Deathwatch

Deathwatch is a ruthless crime lord and extradimensional demon who debuted as one of Ghost Rider's earliest and most dangerous foes, orchestrating criminal operations in New York while harboring a sinister supernatural agenda tied to human suffering and death.

Few villains can claim the distinction of debuting in the very first issue of a relaunched Ghost Rider series, but Deathwatch made that entrance count — stepping onto the Marvel stage in 1990 courtesy of Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares right at the dawn of the Copper/Modern Age's darker, harder-edged storytelling. This is a character forged in the shadow of the Spirit of Vengeance, sharing pages with heavy hitters like Wolverine and Ms. Marvel across appearances in Marvel Comics Presents, Invincible Iron Man, and Ghost Rider: Resurrected. With a presence stretching across an impressive 34 years and a key issue already to their name, Deathwatch is a testament to how a well-crafted antagonist can leave a long shadow — and for collectors hunting the grittier corners of the Marvel universe, that debut issue alone makes this one worth tracking down.