X the Marvel

Bursting onto the scene in 1975 courtesy of the dynamic duo of Bill Mantlo and a young George Pérez, X the Marvel is a Bronze Age curiosity with genuine pedigree — debuting in the pages of Power Man amid the gritty, street-level energy that defined Marvel's urban storytelling of that era. With Luke Cage and even Mr. Fantastic among the characters sharing those early adventures, X the Marvel keeps remarkably distinguished company for a figure with a modest catalog footprint. The character has quietly persisted across nearly five decades, turning up in landmark collected editions like the Luke Cage Omnibus and Luke Cage Epic Collection — making them a rewarding discovery for the dedicated Bronze Age completist hunting every corner of Marvel's rich, inventive '70s landscape.