Pestilence

Pestilence is a personification of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Marvel Universe, appearing alongside Death, War, and Famine. The character encountered the Fantastic Four, bringing biblical-scale threat into the superhero setting.

One of Marvel's Bronze Age curiosities, Pestilence made their debut in the pages of Giant-Size Fantastic Four #3 in 1974, brought to life by the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Keeping grim company alongside Death, War, and Famine — and crossing paths with the likes of Reed Richards and the Human Torch — this figure carries the unmistakable weight of apocalyptic mythology woven into the Marvel Universe. With appearances stretching across an impressive fifty-plus years into 2025, from Giant-Size Fantastic Four to Quasar and beyond, Pestilence is a rare Bronze Age creation with surprising staying power. A modest appearance count only adds to the mystique — when Pestilence shows up, it matters.