Alpha

Born in the Bronze Age pages of The Defenders #15 (1974) — crafted by the formidable trio of Len Wein, Sal Buscema, and Klaus Janson — Alpha is one of those intriguing corners of the Marvel Universe that rewards the curious collector. With a debut alongside heavy-hitters like the Hulk, Valkyrie, and Doctor Strange himself, this character entered comics in distinguished company from the very first page. Alpha's presence has rippled across decades, turning up in Quasar and the encyclopedic All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z, a sure sign that Marvel's lore-keepers consider them worth preserving in the canon. Fifty years of existence with that kind of company? Definitely one to track down.