Ursa Major

Ursa Major is a Soviet superhuman and member of the Soviet Super Soldiers who possesses the mutant ability to transform into a massive brown bear. A proud product of Cold War-era Marvel, he has fought alongside Russian heroes such as Vanguard and Darkstar.

Few characters capture the geopolitical flavor of Bronze Age Marvel quite like Ursa Major, who burst onto the scene in The Incredible Hulk #250 in 1980, courtesy of the sharp creative team of Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema. A proud product of the Cold War era, this Soviet powerhouse has kept remarkable company over the decades — sharing adventures with the likes of Vanguard, Darkstar, and Crimson Dynamo, and racking up affiliations with the Soviet Super Soldiers, Alpha Flight, the Avengers, and even the Fantastic Four. Across 42 years of Marvel history, from the pages of The Incredible Hulk to Captain America and The X-Men vs. the Avengers, Ursa Major has proven himself a durable, globe-spanning presence with at least one collector-significant key issue to his name. If you love the rich ideological texture of Marvel's Bronze Age and the sprawling ensemble casts that defined it, this is a character well worth tracking down.