Presence

A Soviet scientist who was exposed to intense radiation, the Presence gained tremendous nuclear-based powers and became one of the USSR's most dangerous superhuman threats, first emerging to clash with the Defenders.

Few characters carry the weight of Cold War-era Marvel mythology quite like Presence, a Soviet Super Soldier who stepped onto the Bronze Age stage in The Defenders #54 in 1977, brought to life by the formidable creative trio of David Anthony Kraft, Mike Golden, and Keith Giffen. Over a publishing history stretching all the way to 2020, this Marvel figure has kept remarkable company — sharing pages with the likes of Quasar, Steve Rogers, and Starlight — and turning up across titles as varied as Avengers and Deadpool & the Mercs for Money, which speaks to a versatility that's kept him relevant across four decades. With 43 years on the Marvel timeline and a roster of heavy-hitters as co-stars, Presence is one of those deep-catalogue discoveries that rewards the curious collector willing to dig past the marquee names.