Power Broker

Power Broker is a shadowy criminal figure who controls a dangerous augmentation process that grants superhuman strength to those willing to pay — and suffer the consequences. Operating from behind the scenes, this mysterious operator wields enormous influence over the super-powered underworld connected to Captain America's corner of the Marvel Universe.

Lurking in the shadows of Marvel's late-'80s Captain America mythos, Power Broker is the kind of dangerous behind-the-scenes operator who makes the Copper Age so compelling. Debuting in 1987's Captain America #328 — a collector-recognized key — courtesy of the legendary Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary, this figure carved out a sinister niche in a corner of the Marvel Universe populated by the likes of Steve Rogers, Diamondback, and the notorious Dr. Karl Malus. With a run concentrated in the pages of Captain America through the early '90s, Power Broker may not boast a sprawling appearance count, but the company kept here — and that key-issue debut — signals a character whose influence punches well above their weight.