man. Although the Nth Man is eventually stopped, several members of the team are killed in the battle, with the remainder banished to the Earth-616 universe. The members of are Hyperion, Nighthawk, Power Princess, Doctor Spectrum, Whizzer, Nuke, Amphibian, Skrullian Skymaster, Lady Lark, Blue Eagle, Golden Archer, Arcanna, Tom Thumb, Shape, Ape-X, Moonglow, Redstone, Inertia, Haywire, Thermite, Mink, Foxfire and Lamprey

Thunderbolts (First Appearance - Incedible Hulk #449 1997)
Baron Zemo summoned Beetle, Fixer, Moonstone and Screaming Mimi. Upon the death of the Avengers at the hand of Onslaught, Zemo realized that the world needed superpowered champions, and that his team could fill that need. By posing as superheroes, the Masters of Evil could gain the public trust and build a position of power that rivaled the status of the Avengers. Once they had gained the public's faith, Zemo believed they could gain access to all the secrets of the Avengers and the paramilitary organization S.H.I.E.L.D. Zemo then planned to sell the secrets they found to the criminal underworld. But the Thunderbolts betrayed Zemo and became heroes. Since then the team has had many incarnations including members Jolt, Charcoal, Blackheath, Skein, Cyclone, Harrier, Amazon, Joystick, Penance and many others.